15th Nov 2009 : Asahi Newspaper
[ Reuters \ Singapore \ 14th Nov ]
Leaders of APEC (the Asia-Pacific Economic Committee), at a meeting held in Singapore, have made it clear that the target for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to be made public in a declaration on 15th Nov will be expressed by the English word ’substantially’.
Hitherto, public statements have been to the effect that the target for greenhouse gas emissions is a specific reduction to 50% of 1990 levels by the year 2050.
It is not clear to what extent this change in wording is due to the influence of the new Hatoyama administration on the Japanese side, though the Democratic Party manifesto spells out a policy of closer cooperation with the economies of the Asia-Pacific region. Perhaps a slight loosening of the belt with regard to environmental regulations will allow room for some post-election-victory economic growth?
Japan has consistently taken a leading position over this issue (cf. Kyoto protocols) while other countries have dragged their heels (US), or sought ways to make money out of the problem (EU carbon emissions trading); this latest move could express an intention to tackle the problem of the economic effects of environmentally-responsible policy making in a different way to the US/Europe-focussed foreign policy of previous administrations by allowing room for manoeuver over specific policy decisions in cooperation with other Asian economies – groundwork for a more multi-lateral style in decision-making, allowing other Asian economies to ‘catch up’ so to speak, rather than to take advantage of Japan’s special US relationship to gain the economic edge over them.
