ＣＯＰ１６ 京都議定書の単純延長は論外

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 4, 2010)
Don't extend Kyoto pact just for the sake of it
ＣＯＰ１６　京都議定書の単純延長は論外（12月3日付・読売社説）

To cut global emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and establish a society not dependent on fossil fuels, the world needs new international rules on emission controls that are fair to industrially advanced and developing nations.
　世界の温室効果ガスの排出量を減らし、化石燃料に頼らない社会を築くためには、先進国と途上国の対立を解いて、新たな国際ルールを策定する必要がある。

The 16th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP16) is being held in Cancun, Mexico. The main item on the agenda is the establishment of new rules to replace the current Kyoto Protocol whose commitment period for achieving emission targets ends in 2012.
　気候変動枠組み条約の第１６回締約国会議（ＣＯＰ１６）がメキシコで開かれている。主要議題は、対象期間が２０１２年に終了する現在の「京都議定書」に代わる、新しいルール作りだ。

The main problem boils down to whether participating nations can craft a fair, effective framework acceptable to an entanglement of interests.
　問われているのは、参加国の思惑が絡み合う中で、公平で実効性のある枠組みを構築できるかどうか、である。

Discussions at the conference quickly ran into trouble. Developing countries are strongly resisting new rules that would require them to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, which they fear would slow their economic growth. They want the Kyoto Protocol extended to 2013 and beyond.
　討議は序盤から難航している。経済成長の足かせになるとして、新ルールで削減義務を負うことに強く抵抗している途上国側が、１３年以降も京都議定書を延長するよう主張しているためだ。

Get U.S., China on board

Under the Kyoto Protocol, only industrially advanced countries are required to cut greenhouse gas emissions. This is advantageous to developing countries. China, the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter, is a developing country and therefore not obliged by the pact to cut its emissions.
　京都議定書は先進国だけに削減義務を課しており、途上国に都合のよいルールになっている。排出量が最も多い中国も、途上国として削減義務を負っていない。

The United States, the second-biggest gas emitter, has not ratified the Kyoto pact. These two countries together spew out more than 40 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.
　中国に次ぐ排出量の米国は、議定書を離脱したままだ。中国と米国を合わせた排出量は、世界全体の４割以上を占める。

Greenhouse gas emissions by signatories with obligations under the pact, such as Japan and the European Union, produce only 27 percent of global emissions. This suggests the Kyoto framework is ineffective.
　一方で、削減義務が課されている日本や欧州連合（ＥＵ）などの排出量は、世界の２７％に過ぎない。京都議定書が実効性を欠く枠組みと言われるゆえんだろう。

We believe any framework that replaces the Kyoto Protocol must ensure that China and the United States also live up to their responsibility to cut their emissions. Merely extending the Kyoto Protocol would plainly run counter to this. Accordingly, it is quite reasonable for the Japanese government to have decided to oppose extension of the pact.
　必要なのは、中国と米国も排出削減に応分の責任を果たすような枠組みである。京都議定書の単純延長は、明らかにそれに逆行するものだ。日本政府が議定書の延長に反対する方針を決めたのは、当然と言えよう。

25% goal not set in stone

Worryingly, the EU has shown a willingness to extend the protocol. EU nations probably assume it would be advantageous for them to keep in place the EU emissions trading system that was introduced to help the region achieve reduction targets.
　ただ、ＥＵにも京都議定書の延長を容認する動きがあるのは懸念材料だ。削減目標達成の手段の一つとして実施している域内の排出量取引制度を、今後も続ける方が得策との思惑からだろう。

Japanese delegates will undoubtedly face some tense negotiations at the conference.
　日本が厳しい交渉を迫られることは間違いない。

The previous administration under Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama came out with a lofty target of cutting Japan's greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from the 1990 level by 2020. The government attached several preconditions to this goal, including the establishment of a fair emissions reduction architecture that involves all major greenhouse gas emitters, and an agreement on ambitious targets.
　鳩山前政権は、２０年までに１９９０年比で２５％削減という極めて高い目標を打ち出した。これに取り組むにあたっては、「すべての主要排出国による公平な枠組みの構築」と「意欲的な目標の合意」という前提条件も付けている。

We think Japan should stick by these conditions. If the 25 percent reduction goal takes on a life of its own, this nation alone could end up being obliged to achieve a distinctly disadvantageous reduction target.
　この条件は堅持せねばならない。「２５％削減」が独り歩きすれば、日本だけが不利な削減義務を負うことにつながりかねない。

Opposition to the 25 percent reduction is strong in Japan due to concerns that excessive emissions controls would hurt the economy. On this occasion, Japan should start reviewing this target and set a more realistic one.
　過度の排出抑制は経済に悪影響を及ぼすとして、国内でも「２５％削減」への反発は強い。この際、現実的な目標への見直しにも着手すべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 3, 2010)
（2010年12月3日01時25分 読売新聞）