Japan was prepared to provide more financial and technical assistance than in the past to developing countries, in accordance with the progress of international negotiations.

The Government of Japan carefully considered the elaboration of support to developing countries through the “Hatoyama Initiative,” and in November 2009 proposed the establishment of a framework (from 2013) for multilateral support to developing countries. In December 2009, at the fifteenth session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP15) in Copenhagen, Denmark, Japan announced that, under the “Hatoyama Initiative,” it would provide financial assistance to developing countries which are taking active emission reduction measures or those which are vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change, of approximately 1 trillion 750 billion yen (about US$15 billion), including public and private financing, of which public financing comprises approximately 1 trillion 300 billion yen (about US$11 billion). This assistance is premised upon the establishment of a fair and effective international framework by all major economies and agreement on ambitious targets. This announcement was welcomed by other countries and gave a boost to negotiations. Carrying out the “Hatoyama Initiative,” Japan will serve as a bridge between developed and developing countries, and will contribute to the transformation of the world to a low carbon society at a global level.

## Section 2 Specific Cooperation for Climate Change Measures

Climate change brings about various impacts on the living environment, such as droughts, floods and other extreme weather, as well as rising sea levels due to global warming. In order to effectively respond to these circumstances, it is necessary to develop and enhance socioeconomic environments, such as infrastructure, technology, information, funding, and management capacity (adaptation measures). In developing countries in particular, however, climate change measures tend to fall behind as they lack sufficient funding, technology and knowledge. There is also a risk that progress made in the area of human development (Note 8) may stagnate, or even step back, due to the impacts of climate change. In 2009, Japan implemented a project, as the cooperation on the environment, constructing disaster-resistant buildings and anti-flood measures to raise the awareness of local residents regarding disaster prevention in 24 villages (communities) along the Nyando River in Kenya based on an adaptation program. Furthermore, Japan has also extended grant aid for the provision of safe and sanitary drinking water and the procurement of resources and materials necessary to conduct disaster countermeasures to four countries in Africa which suffer from floods, droughts and other extreme weather due to climate change.

Greenhouse gas, which causes climate change, is not only emitted by developed countries. At the moment, about a half of global greenhouse gas emissions come from developing countries, which are not bound by the Kyoto Protocol to any emission reduction obligation. Under the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” developing countries must also make an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the process of working toward sustainable development and the eradication of poverty. On the other hand, developed countries are required to actively support efforts of developing countries (mitigation measures) which lack sufficient skills and funding for measures for emission reduction. In 2008, Japan cooperated in the construction of a high-efficiency combined cycle thermoelectric power plant featuring reduced $ CO_{2} $ emissions in Bangladesh, and provided technical assistance. It is anticipated that these efforts will reduce drastically $ CO_{2} $ emissions compared to a current electric power facility, through an increase in the amount of power generated and improved efficiencies regarding operations and maintenance.

Furthermore, Japan also actively supports policy formulation in developing countries. Japan has established the “Policy Action” to be carried out over the three years (2007-2009) based on the National Action Plan Addressing Climate Change, drawn up by the Government of Indonesia. Through the Climate Change Program Loan (CCPL) which was provided after assessing the achievements of the “Action,”