Japan in the Midst of Multilateral Negotiations on the Future Framework for Climate Change
Japan in the Midst of Multilateral Negotiations on the Future Framework for Climate Change

Author(s): Yasuko Kameyama
Subject(s): National Economy, Energy and Environmental Studies
Published by: Hokkaido Slavic-Eurasian Reserarch Center
Summary/Abstract: Much of the literature suggests that the foreign policy aspect of decision-making on climate change brings about a positive influence on the country’s position in terms of environmental consciousness, but this proposition proved to fit only partially for Japan. The first type of Japanese foreign policy on climate change is to view national decisions as a result of organizational behavior. This can be applied to explain the activity of MOFA in the context of involvement in climate policy-making. Whenever MOFA exerted its influence, it respected the U.S. involvement in the scheme, as MOFA considered the United States to be the most significant partner for Japan. On the other hand, the actions and decisions taken by Japanese political leaders were difficult to explain by various theories on foreign policy. This is a kind of cultural shock, which is experienced by political leaders individually, and that can alter their mindsets in a short period of time. Political leaders, once they became aware of climate change debates, sought political leadership in the negotiations, which resulted in shifting Japan’s national position towards the pro-environmental direction.

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