(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
| Date: | December 9, 1997 |
| Speaker: | Mr. Akihiko Furuya |
| Title: | Minister of the Japanese Delegation to the OECD |
| Time: | 18:30 to 19:00 |
| Location: | Room D, Kyoto International Conference Hall |
Minister Akihiko Furuya:
So far, we have not made appreciable progress, unfortunately.
There have been several contact groups and some texts with
modifications were proposed. The chairmen of those groups
reported their outcomes to Ambassador Estrada.
Up until 5:40 p.m., there was no revised text from the Committee of the Whole, as yet. To the best of my knowledge, I think there was one group that discussed Article 4.1 and another group that discussed the Clean Development Fund, and onemore group, in which I personally participated, which dealt with policies and measures. The policies and measures group has, on a working level, formulated the text which some brackets. After rather thorough consultations on details, weproduced the outcome of our group on policies and measures. On top of that, the COW is now waiting for the resumption of the session. And on top of those contact groups, there have been various informal consultations conducted at thismoment, in an effort to reach a certain form of agreement, to make a last, ultimate effort to reach an agreement.
Aside from what we have done in the contact groups and informal sessions, this afternoon, Mr. Komura, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited us. He came to the conference hall, where he met with the Japanese delegation. He also met with Ambassador Foley, from the United States, in Tokyo.
Ambassador Foley, at the beginning, said that there has been a lessening of the gap between the positions of Japan and the U.S. He mentioned there are still gaps or differences of opinions between the U.S. and Japan or the U.S. and the EU. But he expressed that he hoped those gaps would be lessened in the future. He also complemented the warm hospitality of the host country.
Mr. Komura, from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said that there is Japanese saying that says that if the results are good, all the efforts were worth it. But that if the results are not good, then all of Mr. Foley's compliments about Japan's efforts will have been in vain.
Anyway, Mr. Komura, vice minister of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said that we need the utmost effort and cooperation from the U.S. In response to that, Ambassador Foley mentioned that he had great expectations that this conference will result in success. The consultation themselves, however, are very difficult,including the relationship between the developed and developing nations. The subjects dealt with in the consultations are very difficult. In the U.S., ratification by the Senate will be required. So, the U.S. definitely needs meaningful participation by the developing nations.
Mr. Komura also mentioned that he met Mr. Hagel, a U.S. Senator. So he is fully aware of the opinions of the senators in the U.S. Japan really hopes to make this consultation successful, by soliciting developing countries to make some efforts.
That was just a briefing on what occurred today. The floor is yours, if you haveany questions now.
Question: Could you tell us what kinds of curves you've been discussing on trading, both in terms of regulating the market and quantitative targets on how much should be achieved at home?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: This is an issue that we are now discussing and consulting on, so I can not answer that question clearly.
Question: Nick Nuttle, from the Times. We understand that Japan has been holding out for half of one percent differentiation, between itself the EU, and that this is an important point for Japan. Can you confirm or deny that you wanta very small differentiation of maybe 1/2% with the EU?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: I'm not well informed about that 1/2% or what percentsare being discussed. That is not on the table.
Question: It's not on the table?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: The important thing is that the Japanese government isseeking any kind of differentiation scheme, whatsoever.
Question: Could you please repeat that?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: In other words, our basic position is to seek, in a possible legal document at Kyoto, a formulation reflecting so-called differentiation.
Question: The Japanese government -- was it last month or the month before? -- made an announcement of 2% to 2.5%. That was the Japanese proposal. But that proposal was supposed to be the bench mark for consultations. But during the negotiations from yesterday to today, did Japan change their original stance of 2 - 2.5% to 5% or to 7% or something? I don't need the specific figures. I just want to know whether or not the Japanese government is prepared to make some large concessions or whether the Japanese government has tabled that sort of large concession in the negotiations?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: The Japanese stance to the negotiations remains the same as the original Japanese proposal. That was the starting point and still is the starting point of the negotiations. As you know, there are various factors or elements or frameworks that are being discussed, in order to establish the figures or numbers. They are all interrelated and very compounded. Efforts are being made to come up with those figures, taking into consideration the various interrelationships of the figures and elements. Even though those frameworks andelements may be vague, if we can start seeing the framework, we will be able to go back to the original figures and think whether or not to revise those figures.But we need to see the framework emerge first, in order to propose changes in the figures.
Question: Alexander Resing, for the Dutch Financial Daily. You mentioned a lessening of the gap between the U.S. and Japan and a gap remaining between Japan and the EU. Does that mean that in the negotiations between the EU, the U.S. and Japan, that you and the U.S. are in a common position against the EU?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: That was not my statement. I just gave you the statement made my the American ambassador, vis-a-vis our foreign vice foreign minister, Mr. Komura.
If, however, I may tell you my own impression: Of course, we are making the best efforts we can every day, toward the final product, to reach a consensus or agreement. Of course, the distance, I hope, is little by little growing smaller. Concretely speaking about what kind of results have been made, I cannot say. It is still in the process of negotiation, so I cannot clearly say what has happened.
Question: Nicholas Scone, from the Independent newspaper. At the beginning of the negotiations last week, the positions among the three principle industrialized country groups were, as I'm sure you're familiar, 15% for Europe and zero for the U.S. Can you give us any indication as to what the upper and lower limits are, between which the final settlement will fall? Can you give us any idea of how this gap has narrowed and what the upper and lower limits are now?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: Several indications have been shown in the newspapers,but I, myself would like to ask you, what kind of figures you have and how you have gotten them.
Question: It's because nobody gives us the answer. That's why we just asked you!
Minister Akihiko Furuya: The formal answer is that this is a very touchy issue.We are now discussing the figures, with several important elements. That's all, thank you.
Question: Concerning the G77, my question pertains to what the U.S. said yesterday about significant or meaningful participation. Mr. Estrada already said that the G77 are participating in a meaningful and significant way. The EU also mentioned this significant or meaningful participation. But this is difficult to understand. What does "significant or meaningful participation" really mean?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: How to interpret significant or meaningful participation? Different interpretations can arise and that is really the gist of the problem. Some countries say that one amount of participation is enough and others say that it is not enough. We are trying to arrive and a consensus as to the degree that is required for something to be qualified as significant or meaningful. We are trying to converge our discussion in that direction. At present, when we talk about significant or meaningful participation, the interpretations are, indeed, varied.
You asked what is meant by significant or meaningful participation. I, myself, do not have a definite, clear-cut definition. But in the text of the protocol, in Article 12, it said "promoting the implementation by all parties." There was also Article 10, which talked about voluntary participation. Then there are the Clean Development Mechanisms, and so forth. What is going to happen to all theseelements? These are all interrelated. We will be looking at all of these elements to judge whether or not participation by developing countries is reallysignificant or meaningful. As we look at this, we will form a concrete image and will be able to judge and reach a consensus as to whether or not that sort of participation is significant or meaningful or not.
Question: Yoshikawa, from the Mainichi Newspaper. You said that several newspapers gave some hints of the figures or numbers. The Mainichi Newspaper, for our part, quoted the source that we got those numbers from. Is it the impression of the Japanese government that those numbers had leaked out or were floated?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: I meant that you are doing very good work as journalists. Frankly speaking, it's not that I've read all the newspapers. I don't have such time. I have read a few and saw some figures in those papers.
Question: What about whether or not these things are coming up in the negotiations, in the talks?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: Are you asking if we are talking about numbers in the negotiations? If that's your question, yes. If we come up with certain frameworks, that will naturally influence those figures and numbers. So it's notas if we are just talking in abstract and generalities. That is not the case. When you talk about frameworks, if they are realistic, you will have to talk about figures and numbers, as well.
Question: ???? from the Associated Press. I'd like to ask that as the host, when do you expect this party to end, at best?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: Tomorrow. Tomorrow is the scheduled ending day of the Kyoto Conference. We hope that there will be a so-called Kyoto Protocol (I don'tinsist on the name, itself). We hope that this protocol will have realistic and achievable targets and related appropriate frameworks. This protocol will be adopted tomorrow night, by consensus.
Question: Wada, from the Kagaku Kogyo Nippo. Let me confirm one thing again. Interms of differentiation, what is the basic stance of the Japanese government? You wouldn't change this position at all, no matter what happens during the process of consultations?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: In the AGBM consultations over the past two-and-one- half years, Japan has devoted a lot to energy-savings efforts. To reflect those efforts, I think that our basic stance of differentiation will not be changed. There are some countries that used to advocate the flat rate. Some of those countries have changed their positions to accept the concept of differentiation.We would like to maintain our basic position on differentiation, as we did two-and-one-half years ago.
Question: Yamaguchi, from the Kyoto Shimbun. You referred to the Clean Development Mechanism. Do what extent do you boil down the consultations at thispoint? When you refer to the "mechanism," what possible mechanism are you talking about?
Minister Akihiko Furuya: We have not necessarily reached an agreement in the language, in the form of Articles, so all I can say is somewhat conceptual, at the moment. We are discussing the scheme. When a developing country tries to undergo a project, either unilaterally or in cooperation with an Annex I country,that developing country will apply to the Clean Development Mechanism. The Mechanism will then evaluate and certify the project, to assess and certify how much effect the project will have on the reduction of GHGs. The mechanism, by certifying the project, will probably help the developing country receive some financing.
As for the certified portion of the project, the developed country can be credited for any reduction of greenhouse gasses in the developing countries, forthe certified portion to be credited against the QELROs commitment of the developed country.
If there are no further questions, we would like to finish this press briefing. Thank you for your attendance.
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