Environment tops Japan's G-8 agenda

Straits Times 2 Jan 08;

TOKYO - JAPAN took over the presidency of the Group of Eight (G-8) club of the world's leading economies yesterday, with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda determined to focus on climate change and environmental issues.

Japan - the world's second biggest economy after the United States - is also the home of the Kyoto Protocol, the landmark 1997 treaty that launched the fight against global warming.

So when leaders of the rich club convene for a summit in July in Toyako, a northern resort in the Japanese island of Hokkaido, it will be with climate change on their mind.

'Environmental issues will be a big agenda' item at the summit, Mr Fukuda said in a New Year statement.

'Japan hopes to lead the worldwide discussions in order to hand over clean skies to our children.'

It has announced four main topics for the summit: environment and climate change; the world economy; development and Africa; and broad political issues such as nuclear non-proliferation and the fight against terrorism.

Apart from Japan and outgoing president Germany, the G-8 club also comprises Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Russia and the United States.

China is not a member but habitually gets invited.

Mr Fukuda plans a 'global climate change' summit immediately before the G-8 leaders meet and has reportedly invited the leaders of China, India, South Korea and Indonesia.

Last week, Mr Fukuda vowed to use Japan's presidency to promote eco-friendly technology, saying 'we must promote our technologies to the rest of the world'.

Japan has proposed a goal of cutting global emissions by half by 2050 from what they were in 1990.

But Tokyo is far behind on its own Kyoto obligations to slash emissions by 6 per cent by 2012 as its economy recovers from a 1990s recession.

Japan also aims to use its lead role to spearhead a health drive aimed at getting the world back on track to meeting UN targets on poverty and disease, the government has said.

The goals, adopted at a UN summit in 2000, seek progress in eight areas by 2015, including cutting child mortality rates and halting the spread of Aids.

In the New Year statement, Mr Fukuda also pledged to resume naval operations near Afghanistan after he resolves a political dispute over Tokyo's role in the global fight against terrorist groups.

Japan was forced to call its ships home on Nov 1 after legislation expired due to the deadlock in parliament. The opposition has insisted that pacifist Japan should not be part of 'American wars'.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS