On February 16, the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes (UNFCCC) entered into force. Japanese Foreign Minister Machimura issued a statement (http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2005/2/0216.html), in which he stated, “this is a significant and historic step forward in the international efforts to prevent global warming.”
The Japanese Ministry of the Environment, in conjunction with the government of Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City, held the commemorative event at the Kyoto International Conference Hall, the same hall in which the Kyoto Protocol was adopted about 7 years ago.
In his message conveyed at the event, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi emphasized Japan’s leading role in the international community in tackling global climate change and Japan’s contribution to the world through environmental technology.
Prime Minister Koizumi’s message was followed by a relay of messages from around the world, which included ones from Secretary-General of U.N. Kofi Annan, Deputy Environment Minister of Kenya and 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai and from ministerial level officials of various countries such as UK, Germany, Canada, Argentina and China.
You can find each statement at http://www.kyoto-protocol.jp/stream_ondemand_en.html
Executive Secretary of UNFCCC secretariat Waller-Hunter also called on the world, in her keynote address at the conference, “to build on the experience that is now being gained to design the multilateral framework that will lead to a climate friendly future for all.”
[Related Links]
* Commemorative Event to Mark the Entry into Force of the Kyoto Protocol
* Foreign Minister’s Statement on the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol
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