Cooperative Action (AWGLCA), set up under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will hold a conference in Bonn, Germany in next June, based on the Chair’s negotiation text towards an agreement at COP15, to be held in December 2009.

## (2) Japan’s approaches based on the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan

## A The Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan

The Kyoto Protocol entered into force in 2005, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Japan made a legally binding commitment to reduce GHG emissions by 6% compared to the base year during the first commitment period (2008-2012). In order to achieve the 6% reduction target, the Japanese government established the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan (Cabinet Decision of April 28, 2005, totally revised March 28, 2008) based on the revision of the Law Concerning the Promotion of the

Figure3-1-1 Progress of the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan

Source: Ministry of the Environment

Measures to Cope with Global Warming (Act No. 61 of 2005, hereinafter referred to as “Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures”). Japan’s definite figures on GHG emissions in 2007 were 1,374 million tons ( $ CO_{2} $ equivalent), 9% increase from the total emissions in the base year (1,261 million tons) (Table3-1-1). Therefore, in order to achieve the 6% reduction target, Japan has to reduce the emissions by as much as 15.0% (including a 3.8% reduction through forest sink measures and 1.6% through the Kyoto Mechanism) (Figure3-1-1).

## B Action Plan for Achieving a Low-carbon Society

At the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, the G8 parties reached a common understanding that all parties to the convention to seek to share and adopt the goal of at least halving global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Japan has also set the long-term goal of a 60% to 80% reduction from the present situation by 2050, and the Action Plan for Achieving a Low-carbon Society was approved by the Cabinet on July 29, 2008.

The plan agreed to announce national emissions targets as the mid-term goal at a specific time in 2009, and to promote Japan’s “Cool Earth Partnership,” which will fund around 10 billion dollars over 5 years in international support. As a domestic measure, Japan will promote the development of innovative technologies and the dissemination of existing advanced technologies. Japan will also expand the use of renewable energies including geothermal energy as well as the trial implementation of an integrated domestic market for emissions trading, setting out a framework to move the entire society to a low-carbon society, such as greening of the tax system and to support local and national approaches including the creation of low-carbon cities (Figure3-1-2).

## C Domestic Emissions Trading System

Table3-1-1 The Status of GHG Emissions and the Indicator for GHG Emissions in FY2010

(Unit: million tons CO₂)

Base FY (ratio to the overall)	FY2007 Achievements (increase and decrease from the base year)	The indicator for GHG emissions in FY2010 (note 2)	Difference of FY2007 results and FY2010 indicator for GHG emissions
GHG emissions needed to be reduced	Ratio to the FY2007 achievements (%)
CO2 emissions resulting from energy sources	1,059 (84%)	1,219 +15.1%	1,076~1,089	144~131	11.8~10.7
Industrial sector	482 (38%)	471 -2.3%	424~428	47~43	10.0~9.2
Commercial and other sectors	164 (13%)	236 +43.8%	208~210	28~26	12.0~11.1
Residential sector	127 (10%)	180 +41.2%	138~141	42~39	23.1~21.5
Transport sector	217 (17%)	249 +14.6%	240~243	9~6	3.8~2.4
Energy conversion sector	67.9 (5%)	83.0 +22.2%	66.3	17	20.1
CO2 emissions resulting from non-energy sources	85.1 (7%)	84.5 -0.6%	84.5	-0.004	-0.01*
Methane	33.4 (3%)	22.6 -32.3%	22.6	0.003	0.01*
Nitrous oxide	32.6 (3%)	23.8 -27.1%	24.7	-0.948	-4.0
Three CFC alternatives	51.2 (4%)	24.1 -53.0%	31.0	-6.9	-28.7
Total	1,261 (100%)	1,374 +9.0%	1,239~1,252	135~122	9.9~8.9

Note 1: The sum of each column's total in the above figure may not match, due to round-up errors.

2: The emissions indicators are set for both cases; the maximal and minimal envisioned effect of the measures. Naturally the aim is for the maximal, however, the minimal is still set to achieve the Kyoto Protocol Target Plan.

3: * is calculated as $ CO_{2} $ equivalent.

Source: Ministry of the Environment