G8 environment ministers meeting
Kobe, Japan - the G8 Environment Ministers Meeting is held with the attendance of ministers of the G8 countries and the European Commissioner responsible for the environment.
Prior to the Group of Eight (G8) Summit, the G8 Environment Ministers Meeting is held with the attendance of ministers of the G8 countries and the European Commissioner responsible for the environment to exchange opinions on various environmental issues. It is held on an annual basis and hosted by the country chairing the G8 Summit. As this year’s G8 chair, Japan will host the G8 Environment Ministers Meeting in Kobe (Kobe Meeting) from May 24 to 26 as part of the lead-up to the Hokkaido Toyako Summit in July.
In recent years, global environmental issues such as climate change have become major international political issues. In reflection of this, environmental issues are expected to be among the major topics taken up at the Hokkaido Toyako Summit. Consequently, the role played by the Kobe Meeting will be of particular importance.
Date
May 24–26, 2008
Venue
Kobe Portopia Hotel
Environment Fair in KOBE
There will be an environmental exhibition, “Environment Fair in KOBE” on the occasion of the Kobe Meeting. The exhibitions will present Japan’s cutting-edge environmental technologies.
3 Themes:
Climate Change
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. At the Heiligendamm Summit held in Germany in 2007, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe introduced to the G8 heads of state Japan's proposal of "Cool Earth 50," resulting in agreement by the G8 leaders to consider seriously at least a halving of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. As the chair of this year's G8, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda presented his "Cool Earth Promotion Programme(*)" initiative on the occasion of the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2008. In keeping with this Programme, at the Kobe Meeting, the ministers will exchange views on effective means of mitigating climate change, addressing such issues as setting fair and equitable emissions targets, the creation of a Low-Carbon Society, promotion of integrated measures to combat pollution and climate change (a co-benefits approach), and mainstreaming adaptation to climate change into development policies.
(2)Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the foundation for the survival of all living creatures and indispensable to the prosperity of humankind. The Third National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan was decided at a November 2007 cabinet meeting. This Strategy provides the target and the direction for government measures on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in accordance with the Convention on Biological Diversity. As 2010 is both the target year of the 2010 Biodiversity Target and the International Year of Biodiversity, Japan wishes to invite to the city of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. With an eye to this milestone year of 2010, the ministers will be exchanging views on means of promoting the conservation and sustainable use of global biodiversity, in light of the experiences of Japan, which has a long history of coexistence with nature.
(3)The 3Rs
Along with an expansion of economic activities, the amount of waste has been increasing around the globe. Demand for various types of resources is also rising rapidly and recyclable resources such as scrap metal and waste plastics are frequently traded across borders. On the basis of its "mottainai" philosophy, Japan has been advocating and leading the "3R Initiative" among the G8, aiming to build a sound material-cycle society through promoting the 3Rs of reducing waste and reusing and recycling resources and products. The ministers will discuss measures to foster an international sound material-cycle society, including such topics as the contribution of the 3Rs to climate change mitigation measures, the development of an international model for resource recycling, and appropriate waste treatment in developing countries and international cooperation to promote the 3Rs.
Contact :
Preparatory Task Force
for the G8 Environment Ministers Meeting
Ministry of the Environment JAPAN
* Tel +81(0)3.5521.8347
* Fax +81(0)3.5521.8276
* E-mail [email protected]
