On 31 October and 1 November 2005, the Wuppertal Institute in cooperation with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) of Japan hosted a workshop and conference on climate policy under the Title "Climate Policy 2005 and Beyond - Japanese / German Impulses". Participants from both countries discussed their experiences in climate protection as well as future cooperation in this area.
The workshop and conference were part of the scientific pillar of the "German Year in Japan 2005/2006" und was financed by the Environment Ministries of both Germany and Japan as well as the Ministry for Innovation of North Rhine-Westphalia. A thorough evaluation and documentation of the events has been published in June 2006 and can be downloaded as PDF file.
"We can do it" was the message of Prof. Peter Hennicke, President of the Wuppertal Institute at the conference. "A global reduction of green house gas emissions of 50 % is economically feasible and technically possible. We can drastically increase energy efficiency and the remaining energy needs can be covered by renewables". The participants discussed the German experience with the introduction of the ecological tax reform and the emissions trading scheme for businesses as well as the possible implications in applying these measures in the Japanese context. The representatives of the Japanese Environment Ministry made very clear that Japan intends to fulfil its Kyoto targets and that an ecological tax reform is an important stepping stone in the reduction of green house gas emissions.
Another topic at the conference was the contribution of civil society to save the climate. Representatives from the industrial private sector, municipalities and environmental NGOs from both countries reported on their respective climate protection activities. It became evident that not only is government action indispensable in order to further climate protection, but that non-governmental players make vital contributions as well.
The workshop on 31 October 2005 dealt primarily with the role of civil society players in climate protection activities.
1. Climate Protection - Opportunities and Hurdles for Industry
2. Climate Protection in Municipalities - Japan/Germany
3. The involvement of environmental NGOs in climate policy
The German and Japanese participants used the opportunity to thoroughly exchange experiences. During the course of the workshop, in all the sessions, it was visible how much potential and interest there is to work on bilateral projects.
In the session with representatives from industry i.e., it became apparent that government regulation is no magic bullet. Letting the market take care of everything, however, was also not the best way to go. There was interest to organise a "meeting in the middle" between industry and government where guidelines could be created to promote a climate friendly and sustainable profitable industry. Self-regulation by way of the market, preferred by industry, would then become effective in dealing with climate change.
Cities and municipalities in Japan and Germany have a long tradition of working together via twin city projects and in the area of environmental protection via organisations such as the International Climate Alliance. These contacts and cooperation were deepened and expanded upon. It was apparent that there was interest in a subsequent conference covering municipalities in Germany, Japan and USA, which could provide climate protection in the US with new impulses.
The city of Wuppertal used this opportunity to get together with representatives from the Japanese city of Kitakyushu (she received the "Global 500" environmental award of the United Nations Environment Programme), in order to initiate an exchange of ideas in energy and waste management policy. The representatives of both cities and the Wuppertal Institute agreed on steps toward closer cooperation in environmental policy.
During the discussions between the representatives of NGOs, it clearly surfaced that Japanese organisations are in general able to exercise only very little influence. Thus the continuous exchange with German and European organisations can be beneficial in the long term, to bring about structural change. Furthermore, a follow-up symposium at director level for Japanese and German NGOs was discussed.
During the final general discussion, which took place with representatives from all civil society areas from both countries, it was emphasised that comprehensive cooperation between all sectors has great potential for effective climate protection. This is as yet virgin territory for cooperation, not only between both countries, but also internally in each country.