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The Fourth Informal Meeting on Further Actions against Climate Change
(Overview and Evaluation)
(October 20-21, 2005 in Tokyo)

October 25, 2005

1. Overview

This meeting was co-chaired by Japan and the Federative Republic of Brazil (Mr. Mutsuyoshi Nishimura, Ambassador for Global Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Mr. Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado, Director General, Department of Environment and Special Affairs, Ministry of External Relations of Brazil) and held with the participation of high-level government officials of major developed and developing countries (19 countries and the European Commission (EC)) that are responsible for approximately 70% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions.

This meeting was held informally in order to encourage candid and open exchanges of opinions. It was understood that views expressed did not necessarily reflect official positions.

2. Overview of discussions

(1) How to advance the framework beyond 2012

  • Many countries are already making efforts to combat global warming. Opinions were opinions expressed that discussions on the framework beyond 2012 should be advanced based on this momentum.
  • Participants pointed out that the discussions should center on those held at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP) and underlined the need to move ahead with discussions through such fora as the Group of Eight (G8) process and Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate. Participants noted that discussions on informal occasions such as this Informal Meeting are also valuable.
  • Participants expressed the need to consider diverse ways of thinking on the future framework beyond 2012 and to create a culture that enables effective discussions in negotiations.
  • Participants noted the importance of gaining understanding in order to set long-term goals and the need to realize further coordination with the private sector and experts in various related fields (including development and disaster prevention).
  • Participants underlined the importance of using technological innovation as an incentive and adopting climate change policies by transferring existing technologies to developing countries. Many countries mentioned the significance of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as well as the need to improve the CDM system. Participants also underscored the importance of scientific knowledge in understanding the current state of climate change and making future predictions.

(2) Toward the eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP11) and the first session of the Conference of the Parties Serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP1)

  • Many participants stated that in order to ensure compliance with the Kyoto Protocol, the necessary measures should be swiftly adopted as a COP/MOP decision.
  • Participants pointed out the importance of having discussions on making adjustments for regions vulnerable to climate change.

3. Evaluation

  • This Informal Meeting was held after the Kyoto Protocol entered into force in February, and the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP1) will be held in November to December this year. Discussions over the emissions reduction commitments of the developed countries beyond 2012 is also expected to be initiated this year. For this reason, there was a momentum for candid, active and open exchanges of opinions.
  • Many participants stated that while such fora as the COP should serve as the pivot of the framework beyond 2012, discussions should take place on various occasions and with diverse ways of thinking. It is expected that this stance will help trigger vigorous discussions in the future.
  • It is vital for Japan to actively contribute to discussions on an effective future framework in which all countries participate through involvement in various fora such as the G8 process and the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate.
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