ENVIRONMENT MINISTER EAGER TO COOPERATE ON CLIMATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002238 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR S/SECC - TODD STERN AND JONATHAN PERSHING EAP/J - VIRGINIA MURRAY AND HEATHER DRESSER IO, G, INR-B OES/EGC - TRIGG TALLEY, EDWARD FENDLEY, 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 PASS TO USTR FOR BEEMAN EPA FOR CHRISTOPHER GRUNDLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2014 TAGS: SENV ENRG PBIO KGHG JP SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT MINISTER EAGER TO COOPERATE ON CLIMATE CHANGE, TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION Classified By: Ambassador John V. Roos for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) Prime Minister Hatoyama looks forward to working with President Obama on climate change and a nuclear-free world, Environment Minister Sakihito Ozawa told the Ambassador during a September 18 courtesy call. Ozawa credited President Obama's election for triggering similar political change in Japan and said the U.S. and Japan have much common ground for cooperation on clean energy and measures to prevent global warming. ¶2. (C) Referring to opposition to Prime Minister Hatoyama's call for a more aggressive emissions reduction target, Ozawa said the new government's commitment on this issue means that industry "cannot help but change." In particular, Ozawa said he is counting on support from the next generation of business leaders. Ozawa said his predecessor advised him on coming into office that the business community's position is not uniform, and he should take advantage of differences between older executives opposed to change and up-and-coming business leaders who welcome a more aggressive emissions target as an opportunity. ¶3. (C) Ozawa also stressed the importance of technological innovation to solve climate change, noting Japanese and U.S. superiority in clean energy technologies. The Ambassador agreed on the opportunities for cooperation between the U.S. and Japan to promote innovative technological solutions to climate change. ¶4. (C) On cooperation towards a nuclear-free world, Ozawa referred to President Obama's Prague speech as "impressive" and said it created "great expectations." ¶5. (C) Bio note: Ozawa exchanged courtesies with the Ambassador in English but then said he preferred to work through an interpreter. ROOS