Japan-US Summit Meeting
(30 June 2001, at Camp David, the United States of America)
Outline of the Talks on Climate Change

2 July 2001

1. Interaction in the Summit Meeting

(1) Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stated that his Cabinet gives one of the top priorities to environmental policies, noting that Japan would like to cooperate together with the European Union (EU) and the world in collaboration with the United States in dealing with global warming. The Prime Minister affirmed the importance of the spirit of the Kyoto Protocol in such collaborative efforts and that there was still time for Japan-US consultations on the issue. The Prime Minister stated that it would be more effective if Japan and the United States were to work closely with one another and that the world would benefit as a result.

(2) Bearing in mind Japan's taking of leadership in dealing with global warming issues, President George W. Bush stating that while the United States respects the Kyoto Protocol's objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the means by which to achieve this goal was important.

2. Contents of the Joint Statement

The President and Prime Minister expressed their shared understanding of the seriousness of the challenge posed by climate change. The Prime Minister pointed to the importance of the Kyoto Protocol in this regard. The President and Prime Minister recognized that climate change is a pressing global problem requiring a global approach. Bearing in mind Japan's leadership at Kyoto, the President welcomed the Prime Minister's offer to promptly initiate high-level US-Japan government-to-government consultations to explore common ground and areas for common action on climate change.

3. Press Conference

Prime Minister Koizumi emphasized the seriousness of global warming, affecting not only the global environment, but also the ecosystem and humankind. Furthermore, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that if the United States considered Japan's approach and cooperated with Japan, it would be highly beneficial, and that he would instruct Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister of the Environment, to initiate bilateral consultations with the US government in order to realize the spirit of the Kyoto Protocol.