Fukuda seeks to lift popularity at G-8 summit

By Miya Tanaka

TOKYO —

After spending a considerable amount of time and effort for preparation, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda now awaits the Group of Eight summit at which his ability as chair will be tested especially on environmental issues.

A successful summit is needed not only to add momentum to global efforts to tackle climate change, but also for the 71-year-old prime minister to lift his popularity amid the political stalemate in the divided parliament.

Tough negotiations await Fukuda during the three-day summit in the Lake Toya resort area of Hokkaido—especially on how far the G-8 leaders will be able to advance from last year’s agreement at the summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, of ‘‘considering seriously’’ halving global greenhouse gas emissions from current levels by 2050.

While noting that setting an emissions goal under a framework including all major emitters ‘‘has been said to be difficult to agree on,’’ Fukuda expressed his determination on June 23 to do his best as chair, saying, ‘‘I think we need some kind of goal that we can share.’‘

Japan is making last-ditch adjustments toward working out an agreement at the summit with key players such as the United States, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said recently.

To show Japan’s active stance on tackling global warming as host of the summit, Fukuda on June 9 unveiled his new climate initiative, in which he vowed to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 60-80% from current levels by 2050 and to launch emissions trading on a trial basis in Japan in the fall.

Fukuda also cited an estimate that Japan could slash emissions by 14% from the level in 2005 by 2020, saying it would be equivalent to the target set by the European Union, which has committed itself to cuts of 20% from 1990 levels by 2020.

But the initiative immediately drew criticism from environmentalists who argue that Japan should set a medium term target to take a leadership role at the G-8 summit and U.N. talks to craft a successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

‘‘The Japanese prime minister is playing a numbers game to avoid a commitment to deep emission reductions,’’ said Kathrin Gutmann, climate policy coordinator for World Wide Fund for Nature International in a press release which noted that the 14 percent-reduction estimate is equivalent to a mere 4 percent cut when compared to 1990.

Resistance from business circles and bureaucrats apparently lies behind Fukuda’s failure to specify a medium-term target.

A Foreign Ministry source expressed concern that such a target could undermine Japan’s efforts to work in tandem with the United States when it remains uncertain whether Washington will fully accept the long-term goal of halving global emissions by 2050.

Japan’s domestic political situation, with the opposition parties in control of the upper chamber of the Diet, has provided another headache for Fukuda, hampering his efforts to lay the groundwork for the summit.

Fukuda had to forgo visits to some of the G-8 member states in Europe scheduled in early May amid a parliamentary row over a gasoline tax surcharge.

Fukuda, who assumed office in September last year, eventually made the trip in early June and has met all his counterparts from the G-8 member countries except for Canada.

Referring to bilateral meetings during the trip between Fukuda and his counterparts from Germany, Britain, Italy and France, a senior Japanese government official hailed the talks as ‘‘extremely significant’’ as Fukuda was able to secure commitments from the leaders regarding cooperation to make the G-8 summit a success.

Political pundits say that Fukuda is hoping to use the summit to demonstrate his diplomatic leadership, believed to be his strong point, in an effort to lift his support ratings, which are currently hovering below the ‘‘danger’’ line of 30%.

Fukuda has denied any intention to resign or dissolve the House of Representatives for a general election before the end of the year, despite the passage of a censure motion by the opposition-controlled House of Councillors over his handling of healthcare insurance and the gas tax during the ordinary Diet session which ended June 21.

Given that the lower house’s current four-year term runs until September 2009, Fukuda is unlikely to risk a general election in which the ruling parties could lose the overwhelming majority they currently control in the chamber.

Fukuda’s stance has triggered calls from within his ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, the New Komeito party, for a cabinet reshuffle to strengthen his reeling administration before another heated parliamentary session starts possibly in late August.

A lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which is stepping up pressure on Fukuda to dissolve the lower house, indicated that the months following the summit could provide a crucial moment for the prime minister.

‘‘According to the circumstances, I think that voices may well emerge inside the ruling parties after the summit that it’s about time for Fukuda to resign,’’ DPJ Acting President Naoto Kan told a press conference in mid-June.

The July 7-9 summit will bring together the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States. The European Union also participates in the G-8 process.

Japan has also invited several emerging economies including China, Brazil and India to discuss climate change with the G-8 leaders.

› Login to comment

6 Comments

thepro at 08:46 AM JST - 4th July

'Won't somebody love me?'
tkoind2 at 12:32 PM JST - 4th July

It is hopeless Fukuda-san. No power on earth or elsewhere can make you popular. You are useless. Your actions say it, your policies say it, your face even says it. Give up and fade into the background of oblivion along with the rest of the dull grey leaders who fail to do what is right for this country.
JoeBigs at 12:39 PM JST - 4th July

Heck Id like him more if he resigned.......Id even think about shacking his hand.....
Altria at 01:29 PM JST - 4th July

Don't worry, you're a vast improvement on "sweet buns" Abe.

(Though even that inanimate Kuidaore Taro doll would have been a vast improvement)
wilbur at 02:51 PM JST - 4th July

will they even know who he is ?
RepublicofTexas at 10:11 PM JST - 7th July

I don't think the G-8 is going to help his popularity (or lack there of). Most people I know find the G-8 an annoyance. However I think many people are a little harsh on Fukuda, I don't like him myself, but most of the problems he has are left over from previous administrations or partly from the unproductive attacks from the opposition (DP).