Summary of Opening Statement by Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister of the Environment, at the Press Conference

6 November 2001

On 5 November, Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister of the Environment, met with Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs; Larry Lindsey, Assistant to the President; James Connaughton, Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality and Robert Glenn Hubbard, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors. The following is a summary of Minister Kawaguchi's press briefing on the meeting.

1. In the limited time during the Diet session, I visited the United States to exchange views with the relevant members of the Government of the United States in advance of the Ministerial Meeting to be held during the Seventh Session Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP7).
2. During the exchange of views, I explained Japan's intention, as its policy toward COP7, to continue to make utmost effort to achieve a final agreement at the meeting. I asked for close bilateral cooperation as well as positive participation of the United States in discussion at COP7.
3. As a result, based on the outcomes of Japan-US talks, both sides were able to share a common perception on the following three points:
   
   
   1. The two countries will implement effective national actions and promote international cooperation towards the common objective of tackling global warming.
   2. The two countries will continue to promote bilateral cooperation in the areas of science and technology, developing country issues and market mechanisms to address climate change.
   3. The two countries will continue to undertake consultations, recognizing that climate change is a pressing global concern requiring a global approach.
4. In this relation, according to information from Marrakesh, although Japan is making maximum efforts to reach an agreement regarding the enactment of the Bonn Agreement, the consultations are currently in an extremely difficult state, and despite Japan's efforts, it is not clear whether a reasonable agreement can be obtained regarding realistic rules that allow full application of the Kyoto Mechanisms. Japan attaches utmost importance to such rules.
5. In order for Japan to work domestically toward ratification, agreement on realistic rules that allow full application of the Kyoto Mechanisms is by all means necessary. I also strongly desire that some progress be made regarding the issue of engaging developing countries.