Events

In our calendar, you can find all the events organised or sponsored by the EU-Japan Centre, as well as other events related to EU-Japan relations.

30/09/2010 - Japan, Tokyo

International Climate Change Negotiations: EU and Japanese Positions in the Run-up to COP 16 (Seminar)

On Thursday 30 September 2010, the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan and Nikkei Business Publications Eco Management Forum, organised in Tokyo a seminar on “International Climate Change Negotiations: EU and Japanese Positions in the Run-up to COP16". In this event, Mr. Jurgen Lefevere, Policy Coordinator, International Climate Change Negotiations, Directorate-General for Climate Action at the European Commission, presented the EU position in the run-up to COP16 and, on the Japanese side, Ambassador Mutsuyoshi Nishimura, Special Advisor to the Cabinet in charge of Climate Change, detailed his views what is at stake in this international negotiation, whilst Mr. Keisuke Murakami, Director, Global Environment Affairs Office, Industrial Science & Technology Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry (METI), presented the audience the Japanese contribution to the international climate change negotiations through technology.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen in December 2009 (COP15) failed to conclude a legally binding agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997. The parties only agreed to “take note” of what became the Copenhagen Accord, an agreement that contains a number of positive elements but fell short of the high expectations. In December 2010, COP16 will take place in Cancun, Mexico. The negotiating parties have tried all over this year to bridge the gaps left open by the Copenhagen talks.

• Mr. Jurgen Lefevere underlined the urgency of the current global environmental situation in which all countries need to act in order to collectively reduce their CO2 emissions. The European Union is willing to become the most climate-friendly region in the world. Its binding legislation has had a significant impact (17% reduction of CO2 emission by EU27 since 1990), which has been amplified by the economic slowdown. Moreover, the EU is already delivering on its fast-start funding commitment for developing countries (7.2 billion Euro from 2010 to 2012). The EU has a preference for a single new and legally-binding global agreement, but would also agree for a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, provided that its weaknesses (AAU surplus, LULUCF rules) are addressed. However, various political issues still need to be further looked at: mitigation, MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) framework, market mechanisms, finance architecture, Assignment Amount Unit surplus, aviation and maritime and HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons). Two months before Cancun, these points of concerns are jeopardizing success in COP16.
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• Ambassador Mutsuyoshi Nishimura presented his views by pointing at 5 main issues: according to him, in order to get practical results, a single framework covering all major emitters is a must　and a stronger cooperation with the EU in this perspective is more than welcome. More generally, the UNFCC negotiations will require a strong unity among industrialized countries to conclude this agreement. Forecasts about investments in new technologies for a low carbon economy show that huge amounts will be invested by key players and a clear target must be identified for the long-term in order for these investments to succeed in delivering the right impact on climate change. One of the main threats/uncertainties is, in the Ambassador’s view, the US public reluctance to see Government intervene in this field (as in others).
• Mr. Keisuke Murakami outlined Japan’s contribution to GHG emissions reduction through low carbon technologies and products. While international negotiations are stagnating, Japan is promoting bilateral cooperation through Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). But, as the review process is very long (more than 2 years) and CDM is difficult to apply to the major clean technologies, private sector is still reluctant to participate. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has therefore started to fund feasibility studies with the objective to exploring and designing possible joint GHG reduction projects (Japanese private companies with organizations in developing countries) and bilateral offset mechanisms. To date, 15 projects have been adopted with a total budget of 9 million US dollars (e.g. highly efficient coal power plants, REDD+, introduction of energy efficient technologies at iron and steel plants, etc.).
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This seminar was attended by over 130 people from the business sector, EU Member States Embassies, NGOs and academia . We also welcomed a Member of the House of Councillors (New Komeito party), former Vice Minister for Environment (2003-2004). Several questions were raised on the EU project to implement a 30% CO2 reduction after COP16, on the EU opinion about a second Kyoto period and the UN negotiating process, on the best way to convince reluctant countries to sign the future agreement, on the balance between financial incentives and regulatory measures, and on the possibility to link the growing population issue to the global environmental issue.

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