Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO2189
2008-08-08 08:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
CLIMATE CHANGE: NEW ENVIRONMENT MINISTER
how-toVZCZCXRO6249 PP RUEHHM RUEHPB RUEHTM DE RUEHKO #2189 2210838 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 080838Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6466 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002189
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IO, G, EAP/J AND OES/EGC
NSC FOR PAUL BROWN AND JONATHAN SHRIER
CEQ FOR LANDON VAN DYKE
DOE FOR S-3
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2018
TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG PGOV PREL JA
SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE: NEW ENVIRONMENT MINISTER
REPRESENTS HIS PARTY'S PRO-KYOTO VIEWS
REF: A. TOKYO 1585
B. TOKYO 2122
Classified By: DCM James Zumwalt, reasons 1.4 b and d
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002189
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IO, G, EAP/J AND OES/EGC
NSC FOR PAUL BROWN AND JONATHAN SHRIER
CEQ FOR LANDON VAN DYKE
DOE FOR S-3
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2018
TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG PGOV PREL JA
SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE: NEW ENVIRONMENT MINISTER
REPRESENTS HIS PARTY'S PRO-KYOTO VIEWS
REF: A. TOKYO 1585
B. TOKYO 2122
Classified By: DCM James Zumwalt, reasons 1.4 b and d
1. (C) New Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito will represent
the views of the New Komeito Party on climate change, which
are more pro-Kyoto than those of the LDP or other ministries,
according to Ministry of Environment, Office of International
Strategy on Climate Change Director Hiroaki Takiguchi. As
the lone representative in the new cabinet (ref B) of
coalition junior partner the New Komeito Party, Saito, and
climate change policy, could be the focus for the Party to
exert influence on Japanese government policy, Takiguchi told
Embassy Science Counselor during a courtesy call August 7.
(Comment: Komeito has had just one minister in the coalition
cabinets, and does not necessarily rely on that minister for
exerting pressure on every issue that is important to the
Party. Komeito already has an impact on big issues from the
diet schedule, to the date for the elections, to security
policies. The point of concern here is whether Saito will
tend to take a more vocal position on environmental issues
and whether this Komeito connection will have an impact when
Saito meets/talks with other environmental ministers. End
comment.)
2. (C) Saito's predecessor, who hailed from the ruling LDP,
was often in front of the Fukuda Administration on climate
policy, and the Environment Ministry traditionally took a
more pro-Kyoto stance than METI or Japanese industry.
However, PM Fukuda was well aware of New Komeito's views on
climate when he appointed Saito to this position. Moreover,
Fukuda wants to take a more aggressive approach on climate
change issues, according to the Foreign Ministry's new DG for
Global Issues Shinsuke Sugiyama. Amb. Sugiyama told EMIN
Aug. 7 that Fukuda is looking to change the details of his
climate change program, the "Fukuda Vision," which he
unveiled in a June 9 speech (ref A). While climate will not
be the most important issue in the next election, Sugiyama
said, if Fukuda can show a more activist stance on climate
change, it would be hard for the opposition DPJ to use the
issue against him.
3. (C) Saito's actions in his first week on the job back-up
Takiguchi's comments. Two days after assuming office, Saito
said Japan should set a medium-term target to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25 percent by 2020 or
2025 with 1990 as the baseline year. This idea corresponds
to New Komeito Party policy, but is at odds with the official
GOJ stance. While Fukuda's position may be evolving,
previously he and other government officials have said Japan
will announce its mid-term target "at an appropriate time" in
2009, and have suggested moving the baseline year forward to
2005 (ref A). Takiguchi said Saito's comments were his
personal opinions and Japanese government policy remains the
same.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IO, G, EAP/J AND OES/EGC
NSC FOR PAUL BROWN AND JONATHAN SHRIER
CEQ FOR LANDON VAN DYKE
DOE FOR S-3
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2018
TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG PGOV PREL JA
SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE: NEW ENVIRONMENT MINISTER
REPRESENTS HIS PARTY'S PRO-KYOTO VIEWS
REF: A. TOKYO 1585
B. TOKYO 2122
Classified By: DCM James Zumwalt, reasons 1.4 b and d
1. (C) New Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito will represent
the views of the New Komeito Party on climate change, which
are more pro-Kyoto than those of the LDP or other ministries,
according to Ministry of Environment, Office of International
Strategy on Climate Change Director Hiroaki Takiguchi. As
the lone representative in the new cabinet (ref B) of
coalition junior partner the New Komeito Party, Saito, and
climate change policy, could be the focus for the Party to
exert influence on Japanese government policy, Takiguchi told
Embassy Science Counselor during a courtesy call August 7.
(Comment: Komeito has had just one minister in the coalition
cabinets, and does not necessarily rely on that minister for
exerting pressure on every issue that is important to the
Party. Komeito already has an impact on big issues from the
diet schedule, to the date for the elections, to security
policies. The point of concern here is whether Saito will
tend to take a more vocal position on environmental issues
and whether this Komeito connection will have an impact when
Saito meets/talks with other environmental ministers. End
comment.)
2. (C) Saito's predecessor, who hailed from the ruling LDP,
was often in front of the Fukuda Administration on climate
policy, and the Environment Ministry traditionally took a
more pro-Kyoto stance than METI or Japanese industry.
However, PM Fukuda was well aware of New Komeito's views on
climate when he appointed Saito to this position. Moreover,
Fukuda wants to take a more aggressive approach on climate
change issues, according to the Foreign Ministry's new DG for
Global Issues Shinsuke Sugiyama. Amb. Sugiyama told EMIN
Aug. 7 that Fukuda is looking to change the details of his
climate change program, the "Fukuda Vision," which he
unveiled in a June 9 speech (ref A). While climate will not
be the most important issue in the next election, Sugiyama
said, if Fukuda can show a more activist stance on climate
change, it would be hard for the opposition DPJ to use the
issue against him.
3. (C) Saito's actions in his first week on the job back-up
Takiguchi's comments. Two days after assuming office, Saito
said Japan should set a medium-term target to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25 percent by 2020 or
2025 with 1990 as the baseline year. This idea corresponds
to New Komeito Party policy, but is at odds with the official
GOJ stance. While Fukuda's position may be evolving,
previously he and other government officials have said Japan
will announce its mid-term target "at an appropriate time" in
2009, and have suggested moving the baseline year forward to
2005 (ref A). Takiguchi said Saito's comments were his
personal opinions and Japanese government policy remains the
same.
SCHIEFFER