METI Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry of : Call for Evidence and Information Concerning an Interim Reports Compiled by the Long-term Global Warming Countermeasures Platform

Aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a long-term basis extending beyond 2030, Japan needs to discuss ideal approaches to taking sustainable countermeasures against global warming that are compatible with its economic growth. To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) decided to convey to the rest of the world the following documents: a draft interim report compiled by the Long-term Global Warming Countermeasures Platform (hereinafter referred to as the 'Platform'), an interim report by the Task Force for the Expansion of Inward Investment under the platform, and a draft interim report by the Task Force for Overseas Expansion Strategies also under the platform. Concerning the key contentions of these interim reports, METI will broadly call for provision of evidence (facts and analysis results, e.g., data and case examples) and information, as necessary references in preparing the final reports, from a variety of stakeholders inside and outside Japan.

1. Background to and outline of the establishment of the platform

The decision made at the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2015, i.e., Paris Agreement, requires Parties to the Kyoto Protocol to communicate to the secretariat by 2020 their mid-century, long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies.

To this end, METI established the Platform in July 2016, bringing together representatives from the government, industry, and academia. Following this, the Platform launched discussions on ideal approaches to taking sustainable countermeasures against global warming that are compatible with Japan's economic growth toward the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on a long-term basis extending beyond 2030. On December 26, 2016, discussions were also held concerning a draft interim report on the issue.

2. Call for provision of evidence and information

In light of these interim reports, concerning the following key contentions, METI will broadly call for provision of evidence (facts and analysis results, e.g., data and case examples) and information, as necessary references in preparing final reports, from a variety of stakeholders inside and outside Japan. For details of the call, see the Japanese language news release.

• Key contentions of the interim reports:
• Emission reduction efforts focusing on the keywords of 'global,' 'product life cycles,' and 'innovation'
• Strategies that coexist with uncertain factors involved in climate change issues
• Trends in finance and investment areas surrounding climate change
• Carbon pricing
• Developing business environments for overseas business deployment
• Realization of innovation

Release date

December 26, 2016

Division in Charge

Environmental Policy Division, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau