[Title] Joint Statement by Japan and the Republic of India on the Enhancement of Cooperation on Environmental Protection and Energy Security
1. Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, and Prime Minister of India, H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh reached common recognition today that the issues of energy security and the environment are important priorities that require sustained and effective action by the international community. They acknowledged the importance of ensuring stable and affordable energy supplies that are essential for the two economies. They also recognized the urgent need to address the issues of global warming and climate change. The two Prime Ministers decided to work together to address these issues in the context of the "Japan-India Strategic and Global Partnership".
2. The two leaders arrived at a common recognition that meaningful progress in the areas of energy security and the environment should be made through individual and collective efforts in a manner that does not foreclose the possibilities of accelerated economic and social development. The two leaders also shared the recognition that India and Japan can work together to find pragmatic and practical solutions which will contribute to regional and global efforts in these areas.
3. The two leaders confirmed their intention to work constructively with each other and with other countries in multilateral fora such as United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), East Asia Summit (EAS), EAS Energy Ministers Meeting, the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate and the Five-Party Energy Ministers Meeting.
4. Based on the above recognition, the two leaders are determined to enhance and strengthen dialogue and cooperation in the following areas:
A. Climate Change
Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe elaborated upon the "three proposals and three principles" that constitute the main pillars of his proposal "Cool Earth 50" presented in May 2007 to address climate change. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh appreciated his proposal as a contribution to the global debate to address climate change.
Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe particularly emphasized the need to set a long-term target to cut global emission by half from the current level by 2050 in order to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG).
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh underscored that the determination of any particular stabilization goal and the time-frame in which it should be achieved needs to be made at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This should be preceded by a scientific consensus on impacts at different levels of GHG going beyond the current IPCC findings, which still document many uncertainties. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's proposal should also receive serious consideration in this context.
The two leaders recognized the importance of invigorating discussion on these issues at various fora. They expressed their determination for a flexible, fair and effective global framework and concerted international action beyond 2012 in which all countries participate to address climate change in line with the principles of the UNFCCC.
The two leaders recognized the importance of ensuring synergy between economic growth and environmental protection through mitigation and adaptation strategies including utilization of energy conservation and other technology. They also shared the view that any stabilization goals and the time-frames to achieve the same should be determined under the UNFCCC, and should be preceded by a scientific consensus.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh welcomed the efforts by Japan to meet green house gas emission targets set under the Kyoto Protocol including launching of national campaigns. The two leaders decided to continue cooperation to promote the use of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
The two Prime Ministers confirmed their intention to take pragmatic steps to address climate change in their respective countries in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities as also national circumstances.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh also appreciated Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe's willingness to create a new financial mechanism with substantial size of funds for relatively long term, to assist developing countries with high aspirations, instead of diverting the existing financial assistance, and to call on other industrialized countries and international organizations to respond and take part in international cooperation. Both Prime Ministers recognized the importance of providing adequate resources for adaptation strategies.
B. Energy Security
The two leaders shared the view that cooperation between India and Japan in the area of energy at both the government and industry levels will be mutually beneficial to promote both countries' efforts for enhancement of energy security. They also noted with satisfaction the steps being taken by both countries to develop specific cooperation projects in the energy sector, including cooperation in energy efficiency and conservation and in clean energy, as well as through the participation of Japanese companies in the power sector in India.
The two leaders welcomed the outcomes of the Second Japan-India Ministerial-level Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi in July 2007 to promote comprehensive cooperation in the energy sector. They reached the conclusion that this Dialogue should be held annually and that its scope could be broadened through mutual consensus to cover other aspects of cooperation and collaboration in the energy sector.
The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of promoting energy efficiency and conservation as a means of ensuring energy security and addressing climate change by among others implementing voluntary goals and action plans based on the "Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security" issued during the Second East Asian Summit held in January 2007. The two leaders also confirmed the importance of usage of clean technology as part of a global response. Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe acknowledged the importance of accessibility for clean technology in cost effective manner to developing countries. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh acknowledged Japan's expertise in clean energy technologies and welcomed Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe's willingness to cooperate to share Japan's expertise and technology in this important field with India. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh confirmed that India will accelerate the implementation of a range of energy efficiency policies and measures for improving energy efficiency in all possible sectors and Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe welcomed India's efforts. The two Prime Ministers noted the importance of cooperation through such activities as training-of-trainers in India, introduction of top-runner programme, capacity building of professionals involved in energy efficiency and information dissemination and demonstration of new energy-efficient technologies and processes. Both leaders directed the Japan-India Energy Dialogue to explore possibilities of implementing such proposals through the regional energy efficiency centers that Government of India plans to establish in the five geographical regions of India. Both leaders also directed the Japan-India Energy Dialogue to explore the possibilities of cooperation to enhance energy efficiency of power generation in India in such a way that Japanese relevant organizations and NTPC cooperate by sharing the industries' knowledge and technologies.
The two Prime Ministers recognized that new and renewable sources of energy, including bio-fuels, are already an important aspect of their respective national energy policies and instructed the Japan-India Energy Dialogue to explore ways and means to further cooperate in this field. They agreed to commence early discussions on a model project of bagasse ethanol production with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in this important field as a symbol of their shared intention to promote the use of new and renewable sources of energy.
The two leaders recognized the positive contribution of initiatives taken in various sectors for the development, deployment and transfer of cleaner and more efficient technologies under the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP). They decided to promote public-private cooperation under this partnership between the two countries. They also welcomed the initiatives taken by the two countries for cooperation in the area of clean coal technologies during the Ministerial level energy Dialogue in New Delhi in July 2007. Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe welcomed India's offer to host the next APP Ministerial Meeting, and the two leaders confirmed their intention to strengthen their contribution toward further development of APP.
The two leaders recognized the importance of expanding the energy infrastructures in India, such as power plants and power transmission and distribution networks, so as to meet India's rapidly increasing electricity demands, and to improve energy access. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his willingness to continue to provide assistance to India, taking into account India's socio-economic situation and development needs. Both sides welcomed the possibilities of participation by Japanese companies in ultra mega power generation projects which are being developed by India through tariff based competitive bidding. Both sides in addition welcomed the possibilities of participation by Japanese companies in various areas of the power sector including generation, equipment manufacturing, transmission and distribution. Both leaders also welcomed the establishment of private sector joint ventures by Japanese and Indian companies for the manufacture of high efficiency power generating machinery and stressed the desire to promote similar cooperation to other energy intensive equipment used on both the supply and demand side.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh expressed his willingness to build India's strategic petroleum storage system in cooperation with the International Energy Agency (IEA). Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe affirmed his willingness to support this initiative.
The two leaders welcomed the decision by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) of India and NEDO of Japan to hold the Japan-India Second Energy Forum in Delhi this coming November.
C. Environment
The two leaders recognized the global scale of environmental issues and decided to continue and enhance dialogue between Japan and India under bilateral as well as multilateral frameworks, in order to tackle these issues in a comprehensive manner that supports sustainable development. The two leaders also confirmed their intention to facilitate bilateral cooperation in various fields including local and global environmental concerns.
The two leaders are of the common view that an effective system of environmental laws and regulations is essential to promote environmental protection. The two leaders reaffirmed the respective rights and obligations of the two countries under multilateral environmental agreements.
The two leaders recognized the importance of bio-diversity conservation in the context of sustainable socio-economic development, and decided to promote further cooperation in this area through mutual consultation.
The two leaders shared the view on the importance of improving access to safe potable water and adequate sanitary facilities for realizing sustainable development, and have decided to enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation in order to realize this objective.
The two leaders reached common recognition that promoting sustainable forest management is important from the viewpoint of addressing climate change and conserving biodiversity, and confirmed their intention to make efforts to facilitate forestation and reforestation, combat illegal logging and conserve biodiversity, through bilateral and multilateral cooperation such as those under the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO).
The two leaders shared the view that it is important to raise public awareness about environmental issues through education and other public relations activities. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh appreciated Japan's efforts such as "Dialogue on Environmental Education" which Japan promotes under the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe welcomed India's hosting of the Fourth International Conference on Environment Education in November 2007. The leaders confirmed their intention to continue the cooperation in this area.
New Delhi, August 22, 2007
Shinzo Abe
Prime Minister of Japan
Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of the Republic of India