Climate Change: a new landscape?

This seminar (held at the Japanese Embassy) was the last of the “Climate Change” Series hosted by ‘Climate Strategies’. A research concentrating on the G-8 opportunity after the post-Poznan United Nations Climate Change Conference was reviewed in this seminar. Here is a short summary presented by this high calibre of panellists.

MP Joan Ruddock, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Ms Ruddock shared views of the British-Japanese relationship in regards to climate change. It is apparent that Japanese G8 President had shown strong leadership with meeting targets for emissions having implemented 60-80% cuts in Japanese domestic policy. Pioneering in example, this has pushed the UK to commence the “Act on CO2” campaign. Traditional industries must be supported to reduce carbon through EU tradition trading scheme, and will need government investment to span a whole chain of innovation, above and beyond R&D.

Michael Grubb, Chair of Climate Strategies
Mr Grubb engaged with the research of Japanese climate change projects, broad political and technical observations set the scene for discussion. The Toyako Summit 2008 had complicated objectives (and rejected the next day), therefore same mistakes cannot be made at the Copenhagen summit (2009) when G8 presidency is handed over from Japan to Italy. Major economies like India and China need to start cooperating with G8 goals over the distribution of cutbacks. Need global targets, like encouraging ‘Clean Development Mechanism’. In regards to the politics of Britain, the UK Climate Change Committee said, ‘to add agenda through parliament for political pressure to meet emission targets’. The British government is convinced that 80% cutback is do-able but is clearly too ambitious.

Junichi Fujino, Low Carbon Societies Senior Researcher
Mr Fujino gave an excellent presentation about how Japan is researching and implementing low carbon buildings in society, looking at the collective role of stakeholder, government, business and civil society. It is estimated that 50% of GHG reductions in 2050 is required to control temperature – the scientific graphics of global warming was alarming, and suggested visions that the Japanese are concentrating on to minimise the effects of climate change. VISION AND INNOVATION: (Example) Utilising solar panels and changing the behaviour of civil society. Need to avoid energy resource battle by using resources in an efficient way, develop innovations and support global sustainable development.

Giovanni Brauzzi, Minister and Deputy Head of the Italian Embassy
Mr Brauzzi stressed that climate change is a prime agenda of Italy’s G8 Presidency. No doubt the economic crisis have impacted on the affordability for change, however innovative growth is fundamental.

Shinsuke Sugiyama, Director General for Global Issues, MOFA Japan
Mr Sugiyama summarised how the Poznan discussion regarding new mechanism for change and adaptation was not agreed upon. Negotiation is dependent upon management and points of discussion. He stressed that the economic crisis will negotiation for change harder, but must not be used as an excuse to move away from the efforts of climate change. Scientists VS politicians, long term VS short term, climate change VS credit crunch... all these issues must be bridged for positive and effective decision-making. He noted that Japan is to establish an effective framework for all major economies to participate.

Benoit Chevalier, Economic Counsellor of the French Embassy
Mr Chevalier urged that developed nations need to show developing nations that we are ready to take our share of the burden. Green opportunity is green investment, and finds it illogical how countries can agree on targets without global negotiations. Without participation of all countries, commitment to targets will be unlikely.

Jill Duggan, International Emissions Trading
Ms Duggan reviewed the EU 2020 package.

Thomas Brewer, Associate Professor of Georgetown University, USA
Mr Brewer discussed the new presidency of Barack Obama and America’s outlook for US climate policy. Obama wants cap and trade bills, is a sponsor of several biofuel subsidy bills, and will look into energy plans. Reforming issues concentrate on the credit crunch, providing economic stimulus, job creation, increasing funding for clean energy and providing technological leadership. Mr Brewer forecasts that the climate change agenda being put through Congress may have a bi=partisan division between the Democrats and the Republican, and this division must be broken. Democrats want climate change on the agenda, whereas the Republicans disagree (as most businesses oppose the cap and trade idea).