Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development:
4th Ministerial Meeting

Chiba, Japan, March 14-16, 2008
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The Ministerial Meeting of the Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development was launched at G8 summit at Gleneagles 2005. The first meeting was held in London in Oct. and Nov. 2005, followed by the second meeting in Monterey in Oct. 2006 and the third meeting in Berlin in Sep. 2007.

During the past sessions of the Dialogue, the following general understandings had been shared, with the assistance of the inputs from the IEA and the World Bank;

Both the development of new technologies and the deployment of existing technologies are equally important. Cooperation between developed and developing countries, and between public and private sectors are essential.
Future investment is needed on a large scale. A wide range of policies should be implemented in a clear and predictable way in order to mobilize private investment.
It is necessary to deal with sustainable development and climate change at the same time. Adaptation and reducing emissions from deforestation are also important.

It had been acknowledged that these discussions during the Dialogues in the past are useful inputs and complementary to the process under the UNFCCC for the post-2012 framework.

In order to wrap up these past 2-year discussions and prepare a report to the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, the 4th meeting was held in Chiba from the 14th to the 16th of March 2008, and focused on the issues on Technology, Finance and Investments, and post-2012 framework. This meeting was attended by ministers and senior officials responsible for energy and environment issues from G8, from Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Spain and Slovenia as current presidency of the EU. We were joined by senior officials from international organizations including the International Energy Agency, the World Bank, Regional Development Banks, and business groups from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Nippon Keidanren and the World Economic Forum, non-governmental organizations as well as legislators from the GLOBE.

Regarding the following issues discussed at this Dialogue, we:

Technology

Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy

Acknowledged the importance of improving energy efficiency, as one of the lowest cost and most effective means to immediately reduce GHG emissions, on a global scale including through cooperative sectoral approach, international partnership, and domestic actions for each country.
Highlighted the necessity of technology deployment and transfer to developing countries.
Acknowledged the importance of capacity building and discussed the role of IPR (Intellectual Property Rights).
Noted that countries which decided to choose the option for nuclear energy recognized the contribution of nuclear power to emission reduction while those which decided otherwise expressed their concern about security.
Noted the importance of renewable energy.

Innovative Technology

Exchanged information on international initiatives to develop innovative technologies.
Shared the necessity of expanding and strengthening international cooperation and sharing road maps on technology RD & D.
Emphasized the importance of CCS.

Sectoral Approach

Provided experiences based on sectoral approach (e.g., APP).
Discussed the effectiveness of sectoral approach and recognized the necessity to continue further discussion in order to reach common understanding.
Emphasized the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capability in the context of sectoral approach.

The Role of the IEA

Appreciate the work of IEA and pointed out challenges to be addressed (including data collection and the future role of IEA).

Activities by Private Sector

Appreciated business initiatives for implementation of sector-based activities (including data collection).

Finance

International Financial Mechanism for Mitigation and Adaptation

Appreciated the work of the World Bank and Regional Development Banks under the framework for clean energy and development and encouraged them to continue and enhanced these efforts.
Appreciated the initiatives by Japan, UK and US to create a new multilateral fund for climate change in collaboration with the World Bank.
Exchanged views on governance of international funding arrangements.
Acknowledged to coordinate various existing and new funds in order to avoid duplication.
Recognized the need to prioritize financial support for adaptation to the most vulnerable countries such as Least Developed Countries and Small Islands Developing States.
Noted the importance of exploring innovative financial mechanisms.
Noted a Multinational Fund for Climate Change to support mitigation and adaptation activities proposed by Mexico.
Noted the necessity of scaling up CDM while recognizing the need for improvement.
Acknowledged the importance of mainstreaming mitigation and adaptation into development policy.
Recognized the importance of maximizing co-benefits (e.g. air pollution reduction) in financial assistance.
Reaffirmed the necessity to give appropriate incentives for preventing deforestation and forest degradation.

Mobilization of Private Investment

Recognized the importance of mobilization of private investment and the role of governments to remove the obstacles for investment.
Discussed the relationship between carbon markets and private investments.

Post-2012 Framework

Long-term Goal

Acknowledged the importance of sharing a long-term goal.
Shared the common understanding of the necessity to move toward sustainable low-carbon societies.
Pointed out the necessity to identify a long-term policy which functions as a reliable and clear signal to the private sector.

Mid-term Goal

Reaffirmed the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities as a premise of the discussion.
Noted the necessity to take into consideration the change of global situation from 1992 to 2008.
Recognized to necessity to ensure equity to realize sustainable development and effective emission reduction.
Shared the necessity to continue substantial discussion on sectoral approach, with the understanding that it does not replace quantified national target for GHGs emissions reductions.

Global Actions

Noted developed countries will take the lead in combating climate change while ensuring the comparability of efforts among them.
Acknowledged developing countries will take measurable, reportable and verifiable actions with support from developed countries.
Shared that adaptation and mitigation are equally important, and technology and finance are necessary ways to achieve them.
Recognized in particular the unique role that the countries at the Gleneagles Dialogue can play in terms of initiatives and cooperation leading to emission reduction.
Noted the importance of carbon market role.
Acknowledged the importance of counter measures for deforestation and forest degradation particularly for developing countries.

Road to Copenhagen

Appreciated the fruits of this dialogue (substantial contribution to the agreement on Bali Action Plan) and expected it to become a useful contribution to the discussion in the AWGLCA under the Convention.
Highlighted the value of this dialogue and other such dialogues in contributing to a successful outcome in Copenhagen.

Source: Ministry of the Environment (Japan)

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