Statement by H. E. Ms. Seiko Noda,
Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, Cabinet Office of Japan,
at IAEA International Ministerial Conference of the Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century,
20 April 2009

1. Opening Remarks
Mr. President, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Government of Japan, I would like to offer my warmest
congratulations on the successful holding of the International Ministerial Conference onNuclear Energy in the 21st Century, here in Beijing.

2. The importance of nuclear energy as a measure against global warming
Mr. President,
We are currently facing serious challenges. It is vital to the prosperity of humanity that
all countries strive for coordination and cooperation to resolve those issues such as
scarcity of food, poverty, and terrorism, in addition to the economic crisis which has
shaken up the world economy since last year.
In particular, measures against global warming are key issues, to which all countries
must unite and respond promptly, effectively and sustainably over an extended period.
At the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (Davos Meeting) in this January,
Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Taro Aso, mentioned the goal of reducing the global
greenhouse-gas emissions at least by half, by the year of 2050. He stressed that thePost-Kyoto framework should be all inclusive to achieve this goal, with all the big
emitters joining as responsible partners.
The current year is a crucial one, in which to establish the framework for 2013 andbeyond. The cooperation of all countries is required more than ever.
Mr. President,
I believe that, in order to achieve a significant reduction in global greenhouse-gas
emissions while ensuring secure energy supply, the expansion of the peaceful use ofnuclear energy is essential, along with the maximum implementation of other effective
measures such as energy conservation, energy efficiency improvement and the use ofrenewable energy.
Recently, this role of nuclear energy has been widely recognized over the world.
In the 4th Assessment Report, published in 2007 by the Intergovernmental Panel on
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Climate Change (IPCC), nuclear energy, which emits minimal greenhouse gases, isdescribed as one of major mitigation technologies in the energy supply area.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD) suggested in its “World Energy Outlook 2008” that thenuclear energy supply should be doubled in 2030 from the current figure, in order toachieve the 2050 target of halving the greenhouse-gas emissions.
Last year at G8 Hokkaido-Toyako Summit, the Leaders pointed out in their declaration,that a growing number of countries have expressed their interests in nuclear power
programs as a means to addressing climate change and energy security concerns.

3. Approach toward the expansion of peaceful use of nuclear energy on a global scale
Mr. President,
From the perspective of further promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy on aglobal scale in a manner that ensures nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear safety andnuclear security, Japan is determined to play its important role as a leading country,
focusing its effort on the following two approaches:Firstly, Japan will try to make it an internationally accepted common perception that thepeaceful use of nuclear energy is an essential measure against global warming. This
common perception would help the development of effective international frameworks
for further promotion of the use of nuclear energy.
Japan has been making efforts in the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA),
which is a cooperation of 10 countries in the region. At the Ministerial-Level Meeting in
December 2007, a Joint Communiqué on “the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy for
Sustainable Development” was issued.
In the communiqué, it was decided that they work towards raising global awareness that,in the Post-Kyoto framework, it is important to promote the peaceful use of nuclear
energy as a clean energy source, and to recognize that nuclear energy should beconsidered in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
This joint communiqué was circulated within the IAEA member states as
INFCIRC/725.
Also in the ministerial-level Executive Committee of the Global Nuclear Energy
Partnership (GNEP) held in October 2008 in Paris, a joint statement of similar contents
to the FNCA Joint Communiqué was issued based on the proposal from Japan.
Mr. President,
Secondly, Japan will offer active cooperation to address the need of those countries thattry to develop the infrastructure for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
2Japan has been engaging in research, development and use of the nuclear energy forover 50 years, strictly limiting itself to peaceful purposes. Japan has steadily
accumulated a broad range of technology basis, ranging from basic research and thedevelopment of human resources to technological innovation systems.
Consequently, Japan has rich experience and capability that cover the whole aspects of
the use of nuclear energy, such as nuclear power generation, nuclear fuel cycle,
radiation application and radioactive waste management. Currently, 53 nuclear power
units are in operation in Japan, supplying one third of the total electric power.
It should be useful to apply these valuable experience and knowledge of Japaneffectively and efficiently, to the assistance in the infrastructure development of thosecountries that intend to introduce or expand nuclear power generation.
As a member of the Board of Governors since the foundation of the IAEA, Japan has
been making significant contributions to the Agency’s activities for the promotion ofpeaceful nuclear technologies. Japan has been sharing its experience and knowledge on
the peaceful use of nuclear energy with developing countries through the technicalcooperation and other programs of the IAEA. Japan has also been sharing its advanced
safeguards technologies with the IAEA.
In addition, Japan is making efforts under the frameworks of multilateral cooperation,such as GNEP and FNCA.
For the latter in particular, a “Study Panel on the Approach toward Infrastructure
Development for Nuclear Power” will be started this year, in order to share the practicalexperience and knowledge accumulated in those member countries that are operating
nuclear power plants.
Japan is also actively providing bilateral assistances to countries that are planning theintroduction of nuclear power generation, especially in Asia, in the development of thenecessary infrastructure.

4. Closing Remarks
Mr. President,
To achieve a significant reduction of global greenhouse-gas emissions while pursuingeconomic development, it is needed to expand the peaceful use of nuclear energy, whichemits minimal greenhouse gases. Japan will actively play the key role in the promotionof the global expansion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, through the activities ofthe IAEA.
Thank you for your attention.

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