Hatoyama to propose technology, funding initiative for climate change

TOKYO, Sept. 19 Kyodo -
In an address at the United Nations next week, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama will officially pledge that Japan would drastically cut greenhouse gas
emissions, while proposing to provide vigorous support to developing countries
in technology and funding, to fight global warming, a government source said
Saturday.

Enhanced support to developing economies under the tentatively named ''Hatoyama
Initiative'' is aimed at ensuring that Japan play a leading role in discussions
to formulate a new international framework for curbing emissions from 2013 on
after the Kyoto Protocol expires, the source said.
The initiative centers on extending Japan's technological know-how on energy
conservation. But Hatoyama may fall short of pledging how much Japan would
commit financially to developing countries because the amount required will
likely be substantial and would need to be backed by adequate funding
resources.
On Sept. 7, before Hatoyama assumed the post of prime minister on Sept. 16, he
unveiled in a speech in Tokyo his plan for Japan to cut greenhouse gas
emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 -- a far more ambitious goal
than envisaged by his predecessor Taro Aso.
In a speech he will deliver at the U.N. summit on climate change on Tuesday in
New York, Hatoyama will lay out this plan, according to the source, making it
an ''international pledge'' before other world leaders.
While Hatoyama's emissions cut target will likely receive high marks from the
United Nations and European countries, Japan will likely face challenges in
working out the specific plans to realize the bold goal.
In the U.N. address, Hatoyama is expected to say that Japan ''will contribute
to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the world by actively providing various
countries'' with Japan's conservation technology in energy-efficient power
generation, biofuels and fuel-efficient cars, among other areas, the source
said.
Hatoyama will also indicate that Japan will direct more investment resources to
research and development in order to maintain its edge on energy-conservation
technology.
In the speech, Hatoyama will take note of the rapidly progressing impact of
global warming in various parts of the world and say, ''Global warming is a
threat to the whole of humanity and we cannot afford to delay further'' in
taking countermeasures, the source said.
Given frequent droughts and other phenomena, Hatoyama will also say,
''Developing countries are more seriously impacted'' and declare that
industrial nations have the responsibility and obligation to take the lead in
reducing greenhouse gases, according to the source.
On formulating a new international framework for climate change, Hatoyama will
make strong pitches to the United States and China, the world's two biggest air
polluters, and India to join in the effort, saying that participation by all
countries including emerging economies is essential in ''securing the
effectiveness'' of the framework, according to the source.
Japan is considered to lead rich countries in energy efficiency and in
maintaining cutting-edge technology on a broad range of areas from solar and
wind power generation to home electronics.
This is thanks to investments in technological developments by both the
government and businesses to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels in the wake of
oil crises.
==Kyodo