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Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Acceptance of the Kyoto Protocol by Japan

June 4, 2002
Japanese

1. The Government of Japan decided on June 4 to accept the "Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change". Japan will deposit the instrument of acceptance with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, on June 4 (local time), thereby becoming a Party to the Kyoto Protocol. I myself have been involved in the final stage of the negotiations regarding the implementation of the Protocol as the head of the Japanese delegation. I am deeply moved and pleased that Japan will become a Party to the Kyoto Protocol.
   
   
2. I strongly hope that other countries will also become Parties to the Kyoto Protocol expeditiously towards its rapid entry into force. As the chair of the Third Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP3) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Kyoto in 1997, Japan has contributed to the drawing up of the Protocol, and has since been seeking its entry into force by 2002 through participating actively in the negotiations regarding the details of the implementation of the Protocol and making efforts to formulate an agreement for the prevention of global warming. Given the concerns about rapidly increasing greenhouse gas emissions, Japan considers it an extremely significant first step in strengthening the international actions against climate change for countries promptly conclude the Protocol to bring it into force and implement it.
   
   
3. Japan recognizes that it is vital for all countries to strive for the reduction of greenhouse gases so as to ensure the effectiveness of actions against global warming. Therefore, Japan will make its utmost efforts to establish a common rule in future, in which all countries including the United States and developing countries participate. In order to prevent global warming, Japan strongly hopes that other countries will participate constructively in the negotiations along with Japan.
   
   
4. Furthermore, Japan continues to actively support the self-help efforts of the developing countries to combat global warming, through such means as official development assistance (ODA) pertaining to the conservation and restoration of forests and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including through the implementation of the "Kyoto Initiative" announced by Japan.

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