Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO)

Statement: RENGO welcomes Kyoto Protocol to come into force

1. The Kyoto Protocol, which aims to slow global warming, has come into force today. The Kyoto Protocol, adopted more than seven years ago, has experienced many twists and turns, including the United States having abstained for economic reasons. RENGO warmly welcomes today’s launch of the Protocol as a significant step forwards in advancing anti-global warming measures.



2. The launch of the Protocol binds Japan to reduce gas emission by law to the level 6% below that of 1990 during the first promised phase starting in 2008 throughout 2012. However, Japan’s emissions in fiscal 2002 were 7.6% higher than the 1990 level, which requires around 14% to achieve the 6% reduction.
   
   The 6% reduction being an international commitment to achieve, Japan has to carry out practical, effective measures, as well as supplement measures where necessary, in all areas such as industrial and domestic sectors in the process of the Plan for the Achievement of the Kyoto Protocol Goals that will start in fiscal 2005.



3. Climate phenomena considered to be caused by global warming, including temperature rise, oceanic surface rise, changes in ecosystem and world-wide abnormal weather, have been already happening over the world and will possibly constitute a danger to the existence of mankind.
   
   Anti-global warming measures are a common challenge for human beings to address in the mid and long run at the global level. In this context, today’s entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol is a new step forward which should be followed by further actions in achieving drastic reduction in greenhouse gas based on the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
   
   In particular Japan, as the Chair of the Kyoto Protocol, must demonstrate its leadership in international negotiations on a post-Kyoto Protocol framework will start in 2013 in order to advance global-level anti-global warming measures and in a concrete sense establish a framework to reduce greenhouse gas with the participation of the United States, China and other developing countries.



4. The most urgent challenge that Japan is faced with is to make every possible effort to achieve the 6% reduction goal required by the Kyoto Protocol.
   
   RENGO, responding to the worsening situation of global warming with critical views, has proposed change of the lifestyle from mass-production, mass-consumption and mass-waste. We aim at realising through promoting anti-global warming measures “a benign cycle of environment and economy” linking development of new technologies and improved competitiveness in the area of environment with growth.
   
   RENGO urges that all possible efficient measures be included in the Plan for the Achievement of the Kyoto Protocol Goals and implemented steadily.
   
   RENGO commits itself to actively participating, in cooperation with wide-range of people from the central and local governments and business to NPOs/NGOs, in the National Campaign to Prevent Global Warming which will be organised by the government in June and July this year. RENGO also continue to work on RENGO Eco-life 21 involving industries, enterprises, communities and families.