Japan's Evaluation of the Outcome of the Seventeenth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17)

December 12, 2011
  1. During the COP17, progress was made toward establishing a new, fair and effective international framework in which all major economies participate, which Japan aims for.

  2. In particular, concerning the future framework, the Ad-Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action was launched as a new process for formulating legal documents, and an agreement was reached on the path to complete its work as early as possible and no later than 2015 so that it will come into effect and be implemented from 2020, which are significant achievements. The new working group was established based on a proposal made by Japan during the COP17, and the member states' adoption of this proposal reflects their high appreciation for Japan's constructive contribution to this conference.

  3. Concerning the operationalization of the Cancun Agreements, steady outcomes were made such as the basic architecture of the Green Climate Fund and the formulation of guidelines of measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) for countries' emission reduction measures.

  4. With regard to the Kyoto Protocol, an agreement toward the establishment of the second commitment period was adopted, and Japan's stance that it would not participate in the said period was also reflected in the outcome document.

  5. Throughout the session, Minister of Environment Goshi Hosono negotiated energetically with ministers of various countries, and made an active contribution to the discussion. Minister Hosono also proposed the "Japan's Vision and Actions toward Low-Carbon Growth and a Climate-Resilient World" and the "African Green Growth Strategy (Draft Elements)," aimed to effectively address global warming through international cooperation. He also stressed that there is no change to Japan's stance of tackling climate change even after the national crisis following the East Japan Great Earthquake.

  6. In light of the outcome of COP17, Japan will continue to strive for the steady operationalization of the Cancun Agreements, and make active contributions to the international discussion toward the establishment of a future framework.

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