The United Nations High Level Event on Climate Change
(Overview and Evaluation)

24 September 2007

On 24 September the United Nations High Level Event on Climate Change was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York under the initiative of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. From Japan, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori attended, along with President George W. Bush of the United States (attending only at the informal dinner meeting), President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa (attending only at the informal dinner meeting), President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil (attending only at the informal dinner meeting), and other leaders and ministers of other countries.

At the meeting, after the opening plenary session the meeting split into separate meetings focused on the four themes of "Adaptation," "Mitigation," "Technology," and "Financing" and statements were made by the representatives of each country. At the meeting held under the theme of "Adaptation," Special Envoy Mori made a statement overviewing "Cool Earth 50" and outlining the importance of providing assistance to developing countries.

Furthermore, at the informal dinner meeting, which was held under the auspices of the Secretary-General, Special Envoy Mori and approximately 25 others held a serious exchange of views in a relaxed environment.

I. Overview

1. Date:

24 September 2007

2. Venue:

New York, United Nations Headquarters

3. Participants:

United Nations Member States, and the European Commission

4. Overview of the Meeting

(i) Opening Plenary Meeting

Remarks were made by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President of the 62nd Session of the General Assembly Srgjan Kerim, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Rajendra K. Pachauri, Governor of the US State of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, and several other guest speakers.

(ii) Thematic Plenaries (Principal statements by each country)

• Thematic Plenary I - Adaptation
  • Climate change is an issue that has already exceeded the realm of environmental issues and is in fact a matter that relates to the very existence of human life, encompassing energy, development and sanitation. The influence of climate change is already apparent in all socio-economic sectors.
  • Adaptation is not a matter to be left to the future. Rather given that each country is already being influenced by climate change, this is a matter that must be addressed in the present.
  • The principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" remains in effect and just as developed countries have taken on obligations in United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, they must also fulfill their responsibilities in transferring environmental technologies and providing financial assistance.
• Thematic Plenary II - Mitigation
  • In order to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, a long-term target is of importance.
  • At the Bali Conference to be held at the end of this year the participants must draw up a roadmap for building an international framework to address climate change beyond 2012. Agreement on the new framework must be completed by 2009.
  • Although a large extent of the responsibility for climate change lies with the developed countries, the influence of climate change is emerging in the most vulnerable developing nations.
  • Preservation of forests is important as a measure for mitigation.
• Thematic Plenary III - Technology
  • Technology plays an essential role in measures that will promote the goals of both mitigation and adaptation. It is important to enhance the transfer of technology.
  • Technologies related to renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage (CCS) are important.
  • In order to promote further investment from the private sector it is important to secure cooperation between the public and private sector and to take a market based approach.
  • It is important to develop innovative technology and to ensure greater international cooperation.
• Thematic Plenary IV - Financing
  • In order for developing countries to implement measures to promote adaptation, it is necessary for the developed countries to strengthen technology and capacity-building assistance, as well as financial assistance.
  • There is a need to promote the carbon market. The carbon market will promote a cost-effective transfer to low-carbon economies which will result in a contribution to accumulating necessary funds in developing countries.
  • The carbon market is not the only solution and in addition, public funds are essential. Supplying financing for adaptation is the top priority item for nations in Africa and others which are receiving the greatest influence from climate change.
  • The Clean Development Mechanism is playing an important role and there is a need for further strengthening of it.

(iii) Closing

• Following the remarks by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President Yudhoyono made a statement.
• A Chair's Summary by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was announced.

5. Other Points

(i) Informal Leaders Dinner hosted by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

An informal dinner hosted by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was held and leaders and others from approximately 25 states attended. From Japan, Special Envoy Mori attended.

Discussions advanced along the lines of the four point agenda put forward by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, covering the points of "Adaptation (particularly disaster prevention)," "Expectations for the Bali COP and for post-Kyoto," "Technology," and "Financing."

* "Adaptation (particularly disaster prevention)"

Participants from several developing countries pointed out that due to the recent extreme weather, the very continued existence of their nations is being threatened, and they expressed the view that an even stronger effort must be expanded underneath the United Nations. In response to this, Special Envoy Mori stated as below.

The damage from natural disasters inflicted upon vulnerable countries is extremely serious and that from the perspective of Adaptation, it is important to take disaster prevention measures and measures to respond to disasters. A concrete guideline of an action plan was offered in the form of the "Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015." There is a need for even further promotion of consistent and comprehensive cooperation by each state and organization. Japan has been providing assistance to developing states and in fact the embankments created in the Maldives played a major role at the time of the tsunami in the Indian Ocean (Note: the leaders of other nations praised Japan for its efforts on this point.) Japan intends to particularly cooperate to strengthen disaster prevention capacity on the part of particularly vulnerable countries.

* "Expectations for the Bali COP and for post-Kyoto"

There was almost universal agreement on the view that the United Nations is the most appropriate forum for post-Kyoto negotiations. Moreover, various opinions were expressed on the respective responsibilities of the developed countries and the developing countries. Certain developing nations expressed a view emphasizing that developing countries should also bear some common responsibility. Furthermore, many opinions were expressed supporting the view that it is necessary to establish some form of long-term target and achieve compatibility between economic growth and environmental protection. Although some nations stressed that the upcoming Bali COP must result in an agreement for a roadmap that will lead to the initiation of negotiations, opinions were also expressed that it is important to ensure the participation of all nations.

* "Technology"

There was almost universal agreement on the need for the development and diffusion of technologies and on the need for investment to underpin development. Furthermore, some representatives stressed the importance of developing alternative and renewable energy sources, while opinions were also floored stressing the need for nuclear power. An opinion was also put forward to the effect that it is important to focus on the best way to make clean use of fossil fuels. Representatives of some countries even specifically referred to Japan by name in commenting on the effectiveness of the kind of technologies such as hybrid cars.

* "Financing"

Some opinions were put forth stressing the need for financial cooperation for developing countries, and some nations pointed out the importance of market mechanisms.

* Other Matters

Special Envoy Mori shared his view that in addition to discussing medium-term and long-term targets, it is important to focus on that which can be implemented immediately such as reducing or eliminating tariffs on products that are effective in reducing greenhouse gases, promoting green purchasing, and controlling air conditioning settings.

(ii) Side Event Hosted by the Chairs of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change-Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC-COP)

During the luncheon, a side event was hosted by the Chairs of the UNFCCC-COP (Kenya, Indonesia, Poland and Denmark) who are serving for the period from last year until the year after next. Statements were made by former Vice-President of the United States Al Gore, the Vice-Chairman of the World Trade Centres Association Annie Wu, and short speeches were made by the co-chairs, the President of Indonesia, the President of Poland, the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources of Kenya, and the Prime Minister of Denmark.

II. Evaluation

(1) This was the first time that underneath the initiative of the Secretary-General, a broad spectrum of leaders from the developed countries, as well as developing countries (including newly emerging economies, and small island states) gathered together for intensive discussions on climate change. This resulted in an enhanced level of recognition regarding the idea that climate change is not merely a matter of the environment but in fact has broad implications across all socio-economic spheres.

(2) It was especially noteworthy that during the dinner the leaders were able to undertake serious discussions in a focused manner on the issue of climate change.

(3) This meeting is not for negotiations, so giving technical or expert consideration about specific matters was not necessarily the aim. Rather, this meeting can be viewed as having played a significant role in increasing political momentum toward the meeting to be held in Bali as it provided a significant opportunity for states to see that climate change is an issue for top-level leaders.

(4) Japan intends to proactively contribute to discussions at the meeting to be held in Bali in December and as the host nation of next year G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, Japan intends to continue to provide leadership in addressing the issue of climate change.