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Japan whose ratification was crucial to the Protocol's entry into force and its credibility, especially after US withdrawal, became a Party to the treaty in summer 2002. The lower house of Parliament passed the ratification bill on the 21st of May (see news) and the upper house on 31st May. Japan completed the process on 4th June and submitted its documents to the United Nations (see news). See also press releases by FoE Japan and WWF , plus the ratification calendar. Along with its ratification, Japan also initiated a campaign to urge other nations to follow its move and become Parties to the treaty, among them Russia and the USA, as well as Canada, Australia, South Korea and China. Prior to this final step, Japan had already publicly declared its decision to ratify the Protocol without the US, following the successful conclusion of the climate conference in Marrakech in November 2001. In a policy speech to the assembly on 4th February, Prime Minister Koizumi reiterated his commitment to ratification by Japan: "The issue of global warming requires an urgent response and I will aim to see that this session of the Diet approves the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and provides for the necessary domestic legislation." Friends of the Earth (FoE) Japan published an initial analysis of the new climate legislation which was submitted to Parliament as part of Japan's implementation strategy in March. Later in the same month, the Diet received the ratification bill. |
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