The Kyoto Protocol from Formulation to Ratification: Japan’s Role in International Climate Negotiations

  • Eric Shibuya
Chapter

Abstract

Japan’s position in the climate change negotiations has been a balancing act between international recognition and domestic approval. The global environment has generally proven to be a valuable issue for the Japanese government to play an international role while avoiding much domestic controversy. The government’s failure to expand the interest on climate change domestically, however, has meant that the government is not able to rely on strong and consistent popular support to counter other vested interests (not the least of which is factionalism within the government itself). The explicit and implicit motivations behind the Japanese government’s policy on climate change are examined in the larger picture of Japan’s perception of itself as a major actor in the international arena. The motivations for Japan’s actions in international climate negotiations are found more in the political benefit achieved by those actions rather than any specific commitment to the cause of mitigating greenhouse emissions.

Keywords

Foreign Policy Clean Development Mechanism Kyoto Protocol Japanese Government Emission Trading Scheme 
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Notes

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© Yoichiro Sato and Keiko Hirata 2008

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  • Eric Shibuya

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