## D Greening of the tax system

The government will carry out a cross-sectional review, including approaches on environmental taxes on a fundamental reform of the tax system from a perspective of promoting Low-carbon Society, regarding the greening of the tax system. Expansion and extension of greening of automobile-related taxes, including limited time exemption of motor vehicle weight tax and automobile acquisition tax, and tax system to promote energy-saving houses, such as creation of tax exemption system related to building of energy-saving houses were incorporated in the 171st Ordinary Diet Session.

## (3) Japan’s mid-term goal progress on GHG reduction

Annex I countries under the Kyoto Protocol are encouraged to provide information on their mid-term goal progress to the United Nations. In order to discuss Japan’s mid-term goals scientifically and logically, the Mid-term Target Committee was set up under the Council on Global Warming Issue held at the Prime Minister’s Office in October 2008. The Committee has met seven times and presented six options in April 2009 (Figure3-1-3).

## (4) Technological outlook on long-term goal for GHG reduction

GHG reduction can not be achieved without technological progress, and various long-term goals on GHG reduction are based on the assumption of technological development. With the technological outlook on GHG reduction potential in mind, we need to emerge from a society where about 65% of the energy supply is covered by oil and coal.

The Stern Review expects the maximum overall costs for stabilizing the concentration of the GHG at 550ppm ( $ CO_{2} $ equivalent) by 2050, at around 1% of annual GDP.

The Working Group III to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report has covered GHG reduction policies and has indicated key technologies expected to be utilized to 2030 and from 2030.

“A Dozen Actions Towards Low-Carbon Societies” (LCSs) released in May 2008 by the “2050 Japan Low-Carbon Society” scenario team, centralized by the National Institute for Environmental Studies, indicated the possibility of reducing Japan’s $ CO_{2} $ emissions by 70% by 2050, compared to 1990.

## (5) Japan’s international negotiations towards COP15

Regarding the international framework for reducing GHG emissions after the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, Japan will aim to reach an agreement at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP15) and lead international negotiations on the basis of the following points.

• Establish an equitable and effective framework under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in which all major economies, including the United States, China and India will participate in addition to countries with a reduction obligation.

• Adopt the long-term goal under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by at least halving global GHG emissions by 2050, while referring to IPCC’s scientific knowledge.

• Aim to peak out global emissions in the next 10 to 20 years, and to this end share the ways to reduce global emissions by 2050, including the creation of a low-carbon society and promotion of innovative technological development.

## 3 Japan’s Efforts towards the 10th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10)

As global environment that maintains biodiversity is necessary for human existence. Changing socio-economic rules and structures are necessary in order to maintain biodiversity in socio-economies.

## (1) Background of the formation of the Basic Act on Biodiversity

The Basic Act on Biodiversity (Act No.58 of 2008) was enacted in May 2008 in order to realize a society in harmony with its natural environment. The act happened to coincide with a time when the 9th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP9) that held in Bonn announced Nagoya city, Aichi prefecture to host the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) in October 2009 and has reached an opportunity to dramatically improve awareness and approaches on biodiversity in Japan.

## (2) The reason why biodiversity is necessary

Most of the blessings we enjoy in our daily lives unconsciously, including rice and vegetables served on our tables, are brought by biodiversity. The current burden on biodiversity caused by human activities is impossible to ignore.

As seen in the trend of the Millennium Ecosystem

Table3-1-2 Result of the Trial Calculation of the Economic Value on Three Functions that Japan's Coral Reefs Possess

Ecosystem services of coral reefs	Economic value (100 million yen/ year)
Providing tourism and recreation	2,399
Providing commercial marine products	107
Protection from wave and erosion hazards	75~839
Source: Ministry of the Environment