TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - G8 SUMMIT

UNCLAS TOKYO 001885 SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - G8 SUMMIT ¶1. LEAD STORIES: All Wednesday morning papers gave prominent top coverage to Tuesday's adoption of a G8 summit declaration calling for a 50-percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. ¶2. "Unimpressive G8 Accord on Emissions Cut" The business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (7/8): "...The 50-percent reduction is not a G8 commitment. It was written (in the summit declaration) as a G8 call for the world to share. It can be said that the accord was compiled in deference to the Bush administration, which has called for the participation of China and India. Prime Minister Fukuda may say that he did a good job in winning over the U.S., which had been negative about a long-term reduction goal, but the magnitude of the issue does not warrant terming the reaffirmation of a 40-year, nonbinding target as 'progress.'... It is believed that the EU made a concession to the U.S. in order not to slow ongoing UN negotiations on global warming. PM Fukuda may have done well to play the role of a bridge between the G8 and the UN." ¶3. "How Will China Respond?" The liberal Asahi wrote (7/8): "The U.S. had long been hesitant about endorsing a 50 percent reduction in emissions by 2050 as a target. Against this backdrop, the matter has now been passed to the UN. It can be said that Japan and Europe outperformed the Bush administration in order to make sure that the UN takes the lead (in negotiations over emissions cuts)." ¶4. "U.S. Compromise Constitutes Progress" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun asserted (7/8): "It can be said that a 50- percent reduction was formally recognized as a shared worldwide goal. The declaration also expressed the G8's understanding for setting a mid-term reduction goal by saying that member states, where applicable, will implement ambitious economy-wide mid-term goals. This can also be judged as progress.... As a major emitter, each G8 member state should swiftly draw up a mid-term goal and exercise leadership in reducing emissions." ¶5. "Responsibility of Advanced Nations Remain Unclear" The liberal Mainichi contended (7/8): "The worst-case scenario was averted, as the summit came up with specific figures and as the U.S. endorsed them. The summit declaration, however, did not state that the G8 agreed on halving emissions by 2050. It did not specifically state to what extent the advanced countries are willing to fulfill their own responsibilities. On the contrary, the G8 position is premised upon the participation of all the major economies. The developed countries are urged to reduce emissions more than the global target in order to ensure the participation of developing nations. Considering this, it is questionable that this agreement is strong enough to give a boost to reductions under a post-Kyoto Protocol framework." SCHIEFFER