Figure 1-1-2 Projections of Future CO $ _{2} $ Emissions

to take initiatives but did not go as far as to require non-Annex I countries to reduce emissions. Furthermore, since the United States, the world's largest single emitter, did not ratify the Protocol, the countries that have committed to emissions reduction under the Kyoto Protocol account for only about 30% of the world's overall emissions (Figure 1-1-1). The world has undergone and continues to undergo many changes since the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. Developing countries, which do not have GHG emissions reduction obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, have experienced an increase in emissions because of economic growth. As their GHG emissions are expected to rise further in the future (Figure 1-1-2), to drastically reduce GHG emissions and avert dire consequences as called for by the IPCC and other concerned parties, it is critical that all major GHG emitting countries work together.

At the Bali Conference, the timeline, course of action, and agenda for the creation of a new international framework for 2013 and beyond (hereinafter referred to as “post-2013 framework”) were discussed. The negotiation made little headway due to considerable differences in the opinions among nations. Developing countries had long held the position that developed countries were responsible for the increase in GHG emissions since the Industrial Revolution. They are strongly opposed to sharing the same responsibility as the developed countries, believing that it is the developed countries that must first be obliged to the emissions reduction. The United States, on the other hand, argued that participation of the developing countries in the framework would be crucial for it to be effective. Against this backdrop of differences in opinions among countries, Japan made clear its basic stance, which was based on its “Cool Earth 50” initiative, and proactively

Adoption of the Bali Action Plan

(Photo: Courtesy of the UNFCCC Secretariat)

mediated among the Parties for the post-2013 framework. Japan emphasized the need 1) to build consensus by 2009, and 2) to set up a new special working group under UNFCCC with the participation of all major GHG emitting countries and to continue collaboration and negotiation with special working groups under the Kyoto Protocol.

All parties hoping to iron out an agreement continued their efforts even after the sessions ended on December 14. On December 15, H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, and H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, attended the plenary meeting and appealed to the Parties to make concessions. The negotiations finally ended with the adoption of the Bali Action Plan that afternoon.

It was agreed upon in the Bali Action Plan that in order for all parties to the UNFCCC to participate in deliberations on a post-2013 framework, the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (hereinafter referred to as “AWGLCA”) should be set up to work in conjunction with the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (hereinafter referred to as “AWG-KP”) toward the adoption of a new framework by 2009. As the agreements are in line with the basic stance of Japan, we can compliment ourselves on having made a significant contribution to the adoption of the Bali Action Plan.

The AWG-KP adopted conclusions referring to some of the key findings of the IPCC Working Group III. The AWG-KP noted the following: IPCC pointed out that in order to stabilize atmospheric GHG concentrations at the lowest level presented in its scenarios, the global GHG emissions need to peak in the next 10-15 years and then be reduced drastically to well below half of 2000 levels by the middle of the 21 $ ^{st} $ century. The AWG further recognized the following: IPCC pointed out that to achieve that level, Annex I parties as a group would be required to employ all possible means to reduce GHG emissions up to