Archived press release

Japan threat to climate talks

16 July 2001

A threat by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to delay the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol until October jeopordises the whole process, Friends of the Earth International warned today.The resumed UN climate talks started today in Bonn, Germany.

While most other industrialised countries have expressed their intention to ratify the treaty without the US - which has refused to back the deal - Japan's position has been ambiguous. In order for Kyoto to enter into force, countries representing 55% of industrialised countries' emissions must ratify the treaty.Without Japan's paticipation, the whole treaty could collapse.

When Koizumi met the US president at Camp David last month, he insisted that Japan would keep trying to convince the US to reverse its position. However, at the first meeting of the newly established US-Japan climate bilateral held on 13 July, the US administration reiterated unequivocally that it has no intention to come back.

Kate Hampton, Climate Co-ordinator for Friends of the Earth International said:
'Prime Minister Koizumi is playing a dangerous and contradictory game. He says Japan wants the treaty to come into force by 2002, but if he carries out his threat of delaying the agreement in a vain attempt to get the US on board, the whole deal could collapse. Japan must not be distracted by American attempts to scupper the Protocol. Unless the Japanese government now states its intention to ratify the treaty without the US, the chance for meaningful international action on climate change could be lost. And if this happens the Japanese will have to shoulder much of the blame.”

Yuri Onodera, of Friends of the Earth Japan said
“The Japanese Premier fails to grasp the urgency of this issue. In the upcoming elections, he hopes the Japanese people will trust him to tackle the difficult challenges the nation faces today, particularly economic reform. But if he cannot face up to climate change, how can we trust him on other issues? The Kyoto treaty is a small first step to reduce our climate impact. The Prime Minister must clarify the doubt on his commitment right now”

FOE members in Finland demonstrated today in front of the Japanese Embassy in Helsinki.Demonstrators carrying banners in English, Japanese and Finnish urged Japan to ratify the Kyoto Protocol without the US.

Oras Tynkkynen, Friends of the Earth Finland said
“The fate of the Kyoto Protocol now lies in the hands of Japan. Koizumi must act now and save the deal”

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust