ブックタイトル佐藤栄作論文集９～１６

概要

佐藤栄作論文集９～１６

public. The official position of the government towards global warming measures inpreparation for the Kyoto conference in December 1997 has inevitably been labeled avictim of Japan’s impenetrable and interest-based political system and thus a wastedopportunity to display leadership.Japan’s environmental policies have embraced a number of themes: coordinatingdebate, providing financial assistance to encourage the participation of developingcountries, an increase in environmentally based ODA since the Earth Summit in 1992,the transfer of technology aimed at promoting environmental protection in developingcountries, and the support of a number of environmental conservation centers aroundthe world.In material terms Japan’s contribution to global environmental protection isimpressive, although there have been criticisms that its policy is tied to commercialinterests and mainly concerned with problems which directly threaten Japan.Yet the central obstacle to transforming a substantial and solid supporting roleinto a leadership role in this area lies in the nature of power in Japan. Greaterpolitical leadership - or‘enlightened leadership’, as Paul Kennedy describes it 24 - andtransparency, along with greater education efforts, are necessary to build consensusaround long-term commitments which may involve sacrifices. The interests are oftenso disparate that consensus must not be at the cost of political leadership, however, orthe results will be mediocre.Given the political nature of the debate - connected as it is to sensitive trade andinvestment issues - a leadership role also involves a creative initiative internationally.Japan is host to a dynamic and growing civil society of NGOs which should bebrought into play in the formulating and administration of its environmental policies.If Japan can accomplish such adjustments and present a more forthright face to the54024 Paul Kennedy,‘Japan - A Twenty-first-Century Power?’, in C. Garby and Mary Brown Bullock ed., Japan: A NewKind of Superpower?, p.199.