Signing of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change


April 29, 1998

  1. The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed on April 28 (Japan time; 29) in New York (U.N. Headquarters) by Mr. Takayuki Kimura, Ambassador for International Economic Affairs, Global Environmental Affairs and Public Diplomacy, Foreign Ministry.

  2. This Protocol obligates the developed countries including Japan and countries undergoing the process of transition to a market economy to implement their quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments of anthropogenic emissions of the greenhouse gases after 2008, and allows these countries to implement emissions trading, etc. for the purposes of meeting their commitments under this Protocol. This Protocol is intended to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system, through the implementation, inter alia, of these obligations.

  3. Recognizing that the prevention of global warming is a serious problem which relates to the basis of human survival and that it requires global action, Japan has been working on this problem as one of the priority issues. And Japan's international contribution in the environmental field has been attracting much attention. It is of great significance that Japan, which made efforts to coordinate the making of this Protocol as the President of the third session of the Conference of the Parties, signed the Protocol, from the viewpoint of demonstrating how earnestly Japan is tackling this issue and making an international contribution to the prevention of global warming.

  4. As of April 27, the following 12 countries had signed the Protocol (in the order of signature):

    Maldives, Samoa, Antigua and Barbuda, Switzerland, Saint Lucia, Argentina, Marshall Islands, Micronisia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, the Philippines, and Malta.

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