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P 250153Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3920
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INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1254
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RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7174
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UNCLAS TOKYO 002343
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION Q POST-KYOTO PROTOCOL FRAMEWORK -
TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Friday morning papers front-paged
Prime Minister Abe's proposal Thursday in a speech in
Tokyo for a new post-Kyoto global initiative called
"Invitation to Cool Earth 50" and intended to halve
greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 from the current level.
The dailies said that prior to his speech, PM Abe
telephoned and briefed President Bush on the outline of
the initiative.
1. "Global Climate Initiative Hinges on US and China" The
top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (5/25):
"...PM Abe on Thursday announced the GOJ's basic policy
for an international framework to succeed the Kyoto
Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change, which states that emissions of greenhouse gases
must be reduced between 2008 and 2012. Abe's basic policy
illustrates Japan's view of the shape of a post-Kyoto
international framework. The premier is expected to
propose his initiative at the G-8 summit next month in
Germany.... The US, the world's largest emitter of
greenhouse gases, continues to refuse to ratify the Kyoto
Protocol. China, which is someday expected to surpass the
US as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is not
obliged to cut emissions under Kyoto. Given these
circumstances, Abe's proposal is reasonable. To ensure
that the new framework is effective, the participation of
the US and China is essential."
2. "Action Needed to Realize Abe's post-Kyoto Initiative"
An editorial in the business-oriented Nihon Keizai
commented (5/25): "PM Abe's post-Kyoto initiative is
intended to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
from the current level. It proposes that developed
nations like the US, emerging economies like China and
India, and least developed countries all reduce
greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible in
accordance with their economic and industrial conditions
and capabilities.... As a mid-term goal, the Abe
initiative is intended to overcome the shortcomings of
the Kyoto Protocol. The US, the world's largest emitter
of greenhouse gases, refuses to ratify the protocol, and
China and India, both major emitters, are not obligated
to cut their emissions. These three major emitters must
be included in any new global framework for reducing
greenhouse gases."
SCHIEFFER