The leaders of Japan and the European Union have expressed their support for a “highly ambitious and binding” international approach to deal with the scale and urgency of the climate change challenge and to develop a low-carbon global economy.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Slovenian Prime Minister and Council President-in-Office Janez Jansa, and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso are “determined to promote the EU-Japan strategic partnership in order to take up global challenges,” according to a joint statement released at the conclusion of the EU-Japan summit, in Tokyo on 23 April.

Combating climate change ranks at the top of these challenges. The Europeans and the Japanese called for “medium-term targets for emissions reductions,” which would represent a key element of a post-Kyoto agreement. Yet, while Japan had announced at the start of the year that it would be setting a national emissions reduction target, no figure was put forward during the bilateral discussions.

The joint text takes note of this step forward by Tokyo, prompting Barroso to say he was “very happy” with the summit conclusions. “What we achieved today is very important. We reached agreement on binding objectives,” welcomed the European Commission president. He mentioned “convergence” between Japan and the EU, which is particularly important in the run-up to the G8 summit in July, to be chaired by Japan. That meeting could represent a “breakthrough” in the fight against climate change, said Barroso.

The EU and Japan confirm their will to develop a “fair and flexible” framework for action, in which “all the major economies will participate”. The joint statement notes that the sector-based approach proposed by Japan will be “useful” for identifying technically possible mitigation measures and, combined with an approach taking account of each country’s costs and financial capacities, will make it possible to set economically effective and fair objectives.

The two parties also confirm that, in accordance with the principle of shared but differentiated responsibility based on capacity, the big industrialised countries will have to lead the process of curbing emissions and commit to comparable efforts, while the emerging economies should make “appropriate contributions”. They also stress the importance of technology development and transfer, the active use of market-based instruments (including the carbon market) and the need for investments, in tandem with the private sector. Lastly, the leaders stress the fact that the future agreement must provide incentives for emissions reduction while supporting economic development.

The joint statement is available at www.europolitics.info > Search > 224173