Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO)

Statement on the Cabinet Approval of a Basic Climate Bill

1. The Japanese government approved “a basic climate bill on measures to prevent global warning” at its Cabinet meeting held on 12 March. The bill aims at forming a low-carbon society through achieving a goal that “Japan would cut Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020” as pledged by the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in its election manifesto and by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the United Nations last year, and through “promoting measures to prevent global warming in consistence with securing economic growth, employment security and the stable supply of energy.” RENGO regards the bill as the expression of the government’s firm and strong will to promote the measures to deal with global warming.
   
   
2. In drafting the bill, RENGO had consulted actively with the government at various levels from the view point that it is necessary for Japan to shift to a green and sustainable society and to develop and expand industries under a growth strategy, stabilize and create employment, and achieve “just transition.” RENGO, in this context, had called for all parties concerned and made efforts to reflect RENGO’s opinions in the bill, insisting that the bill should be enacted as “a basic bill or a conceptual bill” which upholds a basic principle on the measures to deal with global warming.
   
   
3. The bill approved today at the Cabinet meeting incorporates on the whole the “RENGO’s response at the moment” in that 1) the bill recognizes the importance of employment measures, as “employment security” is stipulated in its clauses of aims and basic principles, 2) with regard to mid- and long-term targets, the bill ensures the global fairness as a prerequisite, mentioning that “under a fair and effective international framework of participation by all major greenhouse gas emitters,” 3) the bill refers to the collaboration with energy policy, and 4) the bill clearly stipulates the reflection of public opinions upon policymaking and ensures a certain framework for future “social dialogue.” On the other hand, with regard to domestic emissions trading system, the bill merely wrote down setting a limit both on the total volume of emissions and on emissions volume per production unit. A concrete design of the system is to be future discussions.
   
   
4. From now on, after the passage of the bill by the Diet, “a basic program” and/or “a road map” will be formulated so as to implement its contents more concretely. In formulating “a basic program” and/or “a road map” RENGO considers that it is important to disclose information thoroughly and to conduct “social dialogues” among various circles and parties of the nations in order to promote the effective reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions on the premise of employment security. RENGO, together with its affiliates and locals, will continue to make efforts to realize a low-carbon society where environment, economy and employment coexist.