Japan's basic policy

Japan’s basic policy regarding its assistance
based on “Cool Earth Partnership”

１．In realizing the vision of “global sustainable society” in the long run, the government of Japan considers it necessary for each and every country in the world assuming its role under the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities” including developing countries to share the understanding that they should collaborate with one another to formulate a flexible, diverse and effective post-2012 framework on climate change in which they will take actions and work together towards significant reduction of greenhouse gases.

２．Japan is prepared to provide assistance in the areas of mitigation, adaptation and access to clean energy, based on the following “Philosophies” and the “Basic Policy Directions”, to developing countries that actively engages themselves in a post-2012 framework and make efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve economic growth in a compatible way, in order to enable them to address the issue of climate change in an effective manner.

(1) Underlying Philosophies
(a) Taking on climate change universally

Climate change is an urgent issue for all humanity affecting “human security.” Accordingly, all actors (national governments, private sector and individuals) must make conscious efforts to address this issue.

(b) Achieving sustainable development (Making climate change management and economic development
compatible)

It is important to ensure that implementation of measures to tackle climate change will have a positive effect on economy as well, and to encourage this by pursuing a path toward development that will bring co-benefits.

It is essential to promote the dissemination of a wide range of environment and energy technologies and expertise including those related to energy conservation.

It is important to take a comprehensive approach in carrying out measures against climate change, harmonizing them with efforts made to address other environmental issues such as forest reduction or deterioration and loss of biodiversity. Such comprehensive approach should also take into account challenges in other sectors including water, agriculture, health and disaster reduction, as well as the degree of vulnerability to climate change and the need
for a good balance between mitigation and adaptation measures.

Each actor in developing countries involved in the efforts to address climate change, from the community level up to the national level, should play its role with a clear sense of responsibility in their respective positions, acting under the principles of self help effort. The international community should support such actions.

(2) Basic Policy Direction
(a) Promotion of comprehensive environment conservation

We should create a “low carbon society,” in which drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is achieved through the prevention of environmental pollution as well as the development of adequate systems and infrastructure for energy conservation. At the same time, creation of a “sound material-cycle society” in which resources are not wasted, as well as a “society in harmony with nature” in which ecosystems are protected as the basis of human existence, should also be pursued to ensure comprehensive and balanced environment conservation.

(b) Introduction of a mid- to long-term perspective

The international community should set the target of cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2050, and promote effective mitigation measures in order to achieve this target.

We should mainstream adaptation in development in order to build up mid- to long-term resilience of society to climate change, by taking short-term measures to respond to climate disasters as well as incorporating measures to address climate change into development plans of developing countries, particularly in Least Developed Countries and small island countries.

We should promote action by and partnership among various actors (communities, regions, national governments, international organizations, business sector, NGOs, experts etc.).

(d) Flexible and Diverse Response

We should promote measures suited to the natural, social, and economic context of each country and region, paying due respect to their respective traditions and cultures.