International cooperation toward developing countries

As the global-warming issue is a result of such greenhouse gases as CO2 that are created by human activities, it is vital that the world work together as one unit to resolve the problem. Developing countries in particular are expected to see a swift increase in CO2 emissions as their economies develop. Moreover, as energy efficiency generally tends to be low in developing countries, the effect of introducing energy-saving technology will be greater there than in developed countries.

It is therefore important that Japan's technology and know-how be transferred to developing countries, where they can help the world as a whole cut back CO2 emissions. More specifically, Japan should get to work on the "green initiative," a comprehensive strategy for combatting global warming, that it proposed at the Denver Summit. This involves the transfer from developed to developing countries of "green technologies" (related to energy saving,) nonfossil fuels, and global afforestation and conservation, as well as the latest energy and environmental breakthroughs) through the provision of "green aid." A combination of official development assistance and private-sector cooperation is to be used to foster human resources, develop social and economic systems, and provide information.