Mr. Hatoyama's world debut
(From The Japan Times Sept. 25 issue)

鳩山首相外交デビュー

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama made a strong diplomatic debut on the international stage Sept. 22, pledging that Japan will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels. The pledge was made in a speech delivered in English at the United Nations Summit on Climate Change, held just six days after his ascent to the premiership.

On Sept. 21, Mr. Hatoyama had met Chinese President Hu Jintao and expressed his idea of creating an East Asia community, although the two leaders made no concrete agreement on this matter.

At the climate change summit, attended by leaders from more than 140 countries, U.S. President Barack Obama called on developed nations to lead efforts to combat global warming while stressing the importance of emerging nations playing due roles. He also said the United States will double the generating capacity of renewable energy sources, including wind power, in three years and push projects to capture carbon pollution from coal-burning plants. Earlier, he had announced a U.S. emissions target of returning to 1990 levels by 2020.

Mr. Hu said China will endeavor to cover 15 percent of its needs with energy from nuclear power and renewable sources by 2020, and reduce "by a notable margin" carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product from the 2005 level, again by 2020. He also called on developed nations to assist emerging nations in the latter's efforts to combat global warming.

While Mr. Obama and Mr. Hu made important points, Mr. Hatoyama's speech appears to have had a stronger impact. He is to be commended for making clear Japan's readiness to assist developing countries. Besides setting the emissions target, he declared that Japan is prepared to provide more financial and technical assistance to developing countries, especially vulnerable countries and island nations, in their efforts to solve the problems of climate change.

The "Hatoyama Initiative" includes new and additional public and private financing for developing countries; development of rules to facilitate recognition of developing countries' emissions reductions, especially those achieved through financial assistance, in a verifiable manner; and establishment of a framework to promote the transfer of low-carbon technologies while ensuring the protection of intellectual property rights.

The possibility of conflict between developing and developed countries should not be ignored. Developing countries call for 40 percent emissions cuts by developed countries. But the latter think that emerging nations such as China and India should set numerical targets for emissions cuts. Japan's emissions account for only 4 percent of global emissions while the United States and China together are responsible for 40 percent.

Mr. Hatoyama clarified that Japan's commitment is premised on agreement by other major economies on ambitious targets. Still, his pledge of a 25 percent emissions cut and assistance to developing countries could become a catalyst to move negotiations forward toward a global framework for efforts to fight global warming from 2013 — after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

To achieve this, Japan first needs to make strenuous efforts to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. It has to reduce emissions by 6 percent in the 2008-2012 period from 1990 levels, yet its emissions in fiscal 2007 were 9 percent above 1990 levels. The target set by Mr. Hatoyama means that Japan must cut emissions by 30 percent or more from current levels.

In his U.N. speech, Mr. Hatoyama said he will mobilize all available policy tools, including the launching of a domestic emissions trading mechanism, a feed-in tariff for renewable energy and the "consideration" of a global warming tax. An expected increase in financial and other burdens may cause public resistance to Mr. Hatoyama's plans. He needs to fully explain them to gain their support.

In his meeting with Mr. Hu, Mr. Hatoyama said he stands by then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama's official 1995 apology for Japan's military aggression and colonialism, a position praised by Mr. Hu. In view of a bilateral agreement on joint development of gas resources in the East China Sea, Mr. Hatoyama said the sea should become a "sea of fraternity." He complained about what appears to be unilateral action by China in one gas field. Mr. Hu proposed that the matter be dealt with at working-level talks.

It is important that Japan and China build mutually beneficial and trustful ties. But as Mr. Hatoyama strives to deepen Japan-China relations, he must take care to safeguard Japan's national interests.

鳩山首相は国連気候変動サミットで、温室効果ガスを2020年までに90年比25 % 削減すると表明、力強い外交デビューを果たした。

中国の胡主席との会談では東アジア共同体構想にも触れたが、具体的合意には至らなかった。

サミットでオバマ米大統領は、温暖化対策での先進国の率先的取り組みを呼びかけ途上国の役割分担も強調した。再生可能エネルギー倍増や二酸化炭素吸収プロジェクト推進も表明した。

胡主席は20年までに全エネルギーに占める非化石エネルギーの割合を15％に高める目標を表明。温室効果ガス排出量を05年の水準より著しく減らす方針を示した。

鳩山首相が途上国、特に気候変動の影響を受けやすい国や島嶼国への支援に対する日本の積極姿勢を明確にしたことは評価に値する。

「鳩山イニシアチブ」は官民資金での追加的途上国支援、被援助国の排出削減を検証できるルールや技術移転の際の知的所有権保護を含む。

日本の公約は主要国の参加と意欲的な目標の合意が前提だが、ポスト京都議定書の枠組み作りの交渉に弾みをつけることが期待される。

日本は京都議定書が定める08年〜12年に90年比6％減が急務だが、07年度に90年比9 % 増を記録、首相の公約では現在より30 % 削減が必要だ。

首相は、国内排出量取引制度や再生可能エネルギーの固定価格買い取り制度、地球温暖化対策税など政策の総動員を誓った。負担増による産業界の反発に対しては、十分な説明が必要だ。

胡主席は歴史認識で村山談話を踏襲するとした首相の立場を評価。首相は東シナ海を「友愛の海」にと訴え、ガス田での中国の動きに懸念を示したが、主席は実務協議を提案した。

日中の互恵的信頼関係構築は大事だが、国益を守ることも忘れないようにすべきだ。