PM-ELECT HATOYAMA ANNOUNCES STRICTER GREENHOUSE GAS

UNCLAS TOKYO 002067 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR S/SECC - TODD STERN AND JONATHAN PERSHING EAP/J - VIRGINIA MURRAY AND HEATHER DRESSER IO, G OES/EGC - TRIGG TALLEY, EDWARD FENDLEY, NORMAN BARTH, CHRISTO ARTUSIO, WENDELA MOORE, AND AMANDA VOCKERODT PASS TO USAID USDOC FOR NOAA CLIMATE CHANGE OFFICE - SID THURSTON WHITE HOUSE FOR CEQ - NANCY SUTLEY USDOE FOR S-3 - ROBERT MARLAY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG PREL KGHG JA SUBJECT: PM-ELECT HATOYAMA ANNOUNCES STRICTER GREENHOUSE GAS TARGETS REF: (A) TOKYO 1319; (B) TOKYO 1218; (C) TOKYO 683; (D) 08 TOKYO 3270 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Prime Minister-Elect Hatoyama, on September 7, called for a new target of reducing Japan's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25 percent by 2020, from 1990 levels. The goal is far more ambitious than the proposal put forth by former PM Aso in June and approximately double the pledged emissions cuts from the U.S. or the EU. The move appears to have been made without substantial consultations with Japanese ministries, which have expressed mixed reactions. The response from businesses -- which opposed previous GHG cuts -- has been muted so far. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President and Japan's PM-elect Yukio Hatoyama stated his intention to drastically increase the target of reducing Japan's GHG emissions to 25 percent by 2020 (from a 1990 baseline),during remarks at the World Economy Forum in Tokyo September 7. The new target, equivalent to about a 30 percent cut from 2005 levels, far exceeds the 15 percent reduction (from 2005 levels) called for by former PM Aso (Ref A). It is also about double the emissions reductions proposed by the U.S. or the EU for the same time period. The new target, which was included in the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)'s election manifesto (Ref D),would be contingent upon an agreement by all major emitters on "ambitious" reduction goals. ¶3. (SBU) The PM-elect called on developing nations to make efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. He added that he intends to launch a "Hatoyama Initiative," which would provide a mechanism for developed nations to provide financial and technical support to developing nations that aggressively try to cut emissions and to give adaptation assistance to vulnerable developing countries. Hatoyama said he will provide more details of his plan at the September 22 UN Secretary-General's Climate Change Summit in New York. A mid-level Foreign Ministry official suggested the GOJ would need to present the proposal before the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Working Group (AWG-LCA) session in Bangkok, which starts September 28, to have a chance of including it in the Copenhagen agreement. ¶4. (SBU) Reaction within the GOJ varied by ministry, with Ministry of Environmental officials telling Post they would try hard to implement the new target and MOFA Vice Minister Yabunaka stating at a September 7 press conference that it would be excellent if the DPJ target would help Japan to take a leadership role in international negotiations. However, Vice Minister Mochizuki, METI's top career official, said at a September 7 news conference that Hatoyama, "needs to be aware that he is choosing a very tough road ahead for the Japanese people and economy." Several mid-level GOJ employees told econoffs that Hatoyama's announcement came as a surprise since their offices had not been consulted in advance. ¶5. (SBU) Thus far, the response from the Japanese business federation Nippon Keidanren has been conspicuously muted. The group had resisted the far laxer 15 percent reduction proposal adopted by former PM Aso in June (Ref A). A spokesman said Keidanren would ask the DPJ for an explanation of Hatoyama's remarks. A Nippon Steel Corporation contact told us his company is promoting sectoral-based as opposed to nation-specific targets, a view common in Japan's heavy industry, which is the most efficient in the world. ¶6. (SBU) The Japanese offices of international and domestic environmental NGOS greeted Hatoyama's remarks enthusiastically. An official of the Japanese NGO Kiko Network described it as an important step toward Copenhagen. A World Wildlife Fund contact told us she was exhilarated by Hatoyama's speech. ROOS