issue of climate change, Japan is working with the US and the UK to establish a new multilateral fund. For its part, Japan will contribute up to 1.2 billion dollars. I intend to make use of the G8 summit process and other opportunities to call for a greater number of countries to contribute.

Although the global circle to assist developing nations is progressively expanding, I must point out the delay in efforts to develop innovative technologies.

Thus in order to further accelerate efforts to develop innovative technologies, I intend to propose at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit an “International Partnership for Environment and Energy” which would encompass collaboration with international organisations.

The purpose is to share a global roadmap for technological development which looks thirty to forty years ahead and which would cover innovative technologies in solar cells, carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology, as well as next-generation nuclear power technology. By having each country work on its respective area of advantage, the international community will work in unison to advance technological development.

A scheme will be created through which the achievements of this partnership will be shared also with developing countries as a common international asset.

## Disseminating existing advanced technologies: renewable energy

In order to achieve a low-carbon society, we will need to make full use of existing advanced technologies until innovative technologies are developed.

If we were to reduce our emissions by 14% from the current level by 2020, as I outlined earlier, we must increase to above 50% the ratio of “zero-emission power supply”, consisting of renewable energy sources that include solar, wind and hydro energy, biomass and untapped energy sources, as well as nuclear power. At the same time, we must also achieve several ambitious goals, such as introducing next-generation vehicles at the rate of one in every two new units sold.

In particular, Japan currently trails Germany in the prevalence of solar energy power generation, an area in which Japan was renowned. In order to regain the global top spot in terms of solar power energy generation, I hereby set the goal of a tenfold increase by 2020, and of an increase to forty times the current level by 2030.

The calculations are that, in order to reach these goals, power utilities need to install some of the world’s biggest mega-solar power generation facilities on a nationwide basis, while more than 70% of newly-built, privately-owned homes need to use solar energy.

While sustaining technological development to reduce costs and to ensure systemic stability, we must also consider bold measures to support the introduction of solar energy as well as new pricing systems, taking as an example the burden of 500 yen per month per household borne in Germany.

As for nuclear power, there are active moves in both developed and developing countries alike to introduce nuclear power stations owing to their zero emission of $ CO_{2} $ and the recent steep rise in energy prices. A major role expected of Japan amidst such international trends is to promote its nuclear energy policy based on the most fundamental premise of ensuring safety and security on the one hand, and to provide Japan’s excellent safety technology as well as convey its strict position on nuclear non-proliferation on the other.

## Disseminating existing advanced technologies: energy conservation

We should now turn to the way we use energy. Owing to its industry’s technological prowess and the mottoinai spirit, Japan has the most efficient energy structure in the world.

Japan can contribute to the world by further advancing this low-carbon move and to spread this around the world.

In order to do this, a major leap in energy conservation is of the essence.

For example, we will work to replace all incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient ones by 2012. Fluorescent light bulbs produce sufficient brightness while reducing energy consumption to a fifth, and they last ten times longer. By also replacing tube (CRT) televisions with liquid crystal TVs, accelerating the introduction of water heaters, air-conditioners and refrigerators that make use of energy-saving technologies such as heat-pump technologies in which Japan is at the forefront, we can significantly reduce $ CO_{2} $ emissions while reducing electricity fees.

I now also intend to press ahead with a wide range of low-carbon policies, including the development of systems for mandatory energy-efficient housing and office buildings, accelerating the introduction of renewable energy to office buildings, and promoting housing which lasts two hundred years.

We will also establish standards and mechanisms to facilitate the flow of public and private funds into eco-businesses and good environmental social infrastructure projects, aiming to make Japanese finance and capital markets a top runner in terms of environmental friendliness.