CLIMATE CHANGE: FURTHER GOJ THOUGHTS ON KOBE AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001547 SIPDIS STATE FOR G, E, OES, EEB CEQ FOR JAMES CONNAUGHTON NSC FOR PAUL BROWN AND JONATHAN SHRIER E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2018 TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG JA SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE: FURTHER GOJ THOUGHTS ON KOBE AND UPCOMING MEETINGS REF: A. TOKYO 1476 ¶B. TOKYO 1496 ¶C. STATE 56636 ¶D. STATE 59076 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, reasons 1.4 b/d ¶1. (C) Summary: Foreign Ministry Director-General for Global Issues, Koji Tsuruoka, told EMIN Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda and Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura are now concerned that the U.S. is focused on the Major Economies Meeting at the expense of the G8. At the same time they are asking what the top levels of the USG are doing with other governments to ensure the MEM realizes U.S. objectives. Tsuruoka noted Fukuda's recent direct engagement with Chinese, Brazilian, and South African leaders and that they were not showing movement toward the desired positions on greenhouse gas cuts. Tsuruoka stressed the need for progress at the upcoming MEM in Seoul if the goals the U.S. and Japan had shared for the MEM in Hokkaido are to be realized, but he expressed concern that the Koreans may not be able to produce the needed progress and that the time remaining before the July MEM leaders' meeting may be too short. End Summary. ¶2. (C) EMIN followed-up with MOFA Director-General for Global Issues Koji Tsuruoka June 5 regarding U.S. disatisfaction with the outcome of the G8 Environment Ministerial and the Ambassador's May 30 meeting with Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura (refs B and C). Tsuruoka said the GOJ was surprised by the ref C demarche and the seriousness with which the U.S. views the situation. According to Tsuruoka, Machimura had not read the Chair's Summary coming out of the Environment Ministerial until just before his meeting with the Ambassador. Tsuruoka also stated the GOJ does not think statements such as that issued at Kobe have much impact and that Japan looks at the G8 ministerial meetings as independent and separate from the Summit. Preparations for the G8 Summit agenda take place solely through the sherpa process, he said. ¶3. (C) Casting his words as his "personal response," Tsuruoka said the U.S. demarche had focused Prime Minister Fukuda and Machimura on the issue. However, the PM and CCS are also now wondering whether the U.S. is interested only in the MEM, and not in the success of the G8. EMIN noted one reason for the demarche was to help prevent problems at the G8. Tsuruoka then noted Fukuda had personally engaged with the leaders of China, South Africa and Brazil in recent weeks to bring them on board for a successful statement on climate at the ME Leaders Meeting. The Prime Minister and Machimura are asking, however, about the personal engagement of top U.S. leaders to advance the MEM. Tsuruoka said he needed information regarding U.S. high-level engagement with foreign leaders to advance the MEM in order to assure Fukuda the U.S. was "doing all its homework" for a successful ME Leaders Meeting. When EMIN noted examples of the President's and other USG officials' statements and work in the MEM, Tsuruoka suggested what the Kantei is looking for is information regarding U.S. officials' behind-the-scenes or other diplomatic engagement with key senior figures in other major economies on climate change. ¶4. (C) Comment -- Tsuruoka's comments on top GOJ attitudes on the current state of play in international discussions on climate change do not track with Machimura's remarks last week to the Ambassador and Senator Lieberman (refs A and B). In those meetings, Machimura asked for U.S. flexibility on climate change at the G8. One possible reason for the discrepancy -- Tsuruoka has been at his job too long and is too steeped in the issue to be this off-message -- is that MOFA is looking for additional information on U.S. efforts in order to influence the discussions that are underway in the GOJ. SCHIEFFER