Policy Proposal: Towards a New International Framework
for the Post–Kyoto Protocol Era
15 September 2011Keidanren

1. The Issues

 Japan has made efforts to reduce GHG emissions and achieved steady results. But there is a limit to how much the efforts made by
restricted number of countries can achieve.
 The Kyoto Protocol is meaningful as a concrete step towards combating climate change. But with reduction commitments assigned toonly a limited group of countries, global GHG emissions have continued to increase even after the protocol came into effect.
 We need to build a single equitable international framework with participation by all major emitters, including each of the developed
countries as well as the fast‐growing developing countries and emerging economies, with the goal of “a 50 percent reduction in global
emissions by 2050.”

2. The Type of International Framework That Should Be Adopted
 Total GHG emissions covered by the countries with reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period (2008–12), including Japan and Europe, amount to only 27 percent of total global emissions, and the share is expected to drop to less than 20percent by 2050. A so‐called simple extension of the Protocol would lock in this commitment group and sap momentum for participation by
all major emitters—a step backward in the fight against climate change.
 Countries accounting for more than 80 percent of global emissions participated in the Copenhagen Accord (adopted in Cancun COP16).
⇒ A “pledge and review system,” in which each country makes an international commitment (pledge) to its own reduction targets andactions and the international community assesses and verifies (review) progress towards those targets, is a practical and valid approachto building an international framework. Eminently realistic and promises swift results to combat climate change.

3. Measures for Realising a Low Carbon Society of Global Scale(1) Disseminate BATs, develop/deploy innovative tech.

(2) Provide bi/multilateral cooperation in areas of tech. & financing

Technology holds the key to halving global emissions by 2050
while balancing environmental concerns and economicgrowth. Essential to disseminate existing low‐carbon
technologies, products & services as well as develop &deploy innovative technologies that will enable drastic
reductions in GHG emissions.
JapanJapan and other developed countries must work to promote
ongoing improvements and maximum dissemination of best
available technologies (BATs).
Public and private sectors must work together to realise
reduction potential in developing countries. Deploying
Japan’s unique energy‐saving systems (Top Runnerprogramme, etc.) would be effective.

[1] Bilateral offset mechanism as complement to Clean
Development Mechanism (CDM)
An effective complement to the CDM would be a bilateral offset
mechanism, whereby Japan could develop energy‐efficient/low‐carbon projects tailored to developing countries’ needs and have aportion of the emissions reductions from technology transfers
applied to its reduction commitment.
commitment[2] Effective financial support
Financing system must enable objective assessment of environmental
benefits to recipient countries and mobilise investment & financing
from developed nations.

(3) Promote capacity building A vital key to ensuring the effectiveness of technical & financial cooperation is capacity building in developing countries: enhancing policies & systems formitigating
iti ti climate
li t change,hd l i skills
developing
kill & humanhresources, andd building
b ildi social
i l & economic
i infrastructure.
i f t t Keidanren intends to leverage the technology, know‐how, and human resources of Japan’s industrial sector to support the efforts of developing nations.

(4) Advance concrete measures for African aid(5) Facilitate transfer of low‐carbon technologies(6) Pursue the sectoral approach

Support electrification, energy access, andinfrastructure development in Africa via
public/private initiative.

Promote business‐based technology transfer by creating
database of low‐carbon technologies.

Lead energy‐saving cooperation by sector
with focus on electricity, steel, and cement.

4. Japan’s Medium‐Term Emission Reduction Targets
With the overhaul of Japan
Japan’ss energy policy in the wake of the March earthquake/tsunami, Japan
Japan’ss medium
medium‐term
term targets for
GHG emission reduction should be revised accordingly.
Need to re‐launch an open and transparent national debate with an eye to ensuring international equity, feasibility, and areasonable public burden.

5. In Conclusion
Keidanren will continue to uphold its Commitment to a Low Carbon Society, setting the goal of having Japanese industry, withthe help of its technology, play a pivotal role in the drive to halve global GHG emissions by the year 2050.