Representatives of Nippon Keidanren and CESPEDES in Cancún on December 5th exchanged views on climate change, energy, and economic growth. We also discussed how to contribute to ongoing negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and to build a low carbon society.
As representatives of the organizations, we agreed to the following points.
Enhanced energy efficiency is one of the most important steps to address climate change, economic growth, and energy security.
Widespread use of best available low-carbon technologies on a global scale, as well as development of new innovative technologies, will enable the achievement of major reductions in GHG emissions.
The Kyoto Protocol introduced the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as a way to diffuse low carbon technologies, but we recognize that there are shortcomings to be overcome.
As a supplement to the CDM, we welcome efforts to create bilateral offset mechanisms proposed by the government of Japan, with a belief that they will facilitate diffusion of low carbon technologies and products on global level.
Public private partnerships are also effective for promoting technology diffusion to prevent climate change.
Weakening the protection of intellectual property, including compulsory licensing, would discourage businesses to promote technology transfer and to invest in creating new innovative technologies.
For a new international agreement on climate change to be effective and fair, it requires a participation by all major emitters with comparable limitation and reduction efforts, and needs to respect the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.