(Unofficial Transcript)

Press Briefing by the Government of Japan
at the Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change

Ambassador Toshiaki Tanabe: We'd now like to begin this briefing. I understand that Japan is the only Party giving a briefing tonight. As I was speaking with members of the U.S. and EU delegations and learned they weren't holding briefings, I began having second thoughts and considered cancelling our conference tonight. But since we had promised to hold one, we'll go ahead as scheduled.

We are busy trying to resolve all outstanding issues before the ministerial-level talks begin next Monday. I think this is what Chairman Estrada hopes for as well, and he has instructed the Working Groups to wrap up their discussions before we enter the next stage of talks.

Because the discussions and negotiations are being held in diverse locations, I do not have all the information at my fingertips. But I will try to answer your questions to the best of my knowledge.

[IN ENGLISH] This is the last working day before the ministerial segment begins on Monday, and Ambassador Estrada is anxious about resolving all pending issues as soon as possible. He has instructed the persons concerned to finalize and the produce satisfactory solutions. In the light of this, we are going to continue to work until very late at night--or very early in the morning, if need be. On the basis of the work we do, he may perhaps produce some clean text. I have not checked with him, but this is my impression, and this would be presented to the ministerial segment that will start next Monday.

We have just passed part two of our conference and we will be entering the third, or final, part of our negotiations. This is the end of my introductory remarks, and I'd like to entertain your questions at this time.

Question: Suwa from Kyodo News Agency. Article 4, Chapter1 was brought up at COW today. Were there any comments from the EU that would lead you to accept the EU bubble?

Ambassador Toshiaki Tanabe: I haven't been able to follow all the developments because I was in a separate meeting. So I'm afraid I'm not in a position to comment on that.

Question: My name is [inaudible???] from Kyoto Shimbun. We are now about to enter the ministerial segment of this conference. My first question is reaching agreement on quantified targets. There seems to be a trend toward differentiation. What do you see as being the basis of establishing targets? Where do sinks, coverage of gases, and methodology of differentiation fit it? How far have you progressed in terms of negotiations?

My second question concerns developing countries. The New Zealand intervention yesterday became a focus of heated debate. How much progress has been made on this front?

Ambassador Toshiaki Tanabe: As for the types of gases, Chairman Estrada has proposed dividing the six greenhouse gases into two groups, calling for an agreement on the three conventional gases--carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide--in the framework of COP3, and dealing with the remaining three gases at COP4.

There has also been a suggestion to introduce an element of flexibility between the two categories of gases. I am unaware of any other proposal, and I believe negotiations are proceeding at this time.

As for the developing countries, in the light of the significance of this item, the Chairman and President have been consulting closely with the developing countries concerned.

Question: How about differentiation?

Ambassador Toshiaki Tanabe: There were no specific references to differentiation today.

Question: Ishihara form Yomiuri Shimbun. Ambassador, you said you have come to the second level of this conference . . .

Ambassador Toshiaki Tanabe: No, I did not refer to a second level. Since the meeting lasts for 10 days, I merely meant to say that we have come to the end of the middle part. The first three days constitute part one, the second three days, part 2, and the last four days, part three. We've finished the first two parts, and what remains is part three.

Question: What is your assessment of how far you've come at this juncture. Are you satisfied to be where you are at the end of "part 2?"

Question: Peter Lardner from Reuters. Under a system of differentiation and a three-gas basket, how would Japan view a 2.5% reduction under the time frames we've been talking about, from 2008 to 2012. Would Japan be willing to accept something along those lines

Ambassador Toshiaki Tanabe: We consider the new suggestion by Ambassador Estrada to be quite reasonable. At least at this moment, the data we have have are only those for three gases. Look at the former Soviet Union and the East-European countries. When they made their national communications to the secretariat, they made their communications on the basis of the three gases. When it comes to working out QELROs, we have to use the same base, and so in that respect I think that his suggestion is quite reasonable. You may know that the proposal we made is also on the basis of the three gases, namely, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.

Question: Suzuki from Kyoto Shimbun. The idea of a clean development fund, joint implementation, and emissions trading may together help to resolve the differences between the developed and developing countries. What is the position of the Japanese government on this question?

Ambassador Toshiaki Tanabe: We are actively studying this issue along with other issues. We'll have to examine it more closely before we can come to a conclusion on whether they're good or bad.

If there are no further questions, I'd like to keep it short, since tomorrow is a holiday.