1. Introduction

1. (1) Keidanren formulated an Action Plan on the Environment in 1997, under which it has demonstrated numerous accomplishments in the areas of energy conservation and CO₂ emission reduction. On 17 January this year we launched Keidanren's Commitment to a Low Carbon Society^#1, which takes our Action Plan カジノシークレット 即出金he next level and marks the beginning of new activities where we contribute through technology to achieving the goal of halving global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.

   While maintaining カジノシークレット 即出金nhancing the world's most advanced levels of low-carbon technology カジノシークレット 即出金nergy efficiency, industrial sectors and companies participating in Keidanren's Commitment to a Low Carbon Society are also making an international contribution through initiatives including technology transfer to developing countries as well as developing innovative new technologies. By steadily implementing Keidanren's Commitment to a Low Carbon Society, the Japanese business community will continue to lead global efforts to combat climate change.

2. (2) On 25 January this year, the administration headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which took office at the end of 2012, announced that prior カジノシークレット 即出金he 19th session of the Conference of the Parties カジノシークレット 即出金he United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change it would conduct a zero-based review of the 25 percent emission reduction target and develop assertive diplomatic strategies カジノシークレット 即出金ackle climate change in the aim of making a global contribution by fully utilising advanced Japanese technologies. In addition, the Japan Revitalisation Strategy approved by the cabinet on 14 June set policy direction for full-scale introduction of a bilateral/joint offset mechanism and formulation of a New Low-Carbon Technology Plan.

   A zero-based review of the previous administration's energy カジノシークレット 即出金nvironment strategy was also announced, and the government declared its intention to formulate responsible energy policy. Since CO₂ from energy sources accounts for approximately 90 percent of Japan's GHG emissions, climate change policy needs to be consistent with energy policy.

3. (3) We make the following proposals in the firm expectation that assertive diplomatic strategies カジノシークレット 即出金ackle climate change will be organically linked to Keidanren's Commitment to a Low Carbon Society.

2. Fundamental Approach

1. (1) Climate change should be addressed worldwide from a long-term perspective. Efforts カジノシークレット 即出金ackle this issue must be compatible with economic growth in order for all major emitters to make a long-term commitment to combating climate change, and advanced technologies hold the key to achieving such compatibility.

   By maximising the use of best available technologies (BAT) for energy conservation and low-carbon solutions in tandem with development and commercialisation of innovative technologies enabling extensive emission reductions, countries can aim at sustainable development while also achieving major reductions in GHG emissions.

2. (2) Widespread international use of advanced technologies, products, カジノシークレット 即出金xpertise developed by Japanese industry can improve countries' energy efficiency, create low-carbon societies, reduce resource consumption, and contribute to global climate change countermeasures^#2.

   The Japanese business community also possesses advanced technologies for adapting to various effects of climate change, and needs to offer proactive support to developing countries.

   Such initiatives will help Japanese companies to expand their overseas business, and thus also contribute カジノシークレット 即出金he government's key priority of revitalising Japan's economy.

3. Measures Aimed at Spread of Japan's Energy-Saving and Low-Carbon Technologies and Products

(1) Creating an environment for the international spread of advanced technologies

(2) Encouraging emerging and developing countries to adopt low-carbon technologies

(3) Promoting a bilateral/joint offset mechanism

4. Development of Innovative Technologies

1. (1) The international community has set the ambitious target of halving worldwide GHG emissions by 2050. In order to involve developing countries in meeting this target, it will be essential not only to maximise the introduction of existing BAT, but also to develop and commercialise innovative technologies to achieve new breakthroughs. To remain a leader in constantly generating new BAT, Japan needs to establish a technology creation cycle, where profits from the development and deployment of innovative technology are ploughed back into further technology development.

2. (2) However, since many innovative technologies require huge budgets and long development timelines from basic research to development and commercialisation, it is difficult for individual companies and industries to shoulder the entire risk. The government needs to share a technology development road map with the business community and focus its R&D investment on priority areas. The government should also further enhance the R&D tax incentive system to encourage corporate investment in R&D. Moreover, an environment conducive カジノシークレット 即出金rials of new technologies needs to be created.

3. (3) In the near future Keidanren intends to publish the results of a questionnaire on energy and low-carbon technologies^#6. We call upon the government to make steady progress with technology development policy, taking into account the views of the business community, which plays a key role in technology.

5. A Framework for 2020 and Beyond

1. (1) In considering the framework to be applied by all countries from 2020, a bottom-up approach with target-setting predicated on maximum introduction of BAT, as adopted in Keidanren's Commitment to a Low Carbon Society, will be effective in encouraging maximum effort based on conditions prevailing in each country in order to achieve economic growth while combating climate change.

2. (2) カジノシークレット 即出金his end, Keidanren has been advocating a pledge and review approach, whereby countries voluntarily submit and pledge to reduction targets and action plans, and progress towards fulfilment of targets is internationally reviewed. Keidanren has also emphasised the vital importance of proper measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) to ensure transparency and reliability.

   In recent United Nations negotiations, developed countries have supported a framework enabling each country to determine its own targets and measures and submit these カジノシークレット 即出金he United Nations, followed by international review. We hope that concrete examination emphasising national autonomy will be conducted, since this will also encourage developing and emerging countries with large emission volumes or high levels of capability to strive for similar reductions to developed countries.

3. (3) To create effective climate change countermeasures amid increasingly complex global economic links and flourishing trade, it is crucial not to focus solely on economy-wide targets, but rather カジノシークレット 即出金ake a multifaceted approach that encourages industry- and sector-specific measures to enhance energy efficiency worldwide and evaluates GHG reductions throughout the product life cycle.

6. Conclusion

1. (1) Keidanren is committed to action, and will contribute to reducing worldwide GHG emissions through our Commitment to a Low Carbon Society, which encompasses proactive initiatives not only to reduce emissions in Japan, but also to support developing countries and develop innovative technologies.

2. (2) We hope that the government will formulate effective and assertive diplomatic strategies カジノシークレット 即出金ackle climate change so that the public and private sectors can cooperate to achieve economic growth for Japan, making an international contribution through initiatives including support for developing countries, and combating global climate change integrally.

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1. See /en/policy/2013/003_commitment.pdf for full text.
2. For example, it is estimated that if coal-fired thermal power plants in the US, China, and India used the latest highly efficient technologies already operating in Japan, they could reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 1.3 billion t-CO₂. The International Energy Agency has calculated that international transfer and widespread use of energy conservation technologies has the potential to reduce steel industry emissions by approximately 400 million t-CO₂, and Japanese technologies and products are estimated to have the potential to reduce chemical industry emissions by approximately 300 million t-CO₂. There are numerous other examples of energy conservation technologies, products, and services developed by Japanese industry that can contribute to global climate change countermeasures, including next-generation automobiles, inverter air conditioners, and safer nuclear power generation.
3. For example, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation proposed that an ISO standard should be set for methods of assessing CO₂ efficiency in steel plant production processes to appropriately evaluate Japan's cutting-edge initiatives in this field, and in March this year ISO published ISO14404: Calculation Method of Carbon Dioxide Emission Intensity from Iron and Steel Production, a world first.
4. Use of waste heat, use of alternative energy derived from waste material and biomass, disposal of HFCs and CFCs, etc.
5. See /policy/2013/036.pdf (in Japanese)
6. See /en/policy/2013/069.html for the results that were eventually made public on 22 July 2013.