Japan
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First of all, Japan would like to express its sincere gratitude to you, Mr. Chair, to prepare the
Report of the IMP and the Secretariat for the preparation of this meeting (and for the
Secretary-General report on the issue related to energy for sustainable development, which
provides a useful basis for our discussions on policy recommendations on this matter at CSD15.)
On this matter, Japan believes that strong and credible actions are needed to foster a transition to
a global low carbon society and for that purpose, Japan has several suggestions, particularly
those on the texts included in the Report of IPM. (These suggestions will be provided in a
written form. So please let me know how I can provide you with them.)
(General Comments)
(1) Enhancing energy access in developing countries
Japan believes that,
In order to enhance energy access in developing countries, it is critical to strengthen the
cooperation with private sector because know-how and technologies to improve energy
efficiency as well as the financing for energy improvement are owned by the private sector.
It is also important to strengthen the cooperation with IFIs in order to build enabling
environment to attract private energy investment as well as the public-private partnership.
Promotion of electrification in developing countries is effective for stimulating their local
economies as one of the solutions for poverty alleviation. In this regard, it is essential that a
master plan for electrification, which includes supporting legislation and pilot projects,
should be developed and included within their national development strategies.
Further development and deployment of clean coal technologies is important in the view of
creating co-benefits, such as reduction of GHG emissions and SO2 and NOx, air quality
improvement, health benefits, and energy efficiency improvement. Japanese government
(Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan), together with leading
private companies, has worked on promoting development and diffusion of clean coal
technologies through several pilot projects, including the one implemented in Shandong
Province in China since 2005 and those planned under the Asia-Pacific Partnership on
Clean Development and Climate (APP).
(2) Improving energy efficiency
Japan believes that,
Improvement of energy efficiency and development and transfer of clean energy
technologies will create positive benefits in terms of climate change mitigation, energy
security and sustainable development.
At the East Asia Summit held in Cebu Island, the Philippines in January 2007, as its
response to the Cebu Declaration on Energy Security Enhancement, Japan pledged its
utmost support on 1) improvement of energy efficiency, 2) promotion of biomass energy, 3)
promotion of clean coal technology, and 4) eradication of energy poverty.
It is essential to note that such clean energy technologies are owned by the private
companies that have spent enormous amount of R&D budget and human resources to
develop these technologies. In order to enhance transfer of these technologies to developing
countries, it is crucial for recipient countries to create a stable environment for investment,
especially the establishment of solid IPR protection regime.
In order to promote energy security, sustainable energy supply and higher energy efficiency,
it might be a good idea to establish an energy efficiency standard, such as
Top-runner-approach applied in Japan. As one of the countries that have achieved the
highest efficiency, Japan is ready to share its know-how and experiences.
(3) Development and transfer of clean and innovative energy technologies (renewables)
Japan believes that,
Energy saving and renewable energy have high potentials to realize economically and
environmentally sustainable society that promotes energy access and helps lower the
dependency on fossil fuels.
In promoting the use of renewable energy, including biomass, it is important to implement
policies in an integrated manner, including 1) financial and political support for R&D, 2)
subsidies for the facilities, and 3) renewables portfolio standards.
In regards to energy cooperation with developing countries, the whole plan should be
designed based on local and regional energy needs?which I call ?tailored-made? energy
cooperation plan, such as the combination of on-grid power plant, which requires huge
infrastructure, and small-hydro and small-wind.
However, regarding renewable energy portfolio, Japan believes that the portion of the best
mix of the energy supply should be developed by each country based on its socio-economic
conditions including its energy portfolio strategy.
Japan looks forward to a good and constructive outcome of CSD15.
(Specific suggestions for change)
First, on page 7, the preamble of para 3, Japan would like to suggest (to add ?It is important to?
at the beginning and delete ?on concessional terms.? The rest remains the same), which reads
?It is important to diversify energy supply and develop advanced, cleaner, more efficient,
affordable and cost-effective energy technologies, hydro-fuels and biofuels and their transfer to
developing countries on concessional terms, as mutually agreed? because the promotion of
energy efficiency improvement and renewable energy use should be done on broader basis than
?concessional terms,? which includes business/commercial basis.
Second, on page 8, para 3 (w), it should be modified to ?Reduce GHG emissions accompanied
with production of fossil fuels in the hydrocarbon industry, in particular through the reduction of
gas venting and flaring? (because gas venting and flaring use excessive energy in the process
and do not lead to energy efficiency improvement. Rather, we should focus on reducing GHG
emissions here.)
Third, on page 8, pare 3 (y), co-generation should be changed to ?on-site generation? and ?fuel
switching? should be changed to ?fuel conversion? (because, according to experts I consulted
with, it makes more sense?..)
As for general comments on this issue, which I already mentioned in the intervention at IPM, I
will provide you as the copy of my statement.
First of all, Japan would like to express its sincere gratitude to you, Mr. Chair, to prepare the
Report of the IMP and the Secretariat for the preparation of this meeting (and for the
Secretary-General report on the issue related to energy for sustainable development, which
provides a useful basis for our discussions on policy recommendations on this matter at CSD15.)
On this matter, Japan believes that strong and credible actions are needed to foster a transition to
a global low carbon society and for that purpose, Japan has several suggestions, particularly
those on the texts included in the Report of IPM. (These suggestions will be provided in a
written form. So please let me know how I can provide you with them.)
(General Comments)
(1) Enhancing energy access in developing countries
Japan believes that,
In order to enhance energy access in developing countries, it is critical to strengthen the
cooperation with private sector because know-how and technologies to improve energy
efficiency as well as the financing for energy improvement are owned by the private sector.
It is also important to strengthen the cooperation with IFIs in order to build enabling
environment to attract private energy investment as well as the public-private partnership.
Promotion of electrification in developing countries is effective for stimulating their local
economies as one of the solutions for poverty alleviation. In this regard, it is essential that a
master plan for electrification, which includes supporting legislation and pilot projects,
should be developed and included within their national development strategies.
Further development and deployment of clean coal technologies is important in the view of
creating co-benefits, such as reduction of GHG emissions and SO2 and NOx, air quality
improvement, health benefits, and energy efficiency improvement. Japanese government
(Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan), together with leading
private companies, has worked on promoting development and diffusion of clean coal
technologies through several pilot projects, including the one implemented in Shandong
Province in China since 2005 and those planned under the Asia-Pacific Partnership on
Clean Development and Climate (APP).
(2) Improving energy efficiency
Japan believes that,
Improvement of energy efficiency and development and transfer of clean energy
technologies will create positive benefits in terms of climate change mitigation, energy
security and sustainable development.
At the East Asia Summit held in Cebu Island, the Philippines in January 2007, as its
response to the Cebu Declaration on Energy Security Enhancement, Japan pledged its
utmost support on 1) improvement of energy efficiency, 2) promotion of biomass energy, 3)
promotion of clean coal technology, and 4) eradication of energy poverty.
It is essential to note that such clean energy technologies are owned by the private
companies that have spent enormous amount of R&D budget and human resources to
develop these technologies. In order to enhance transfer of these technologies to developing
countries, it is crucial for recipient countries to create a stable environment for investment,
especially the establishment of solid IPR protection regime.
In order to promote energy security, sustainable energy supply and higher energy efficiency,
it might be a good idea to establish an energy efficiency standard, such as
Top-runner-approach applied in Japan. As one of the countries that have achieved the
highest efficiency, Japan is ready to share its know-how and experiences.
(3) Development and transfer of clean and innovative energy technologies (renewables)
Japan believes that,
Energy saving and renewable energy have high potentials to realize economically and
environmentally sustainable society that promotes energy access and helps lower the
dependency on fossil fuels.
In promoting the use of renewable energy, including biomass, it is important to implement
policies in an integrated manner, including 1) financial and political support for R&D, 2)
subsidies for the facilities, and 3) renewables portfolio standards.
In regards to energy cooperation with developing countries, the whole plan should be
designed based on local and regional energy needs?which I call ?tailored-made? energy
cooperation plan, such as the combination of on-grid power plant, which requires huge
infrastructure, and small-hydro and small-wind.
However, regarding renewable energy portfolio, Japan believes that the portion of the best
mix of the energy supply should be developed by each country based on its socio-economic
conditions including its energy portfolio strategy.
Japan looks forward to a good and constructive outcome of CSD15.
(Specific suggestions for change)
First, on page 7, the preamble of para 3, Japan would like to suggest (to add ?It is important to?
at the beginning and delete ?on concessional terms.? The rest remains the same), which reads
?It is important to diversify energy supply and develop advanced, cleaner, more efficient,
affordable and cost-effective energy technologies, hydro-fuels and biofuels and their transfer to
developing countries on concessional terms, as mutually agreed? because the promotion of
energy efficiency improvement and renewable energy use should be done on broader basis than
?concessional terms,? which includes business/commercial basis.
Second, on page 8, para 3 (w), it should be modified to ?Reduce GHG emissions accompanied
with production of fossil fuels in the hydrocarbon industry, in particular through the reduction of
gas venting and flaring? (because gas venting and flaring use excessive energy in the process
and do not lead to energy efficiency improvement. Rather, we should focus on reducing GHG
emissions here.)
Third, on page 8, pare 3 (y), co-generation should be changed to ?on-site generation? and ?fuel
switching? should be changed to ?fuel conversion? (because, according to experts I consulted
with, it makes more sense?..)
As for general comments on this issue, which I already mentioned in the intervention at IPM, I
will provide you as the copy of my statement.
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