Japan and the Kyoto Protocol: The Role of the Middleman.

Japan has played a very important role in the Kyoto Process. Japan?s decision to host the 1997 Kyoto Conference was an international sign of its commitment to the international effort. When the United States pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol, however, Japan found itself in a very awkward position. Because of the centrality of the US-Japan Security alliance and concerns about domestic competitiveness, Japan?s prime minister was reluctant to continue with an agreement to which the US was not a party. At the same time, however, there was very strong public support for the Kyoto Protocol and an international image that needed to be upheld. In the end, Japan chose to join the EU in pushing for Kyoto?s ratification (after winning many concessions from the Europeans on the use of flexible mechanisms in the agreement). Now Japan is in a similar position as discussions begin regarding a post-Kyoto international framework. This paper will examine the role Japan has played in the Kyoto process internationally, the internal politics that led to Japan?s decision to ratify the agreement, subsequent efforts at policy implementation. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]