toshiya final xxx.doc

Reuters Institute Fellowship Paper, University of Oxford

‘Climate Change Journalism:

Comparative study of Japanese coverage of

COP3 and COP14’

by Toshiya Kaba

Hilary Term 2009

Mr.Toshiya Kaba is the Environment and Energy News Writer

at the Tokyo Shimbun Daily Newspaper and Visiting Journalism

Fellow at Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Acknowledgements 4

Chapter 1: Overview of COP14 6

Chapter 2: COP and Media 10

Chapter 3: Media Overview at COP14 14

Chapter 4: Overview of COP3 17

Chapter5: Media Overview at COP3 19

Chapter 6: Comparative study of Coverage at COP14 21

i. How did these media outlets report on climate 21

change and negotiations?

ii. Who was interviewed and quoted in the media reports? 23

iii. What do these media outlets suggest are the prospects 27

for ongoing international negotiations ahead of COP15?

Chapter 7: The Analysis of Coverage for COP3 27

i. Who was interviewed and quoted in reports from COP3? 29

ii. The Interviewed and Quoted persons 31

Chapter 8: Investigation of the differences and similarities 36

between COP14 and COP3, based on Japanese Coverage

Chapter 9: Conclusion, How should the media report on 38

climate change in the future?

Acknowledgements

Climate Change is the one of the biggest issues which

humankind has to tackle in the world. As an environment and

energy news writer, I have to improve my knowledge about this

problem. I have been researching international policy for combating

climate change from September 2008 in Europe, with leave of

absence until the end of September 2009. I was given the honor of

researching at Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism,

University of Oxford, Green Templeton College between January

and March 2009 as a visiting Journalist Fellow.

At first I would like to thank former director Mr. Paddy Coulter

who permitted me to join this institute out of the many candidates

who applied this Fellowship. Professor David Morris, representative

of the University of Oxford Japan Office, was also very important to

my tenure here because he interviewed me and recommended for

the Institute, and likewise Dr. David Levy, Director of the Institute,

and Mr. John Lloyd.

For my application, the former Minister for the Environment

and Chair at COP3 Hiroshi Oki and former Vice-Minister for the

Environment Toshiro Kojima, Mr.Kazunobu Mizuno, Editor-in-Chief

Exuecutive ,Mr.Kenji Zaitoku, former Director at Special Feature

News at Tokyo Shim bun wrote my letters of recommendation, for

which I would like to thank them again.

I would like to thank the wonderful staff, Dr. Rima Dapous, the

great administrator and permanent friend, the ever-meticulous Miss

Alex Reid, the kindhearted Miss Kate Hanneford-Smith.

This dissertation was written as a contribution for a special

seminar held by Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and

Environment Change Institute on 6

March 2009.

I would also like to thank my mentor Mr. James Painter for his

constant encouragement, and Dr. Max Boykoff for his stimulating

advice. Similarly, Professor Miranda A. Schreurs, Director at the

Environment Policy Research Centre, Free University of Berlin for

keeping an eye on me and my research activity in Europe, and for

having suggested that I come to Europe, and specifically Oxford, for

my research. Also, Mr. Ben Shape one of the most important friend

advisors for this dissertation, who brought boundless energy to my

project.

And finally, I would like to thank my wife Taeko and son Daiki,

and my baby daughter Marlin who is on the way, who had to spend

so much time in a wholly unfamiliar city.

Chapter 1. - , Overview of COP14

According to the Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change

(IPCC), if humankind does not take countermeasures to tackle future climate

change, the average temperature of the Earth could increase by up to 6°C by

the end of this century. Such an increase would pose a serious threat to the

world’s ecological system.

The Kyoto Protocol is currently the only treaty in place to combat these

changes. This protocol is valid until 2012. A new treaty for post-2012 is to be

discussed at The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP15) in Copenhagen this November,

but an agreement will be very difficult to reach because there are wide

differences in opinion between the developed and developing nations on what

direction to take.

Previous rounds of discussions (COP14) were held in Poznan,

Poland, between 1

and 12

December last year, but no progress was made.

An Arrangement conference (ad hoc Working Group) will be held in Bonn,

Germany, from this March to try to find a route towards agreement at COP15,

but there is little optimism about its chances. Meanwhile, as international

negotiations stagnate, the climate crisis is steadily engulfing the world.

What follows here is my overview of COP14 and observations on the likely

outcome of future international climate negotiations based on these findings.

The aim of COP14, as stated by UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de

Boer, was to condense the 82 page ‘Bali Road Map’ proposal document

developed at COP13 in Bali, Indonesia, in 2007. But the numbers of proposal

pages instead swelled to 122. There are several reasons why COP14 for this

failure:

1. Lack of top-level direction.

The president of COP14, Polish government minister Nowicki, told the

conference that there was no need to reach conclusions with regard to

international negotiations. Certainly COP14’s aim was different from COP13,

which made a document such as BRM, but it seems that Chair Nowicki

perceived the sluggish situation as a “turning point”, along with Executive

Secretary de Boer [MSJO: sp?]. The Polish government constructed huge

pavilions to demonstrate a model of renewable-energy car and wind power

generation in the grounds. Ironically, as an “International Exhibition City”,

they accomplished their aim successfully.

2. Impact of the Obama delegation

Vice Secretary of State Paula J Dobriansky and Dr Harlan L Watson were the

official delegates of the USA, but many countries were more focused on then

President-elect Obama’s representatives, lead by Senator John Kerry. Those

anticipating early indications of shifts in US climate policy were to be

disappointed, with Obama’s team confining their involvement to opinion

exchange. Nevertheless, little attention was paid to Dobriansky’s speech.

3. EU Conflict

The EU delegation had aimed to bring the negotiations to a more positive

conclusion, particularly with Poland hosting the event. It had intended to

champion a package of countermeasures named ‘Triple 20’, with targets for

2020 of a reduction in global emissions by 20 % compared to 1990, and the

introduction of 20% more renewable energies compared to the same. But this

proposal was complicated by conflict between the EU’s own member states,

with Germany, for example, lobbying for a compromise on carbon dioxide

emission from the steel and cement industry. They eventually agreed their

stance, but at the cost of significant distractions from the main business of

COP14, with Germany’s Prime Minister Merkel branded “Darth Vader” at

“Climate Wars”.

EU held many side events in their pavilion about renewable energy on each

day in that period and held a cocktail party after that. This was really a

sideshow to the main discussion, leading to the comment that the “Conference

was all dance, but no progress”.

The prospects for COP15

It is generally felt that a new protocol for post-2012 will have to be

agreed at COP15 in November. The deadline for establishing the parameters

for debate is 11

June 2009. Reaching agreement in such a short time-frame is

unprecedented, particularly with three likely areas for potential deadlock:

1: The timeframe for submissions under the UNFCCC treaty

COOP15 will be held between 30

November and 11

December.

UNFCCC Article15 states: Amendments to the Convention shall be adopted at

the ordinary session of the Conference of Parties. The text of any proposed

amendment to the Convention shall be communicated to the Parties by the

secretariat at least six month before the meeting at which it is proposed for

adoption. The secretariat shall also communicate proposed amendments to the

signatories to the Convention and, for information, to the Depositary.*1

Article 17 [PROTOCOLS] further states: The Conference of the Parties may,

at any ordinary session, adopt protocols to the text of any proposed protocols

shall be communicated to the Parties by the secretariat at least six months

before such a session.*2

The secretariat of UNFCCC is planning to hold section meetings such as the

ad hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action under the

convention (AWG-LCA) and the ad hoc Working Group on Further

commitments for Annex 1 parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP)

between 29

March and 8

April, and 1

to 12

June in Bonn, Germany. If all

substantial proposals for the new protocol are not completed in draft form by

this point then the Copenhagen protocol will be in very real danger of

collapse.

*1 and *2 are from The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change Articles.

2: The pace of change within the new US administration

Some delegations at COP14 pointed out that it will be very difficult for the US

to change its stance on climate swiftly, in spite of Obama’s declared new

green policy. The USA moves like a super-tanker and it is likely to take the

Obama administration about a year to change the course set during the eight

years under Bush. This is too slow for COP15. Chinese and EU delegates also

noted that while President Obama has targeted the US achieving zero emission

of green house gases by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, this does not go as far

as the demands of the Kyoto protocol which the US are yet to ratify.

3: The complexity of negotiations

I have covered several conferences on climate change. In the lead-up to the

signing of the Kyoto protocol it was comparatively easy to write articles about

international negotiations since there were only the Kyoto Protocol issues to

report on. But since COP13 in Bali 2007, we have had to report two streams

of ongoing negotiations: how the decrees of the Kyoto protocol can be

accomplished, and how negotiations towards the new protocol can be

concluded. This took place against a back-drop of concerns voiced by delegate

nations over the make-up of the UNFCCC. The Japanese government, for

example, has requested that China be differentiated from poor countries,

which would require a revision of the UNFCCC.

Many country delegations think that UNFCC is a “climate constitution”. It

will very difficult to come to conclusions and agreement on such big issues by

June.

The Role of the Media

819 reporters from 37 organizations were at COP14 to report

on the climate change negotiations. My paper will analyze the

coverage given by key media representatives from Japan at COP14

and COP3 which developed The Kyoto Protocol in Kyoto, Japan in

1997. Through comparison of this coverage, I would like to find the

best way to report on international negotiations for combating

climate change.

Comparing the concluding processes for The Kyoto Protocol at

COP3 and “The night before the battle” at COP14 will help show the

prospects of the climate negotiations at COP15.

Media coverage is the mirror which reflects the activity of

delegations and the negotiation process. I would like to consider

how the media should reflect them in future through my study.

Chapter 2

COP and Media

Climate Change is the one of the biggest issues in the world. The

importance of the role of the United Nations Framework Convention

on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is increasing every day. COP1 was

held at Berlin, where the road map named [Berlin Mandate] was

made, which aimed for formulation of the Kyoto Protocol at COP3.

COPs are held every year in alternation in Africa, Asia, and

America.

Many reporters gather every conferences form the entire world.

The number is dependent on their interest and the value of decision

paper. the largest number of reporters was 3712 at COP3, Kyoto,

followed by 1498 at COP13, Bali.

Many people paid attention to COP 13 held in Bali because this

conference had a target of adopting the [Bali Road Map] (BRM).

BRM is the very important mandate for next framework expected at

COP15, Copenhagen.

Moreover, the Nobel committee announced that the International

Panel on Climate Change and former US Vice-President Al Gore

would be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. Public perception of

climate change around the world was at its peak.

UNFCCC disclosed the number of media organizations and

reporters present at COP1 to COP14 (except COP2 and COP5),

which included broadcasting mechanical staff.

The change of number is as follows.

COP is held at typical city for its region in the world. From this table

we can find a reference of a number of reporters and organizations

present at each summit. Many people expect a formation of new

protocols for post-2012 at COP15, Copenhagen. The delegation of

the new administration of US President Obama will join it, and the

number of reporters will be the largest in on record, probably the

largest in the history of Europe.

The change of numbers for media organizations and reporters at

COP *3

The upper is number of organizations, the lower is number of

reporters. UNFCCC did not disclose the numbers at COP2 and

COP5

COP1 COP2 COP3 COP4 COP5 COP6 COP6bis

Berlin Geneva Kyoto Buenos

Aires

Bonn Hague Bonn

556

Not

Disclosed

483

299

Not

Disclosed

443

332

2044 3712 883 944 1086

CO7

Marrakesh

COP8

New

Delhi

COP9

Milan

COP10

Buenos

Aires

COP11

Montréal

COP12

Nairobi

COP13

Bali

COP14

Poznan

166 222 190 153 287 195 531 371

459 795 506

597

817

516

1498

819

* 3 these numbers are from UNFCCC homepage Databases.

B, The change of numbers for media organizations and reporters at

COP

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

COP1 COP5 COP8 COP12

Organisation

Reporter

*4 These number are based on FNFCCC homepage databases

C, from analysis these number we can find an interrelation between

the agenda and number of reporters.

COP1···first Coherence Of Parties. The chair is German Minister

for the Environment in Germany, Angela Merkel (the current

Chancellor); adoption of Berlin mandate for an agreement the

Protocol at COP3

COP2···preparation conference for COP3. Documentation of

submission from delegations. COP14 played same role as COP2.

COP3···Adoption of Kyoto Protocol which is the first commitment

for combating climate change under the United Nations

COP4···conference for implementation for The Kyoto Protocol

COP5···conference for implementation of Clean Development

Mechanism (CDM)

COP6··· Conference for final implementation but negotiations broke

down

COP6bis· come to a conclusion for implementation

COP7··· come to political conclusion for the implementation for the

Kyoto Protocol

COP8···conference for financial and technology transfer for

developing countries

COP9···conference for financial mechanism and emission trading

system for combating climate change

COP10··conference for deforest ration caused from climate change

COP11· · conference for financial aids and technology transfer for

developing countries

COP12··conference for mainly aids of African countries combating

climate change

COP13··conference for adoption of [Bali Roadmap] for post-2012

COP14 ··conference for documentation of submission from

delegation for COP15

Chapter 3, Media overview at COP14

COP14 held in Poznan, Poland, was evaluated as the “Turning

Point” for COP15 at Copenhagen. There was no expectation for a

definite conclusion about the political document. The number of

organizations was 371 and that of reporters 819, half of COP13.

UNFCCC disclosed every delegation participant’s name on the

[List of Participants] at every conference, but declined to do the

same for the details of media organizations’ and reporters’ names.

During COP14 I asked them several times to disclose this

information, but it proved very difficult to persuade them.

Only Dr. Axel Wustenhagen, Media Coordinator at UNFCCC,

informally passed on some information about the media presence,

laid out as follows:

Reuters (UK), AP(USA), AFP(French ), Xinhua(China ), Corrie

Della Sera( Italy), El Pais (Spain), Le Figaro(France), Le Monde

(France), Financial Times (UK), The Guardian (UK), The

Independent (UK), The Times (UK), Jakarta Post (Indonesia ),

Times India (India ), The Wall Street Journal (USA), The

Washington Post(USA), and The Chicago Tribune (USA).

Under the UNFCCC, reporters who came from developed countries

belonging to Annex 1 (Developed countries) had to pay travel

expenses, though exemption from this was made for reporters who

came from developing countries invited by UNFCCC. These rules we

also applied to delegations from developing countries.

The amount of donations for UNFCCC depended on the developing

countries, and the USA shouldered most of them, followed by those

of Japan, although at times the USA denied paying these donations

because of dissatisfaction with the management of UNFCCC.

? Topic

UNFCCC held the [Work Shop for developing country journalists] at

COP14. This workshop aimed to educate and prepare them for

combating climate change. Teachers were mid-career environment

journalist, and the UNFCCC paid all of travel expenses at COP14.

Essentially, this was an [Environmental Journalism School].

According to UNFCCC, the aim is merely [Capacity Building], with

no intentions of using this program for controlling the media.

A, The situation of Japanese media at COP14

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at COP3 at Kyoto, Japan, in 1997,

leading to much attention being paid to this protocol by the

Japanese media due to its having been signed ‘on home turf’. Many

Japanese reporters participate in every Conference of Parties. The

number of organizations and reporters who joined COP14 is as

follows:

The Asahi Shim bun 3 ? The Yomiuri Shim bun

4? The Tokyo Shim bun 2? The Mainichi Shimbun 1?

The Japan Economic Journal 4? The Kyoto Shimbun 1

Kyodo News 5? Jiji Press 3?

NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) 2, Fuji Television

2, the Japan Electronic News 1

B, Press Briefing

UNFCCC attach greater importance to relationship with media.

They send much news about climate change to reporters who

resisted their press office. During the opening period of COP, they

prepare a huge press center, where reporters can use internet freely,

although making a special booth for a news agency and broadcasting

company required an advance application and a charge.

In COP14 press briefing were held in the evening each day by

the UNFCCC secretariat, and occasionally several delegations also

followed suit, creating a slight “battle of briefings”.

The reporting style of Japan is little different from other countries’

press. In Japan most journalists who belong to a major newspaper

company join the press club at the Japanese Ministry of the

Environment. This press club is in a ministry building but organized

by membership and completely independent of the government.

Usually overseas correspondents cannot join this club, which has led

to criticism of this system of press club as “exclusive”.

In every COP Japanese journalists bring their [press club] from

Japan. The Japanese government keeps the convenience of

Japanese journalists in mind and coordinates Japanese press

briefing before the morning and evening deadlines in Japan. The

Japanese newspaper deadline for morning editions is 01:30 and for

the evening edition is 13:30pm. 3 hours beforehand, the Japanese

government coordinates the press briefing.

Most Japanese journalists have difficulties with English, so

they depend on these Japanese briefings. The Japanese government

then explains the passage of conference, negotiations and insistence

of each delegation, although of course these briefings are colored by

the position of the Japanese delegation. Many Japanese journalists

have a critical attitude towards the government, although inevitably

the Japanese press tends to speak out in favor of Japanese

government.

The US press club looks similar to the Japanese press club,

and a typical example would be the White House Press Club, famous

for being the most exclusive club in the world. The US delegation

held press briefing each Wednesday and Friday at COP14 for the US

media. Moreover, the Chair for COP14 Nowicki held press briefing every

day and similarly the Danish Minister for the Environment, Connie

Hedegaard.

Chapter 4, overview of COP3This COP aimed for the

conclusion of a protocol which would be the first treaty for

combating climate change in the world. After the agreement of the

[Berlin Mandate] at COP1, there was no progress made about

international negotiations.

This protocol was expected to contain:

1, the quantity of reduction targets for green house gases (GHG) in

the world

2, the period of reduction

3 the quantity of each country’s reduction of GHG.

4, mitigation

5, base year

It was very hard to reach an agreement in this protocol. Because the

negotiation period was too short and there were a lot of agenda

points to discuss, COP3 faced several times the possibility of

breaking down. But in the end they did reach an agreement at last,

the reasons for which were supposed to be as follows:

1, a determined chair

2, an appearance of Vice-President Al Gore

3, the will of delegations

4, a lack of awareness for the economic impact of this protocol

5, the exhaustion of delegations from working all night

The important decision about this protocol

1 , Base year 1990

2, a period of first step for reduction Green House Gases between

2008-2012

3, agreement with common but differentiated responsibility in

each country and responsibility to reduce being a duty for developed

countries only

4, amount of reduction for GHG for each developed countries

EU 8% USA 7% Japan 8% Russia 0%

5, countermeasures named the Kyoto mechanism

CDM (Clean Developing Mechanism) ···Developed country can

support a reduction project in developing countries. The amount of

reduction of GHG at this project can count into their reduction

amount.

JI (Joint Implementation )···· Developed countries can make a

project together

For reduction of GHG the developing countries which support the

other developed countries project financially and technologically can

count the reduction of GHG into their amount.

Emission Trading ···The trading system that each countries can

trade for their amount of reduction GHG

Ironically the chief advocates of these mechanisms was the US

delegation under Vice-President Al Gore. After the agreement of the

Kyoto protocol, the USA withdrew from it. The Japanese

government accepted the reduction percentage for 6% reduction by

2012 by 1990 level, a political decision as the host country. But the

Ministry of Industry and Economic Planning in Japan was not

satisfied with this agreement because it constituted a huge economic

burden for Japan. Under present negotiations, the Japanese

government insisted on changing the base year into 2000 for the

next step for post-2012. They also demanded that China and India

have to have a legal responsibility for reduction targets. Moreover

they are claiming for the EU bubble. One representative of the

Japanese government told me “There are a lot of economic

differences between EU countries. It is a big problem for other

counties in terms of equality”

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda appealed that all countries

should reduce emission of GHG by 50% by 2050 from present levels

at the G8 summit held at Hokkaido last year, but did not state the

mid-term target of their country. When I asked them for the reason,

one of the representatives told me “We want to play the card game

after other countries played their card.”

Chapter 5, Media overview at COP3

Cultural back ground of the Japanese Media

Japan is an island country. In the Edo era, the Shogun (Japanese

King) prohibited citizens from moving freely between one district

and another, an environment that led to insularism, with a citizenry

believing that homogeneity is more important than diversity.

Japanese journalists report on the basis of this homogeneity. Quite

ironically, Japanese journalists have to write an exclusive while at

same time writing similar news to other papers. Japanese

newspaper executives are relieved if they read the same headlines in

other papers every morning.

COP3 was held at Kyoto which was the old capital for 2000 years.

Japanese journalists faced a big difficulty to write exclusively about

the named Kyoto Protocol and to write the same news as the other

papers.

COP3 was the largest international conference which had ever

been held in Japan. Accordingly, large numbers of reporters

gathered there from the entire world to report on it.

According to the Asahi Shinbun 3ed 12 1997, the media situation at

COP3 was as follows: the number of foreign media organizations

was about 300 and that of reporters about 640. CNN dispatched 32

reporters, and the head of their crew is the Paris branch chief.

Otherwise, about 10 media organizations came from Australia.

Indonesian newspaper [The Compass] dispatched 2 reporters ,while

the Tokyo shimbun Daily Newspaper dispatched about 10 reporters,

the same number as for a report on the Olympic Games.

Kyoto is a symbolic city in Japan. There were dreadful battles of

reporting between Japanese media. Normally not so many reporters

are dispatched for such an international conference, but COP13 was

extraordinarily different from that. Almost all media organizations

in Japan sent reporters to this conference.

As a result, huge numbers of articles were written including

exclusives and some environment events held at department store

as “climate news”

A characteristic of Japanese media is that media organizations

desire similar news as much as possible. It is seen as very strange

and contradictory from the Western view of the principle of the scoop.

But representatives at a newspaper have a tendency to like similar

news from another media. On the contrary, if their paper covers

different news from the other papers, they doubt their editors’

ability and wonder why their paper covered this news.

This is typical Japanese media attitude and came from the “row”

culture in Japan, whereby Japanese representatives in the media

feel safe by confirmations about similarity to each other.

It is very difficult to find differences between media coverage in

Japan because they write the same press comments, with the same

criticism and approval about international negotiations for climate

change.

5, Comparative study of coverage at COP14

There is a system for retrieving information about Japanese News

articles at The Tokyo Shimbun daily newspaper. The following

analysis is based on information gathered from that database.

The Japanese media dispatched many reporters to COP14, but few

articles were written because there were no serious negotiations

during the conference.

Media Outlet Number of articles

The Tokyo Shimbun 7 (Mainly carried by Kyodo News and Jiji

Press News)

The Asahi Shimbun 8

The Yomouri Shimbun 9

Chapter 6: Comparative study of Coverage at COP14

I. How did these media outlets report on climate change and

negotiations?

All the Japanese media paid close attention to how the negotiations

progressed at COP14, and to the make-up and impact of

President-Elect Obama’s delegation.

But since the only development was a substantial increase to the

working document, with no definite message from the Obama camp,

international negotiations, and therefore the reporting, were very

dull.

Japanese Newspaper Headline Openings for COP14 were as follows:

”COP14 Intent to accelerate negotiations”

The Tokyo Shimbun 2.12.2008

”COP14 Chair says ’It is difficult to reach agreement on the

long-term reduction target’ ominous clouds are already threatening

the prospects of this conference.”

The Asahi Shimbun 2.12.2008

”COP14How will the Obama delegation behave?”

The Yomiuri Shimbun 2.12.2008

Japanese Newspaper Headlines at the COP14 curtain-fall were as

follows:

”No Progress. Real negotiations will come after next June”

The Asahi Shimbun 13.2.2008

”The negotiation for post-Kyoto came to a standstill. COP14

postpones dealing with a problem”

The Yomiuri Shimbun 13.2.2008

”COP14 failed to include a new reduction target in the working

document. The problem was put off until the next meeting.”

The Yomiuri Shimbun 11.2.2008

”The COP14 curtain fell with everyone expecting a plan from the

Obama delegation after January”

The Yomiuri Shimbun 13.2.2008

The Japanese media reported COP14 negotiations as chilly. They

focused on the fact that the results of the debate were only an

increase in the length of the working documents.

During the talks, non-governmental organizations for the

environment announced a “Fossil of The day” every day, and

criticized the countries that were going against the negotiations.

There were very few reports of this in Japan, even though one of the

members of WWFJ (World Wildlife Fund Japan) explained to me

that “these events are really important for our lobby“. But since such

events are now held at every COP, this “Fossil of The Day”

movement has become a stereotype and little discussed. The NGO

presentations to the media are facing a turning point, too.

II. Who was interviewed and quoted in the media reports?

A, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk:

”If the average temperature of the Earth grows by more than 2

Celsius in the future, then the ecosystem will face fatal damage”

2.12.2009 The Tokyo Shimbun( Kyodo News )

"I cannot agree with those who insist on removing coal from the

energy category.”

10.12.2009 the Yomiuri Shimbun

B, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen:

“The financial crisis will be solved soon. But if we don’t move to

combat climate change now, the future will be further aggravated”

2.12.2009 The Tokyo Shimbun( Kyodo News )

C, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer:

“We have only one year. Let’s put negotiations in top gear!”

2.12.2008 the Asahi Shimbun

“It is very important to agree a financial system to raise campaign

funds through each country government”

5.12.2008 the Asahi Shimbun

”Let’s think about how to use the mechanism for reducing

GHG to help solve the financial crisis”

7.12.2008 the Asahi Shimbun

D, Polish Government Minister Nowicki,

”It will be difficult to reach an agreement on the reduction targets

for post 2012“

2.12.2008 the Asahi Shimbun

”It is indispensable for US participation to reach an agreement on

the reduction of GHG between industrialized countries. “

6.12.2008 the Asahi Shimbun

”We can show the route for COP15. The negotiations will be in top

gear.”

13.12.2008 The Asahi Shimbun

”At this conference the subjects were piled up like a mosaic. This

mosaic will change into a clear picture-image”

6.12.2008 The Asahi Shimbun

E, Bolivian Delegation:

”It looks like the developed nations are more focused on discussing

Wall Street than the Earth.”

4.12.2008 The Asahi Shimbun

”Developed countries are pushing the emission responsibility off

onto our developing countries by twisting the negotiations to their

advantage.”

10.12.2008 The Yomiuri Shimbun

F, Japanese Minister for the Environment, Saito:

”I am not in a position to reveal Japan’s middle target for GHG

reduction.”

11.12.2008 The Asahi Shimbun

”Let’s reduce the GHG emissions on Earth by 50% by 2050.”

The Asahi Shimbun

G, US President-Elect Obama:

“The United States will write a new chapter for combating Global

Warming.”

12.12.2008 The Asahi Shimbun( Quotation from video address)

”Global Warming is a problem of great urgency which has no

equal in the world.”

8.12.2008 The Yomiuri Shimbun (Quotation from video address)

H, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon:

”We are facing 2 critical crises. One is Climate Change and the other

is in the financial markets. Let’s begin a Copernican change while in

his homeland.”

12.12.2008 The Asahi Shimbun

”Now, We need a ’Green New Deal’ policy.”

13.12.2008 the Asahi Shimbun

”It is very important that the new US administration ranks

renewable energy and environmental conservation alongside

national security, and reconstructs their economy accordingly.”

12.12.2008 the Yomiuri Shimbun

I, Chinese Delegation:

“Let’s settle on a middle target of GHG first, such as reducing

global emissions by 25-40% compared to 1990 by 2020.”

10.12.2008 the Yomiuri Shimbun

”The population of developed countries accounts for only 20% of the

world’s, but their GHG emissions account for 75% of the world’s.”

10.12.2008 the Yomiuri Shimbun

J, Swiss Delegation:

“The way the USA come to a decision on their policy is as follows:

first they decide their inland policy and then they go to the

international negotiations. They will have to iron out differences in

Congress before offering a new approach. The position of the Obama

administration will not be clear until after next march.”

10.12.2008 the Yomiuri Shimbun

III. What do these media outlets suggest are the prospect for

ongoing international negotiations ahead of COP15?

”There was no remarkable progress at COP14. Delegations will be

anxious about the prospects of reaching agreement at COP15 in

Copenhagen in a year’s time.”

13.12.2008, the Asahi Shimbun

”There were no change in position between the developed countries

and developing counties. They postponed dealing with this problem.

Many delegations are worried about a consensus at COP15.”

10.12.2008 The Yomiuri Shimbun

COP14 was just a “Turing-Point Conference”. So there were no

break-downs in international negotiations. The conference

proceeded as planned. But no reporters would give this conference a

passing grade. Many difficulties will lie ahead in trying to reach an

international agreement. History is likely to consider COP14 as a

“Failed Conference for Preparation” (FCP). It is possible that some

redress can be made at the several working group meetings to be

held after March 2009 and at The United Nations General Assembly

in September. But the most important meetings will be the Ad-Hoc

Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action under the Convention

(AWG-LCA) and the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for

Annex 1 Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) to be held between

and 12

June in Bonn, Germany. These meetings will tell COP15’s

fortune.

Chapter7, The Analysis of Coverage for COP3

COP3 was the largest international conference held in Japan’s

history. The amount of articles written also hit record levels. The

number of articles at COP3 and COP14 are as follows:

The Tokyo Shimbun 158 ( COP14 7)

The Asahi Shimbun 372 ( COP14 8)

The Yomiuri Shimbun 279 ( COP14 9)

Explanation of the significance of selected quotations

Many Japanese journalists conduct interviews and write about each

delegation in their reporting of the negotiation process. The

comments of those interviewed are a mirror for the negotiations and

those shown here give a clear indication of the views of Chairman

Estrada and the US and Chinese delegations.

From these quotes it is clear to see that the core reasons for

disagreement between developed and developing countries haven’t

changed since COP3. The U.S were governed by the Democrats at

the time of COP3, and will be again at COP15. The U.S delegation

wants to take the initiative in diplomatic negotiations at COP15

but developing countries (mainly China) will criticize the U.S for

being the only developed country to leave the Kyoto Protocol. So the

same oppositions will reappear at COP15.

The chair for COP15 is Danish Minister for the Environment,

Connie Hedgaard. I think it may be very difficult for her to apply the

same techniques as Chairman Estrada at COP3. The major

difference from COP3 is UNFCC executive secretary’s powerful

personality. Mr. Ybo de Boer is one of the main players for climate

negotiations and he will be asked his management ability in

particular at COP15.

The Japanese media relied upon its government’s press-briefings

and individual interviews to report on the process of international

negotiations towards GHG reductions. Many Japanese reporters

wrote of their hopes for positive negotiations and a brilliant

concluding protocol. But Japanese government officials quarreled

amongst themselves throughout the period of the conference. The

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Ministry of Economy, Trade and

Industry, and The Ministry for the Environment all had a different

opinion about what level the reduction target should be set at, and

how it could then be reached. This meant they were only prepared to

negotiate on a small number of reduction targets. At this point the

Japanese media reports became more critical. “They are performing

negotiations as though they are a game.”

The Japanese media perceived US Vice-President Al Gore as an

environmentalist but became critical of his focus on

countermeasures relating to emissions trading. Almost all reporters

covered this strategy with skepticism. The US technique of bringing

the market mechanism into GHG reduction also repelled the

European Commission delegation. And yet, ironically, the EU took

an active part in the Emission Trading System project after the

withdrawal of the Americans.

Most of the Japanese Media praised COP3’s final achievement as

“the Kyoto Protocol” because of the significance of Kyoto as the

former capital of Japan. And it is no exaggeration to say that this

name has played a significant role in Japanese reporters being

involved in all successive COPs.

??Who was interviewed and quoted in reports from COP3?

By far the most frequently quoted person was Joint Chairman

Estrada, Ambassador of Argentina, who played a key role in the

negotiations. Every media outlet covered his detailed statements. It

is also interesting to note that Senator John F Kerry attended COP3

and played an important role in the US delegation. He is now

Chairman of the Foreign Relations Senate Committee. On the other

hand, Several Republican senators denied the Kyoto Protocol at

COP3 categorically, providing a glimpse of the G.W Bush

administration policy.

The process of negotiation at COP3 as reported by the Japanese

media:

USA targets a reduction in USA emissions by 0 % compared to 1990 by 2010.

EU targets a reduction in EU emissions by 15 % compared to 1990 by 2010.

Japan targets a reduction in Japan emissions by 5 % compared to 1990 by

2010.

Developing countries target a reduction in emissions by 15 % compared to

1990 by 2010.

1.12.1997 ,the Tokyo Shimbun

“The Austrian delegation disclosed that there had been discussion of

proposals for the following cuts: US 5%, Japan 4%, EU 8%”

”Chairman Estrada showed the negotiation papers: ’USA 5%, Japan

4· 5%?EU 8%’”

9.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

“Japan, The United States of America and the EU held an informal

meeting and agreed targets of ’U.S.A 7%, Japan 6%, EU 8%’.”

10.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

“According to UE officials this conference is going to the end of a

play. ‘USA 7%, Japan6%, EU 8%’.”

10.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

? .The interviewed and quoted persons:

Chairman Estrada

”The draft paper for negotiations consists of 32pages. This paper

was three that length at the beginning of 1997. I have deleted

material and put the issues in order according to my judgment.”

1.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

”The key to persuading developing countries is for developed

countries to agree significant reduction targets for combating

climate change.”

8.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

”I judge on instinct. I know by intuition what kind of target will be

acceptable or not for each delegation.”

10.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

”It was my big mistake that I delayed the article of participation of

developing countries who want to reduce emissions of Green House

Gases without assistance.”

”Telecommunications companies got a big many during this

conference because every delegations telephoned their home

countries every day. I also.”

12.12.1997, the Yomiuri Shimbun

Li Peng, Chinese Prime Minister:

“I oppose developing countries being subject to the same levels of

reduction in GHG as developed counties. 20% of the world’s

population is from developed countries but they use 80% of the

world’s energy. It is unfair.”

3.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

Chinese Delegation:

“Discussions on emissions trading aren’t part of our agenda for

COP3.”

11.12.1997, the Yomiuri Shimbun

US delegation, Senator Max Baucus (Democratic Party):

“The US government insists that they will not agree to the

ratification of The Kyoto Protocol without developing countries

having a legal responsibility to reduce GHG. But it will be possible

to reach agreement if the protocol shows impartiality in the duty of

each country.”

US Vice-President Al Gore:

“Our target for 2010 of a reduction in US emissions to 0 % compared to

1990 is an ambitious enough plan.”

4.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

”It is very important to reach a practical and realizable agreement.”

”We need a long term partnership with developing countries for

combating global warming.”

8.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

”To reach agreement on the Kyoto Protocol, We need acceptance of 3

terms. The first is an admission of the need for emissions trading,

the second is joint implementation and the third is an effective

participation by developing countries.”

5.12.1997, the Asahi Shinbun

”This historical agreement will be a base for protecting the

environment and a new opportunity to stimulate economic growth.”

11.12.1997, the Yomiuri Shimbun

John Prescott (Former) Deputy Prime Minister of the UK:

”Every country has to be flexibly. It will possible to reach an

agreement with political will and flexibility.”

8.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

Russian Delegation:

”All the media disregard our statements. They have to write about

us as a key player.”

8.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

Al Saud, representative of Saudi Arabia:

”Oil is the only means of achieving economic growth in the world. I

expect Mr. Gore to be flexible.”

8.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

Chen Yaobang, Minister of Forestry, China:

“The problem of global warming came from industry in developed

counties. The urgent questions for developing countries are

economic growth and poverty. There is no responsibility for us to

reduce GHG from the agreement at COP1, 1995.”

8.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

U.S Senate John F. Kerry:

”We have never faced such complicated negotiations. The agreement

will be an historic event.”

10.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

”It will be better for us to wait until the developing countries are

participating before we ratify the Kyoto Protocol.”

11.12.1997, the Yomiuri Shimbun

Joseph Lieberman, US Democratic Senator:

”We can tell our electorate that the process of agreeing the Kyoto

Protocol will begin in a few hours.”

10.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

Chester Trent Lott, US Republican Senate Majority Leader:

”We cannot ratify such a defective protocol. The US delegation is

being asked to be much too flexible. We need to be satisfied on 3 key

issues ahead of ratification. The first is that there should be no

infringement on the sovereignty of the USA. The second is that

there should be no danger to US employment. Thirdly, that the

agreement should not be against US interests. This protocol does

not satisfy our demands. ”

10.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

Representative of the World Wildlife Fund:

”This protocol is full of defects. The USA is the only winners in these

negotiations.”

11.12.1997, the Tokyo Shimbun

Chuck Hegel, U.S Republican Senator:

”It is absolutory necessary for developing countries to participate.

And they must share the responsibilities for GHG reduction with us.

The Senate will never approve any protocol that is bound by such

unreasonable restrictions.”

”The result is really bad. We would hush up such a protocol even if

President Clinton would sign it.”

11.12.1997, the Asahi Shimbun

Bert Bolin, the first Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on

Climate Change (IPCC):

”Please be sure to include the scientific evidence in the protocol”

2.12.1997, the Asahi Shimbun

Green Peace:

”This protocol is as full of holes as a Swiss cheese.”

10.12.1997, the Asahi Shimbun

Rajendra Pachauri, Director at Tata Energy Institute (Chairman of

IPCC):

”We have to aim towards a target that allows Indian children and

Japanese children to have the same opportunity to eat the same

square meals and go to university in the future. Every one has an

equal right. If developed countries don’t admit this, then developing

countries can never catch up with them.”

11.12.1997, the Yomiuri Shimbun

Chapter8, Investigation of the differences and similarities

between COP14 and COP3, based on Japanese coverage

From this examination, two key figures came to light. One is a Chair

of COP, the other is the Executive Secretary of UNFCCC.

At COP3 the person most quoted in the Japanese media was

Chairman Estrada.

The Chair continued to be much-quoted at COP14. But according to

articles in the the Asahi Shimbun, the Executive Secretary of

UNFCCC received the same level of coverage, suggesting he has

played an important role in negotiations recently.

The number of quotations for the Executive Secretary (ES) and the

Chair at COP3, COP13 and COP14 are as follows:

the Tokyo the Asahi the Yomiuri

COP3

Chair

COP13

Chair

COP14

Chair

It is clear that developed countries and developing nations are

standing in opposition on the same point as before. The developing

nations’ opposition is backed by history: that most carbon dioxide

emissions have been generated by developed countries since the

Industrial Revolution. This opposition has been consistent since

COP1.

The Japanese media reported several points of opposition between

nations but also stated that each country has the will to solve this

big problem.

Eleven years have passed between COP3 and COP14. Recently,

opposition between China, India and weak developing countries

such as Tuvalu has developed. China has been playing the role of

representative for the developing countries named “G77 and China”

at the Conference of Parties. But after the first quarter of 2008,

China and India got a lot of Clean Developing Mechanism (CDM)

funding from industrialized countries through the Kyoto Protocol

and many weak developing countries expressed their disapproval at

this perceived unfairness.

Especially since China had become the largest CO2 emitter since

2008 and has entered the World Trade Organization (WTO). China

has become a big economic power.

The Japanese media doesn’t treat China as a representative of

developing countries. It sees China as a very important player - on

the same level as the United States of America in terms of

international negotiations for combating climate change.

Japanese coverage of COPs has gradually decreased since COP3.

This is because the recent agenda for negotiations has been focused

on the “Post Kyoto Protocol” or “Post 2012” and because the

Japanese delegation’s role in the UNFCCC has gradually decreased.

If the Copenhagen Protocol replaces the Kyoto Protocol, I wonder

how many Japanese reporters will be dispatched by their

newspaper companies for such expensive overseas conferences.

Most of the Japanese newspaper companies are facing financial

crisis. It will be big problem for reporters and executives at

newspaper companies to decide how we report international

climate news in the future.

Chapter9? Conclusion: How should the media report on

climate change in the future?

The Prospects for COP15, Copenhagen, Denmark

Is political compromise the only way to reach an agreement?

It is likely that there will be a lot of coverage from Bonn, where the

UNFCCC headquarters is located, after this March. Those articles

will be very specialized and complicated, and therefore it will be

very difficult for ordinary people to understand the process of

ongoing negotiations. People are likely to assume that “There is

the same discord between developed counties and developing

nations as before.”

I have slight misgivings that these complicated articles will lead to a

reduction in momentum for grappling with the problem of climate

change. Reporting COP with clarity and accuracy is vital. It is very

important to convey to people that this impending climate crisis is

one that we all share, and that efforts to combat the problem must

be redoubled every year. Unfortunately, international negotiations

are going in the opposite direction.

Danish Minister for the Environment, Connie Hedegaard, planning

the Chair for COP15, has more of a sense of this crisis than most.

She declared at COP13 in Bali that “a first baby was born in Kyoto

and I would like to have a second baby in Copenhagen”. It will be

very difficult to reach agreement about a base year and emissions

targets for every nation at COP15, but it will be possible to make

some framework documents for post 2012. It could be that a political

agreement includes a statement by the IPCC to “share targets for 2020

of a reduction in global emissions by 25-40 % compared to 1990.”

It is generally felt that the real negotiations will take place in Los

Angeles in 2010. Many Hollywood actors and actress will gather and

appeal the crisis of the earth. At any rate, if no practicable

countermeasures are agreed, space history will record us as a

creature that became extinct during a cocktail party.

The role of media in combating climate change

It is really important that the media reports on this serious problem

accurately. The role of the journalists who deliver such key

information on our survival is significant. It is vital that we write

clearly on the points of issue between countries. We have to show

how any conclusions reached at COP will affect the future of the

world.

The media should never act as spokesperson for delegations or the

UNFCCC. We must work to avoid each media’s tendency to simply

repeat their home country’s official position. We have to report

impartial information for our readers. And to write such accurate

articles we must have an accurate perspective of the issues. For that

to be possible, journalists (especially Japanese journalists) must

improve their foreign language skills and strength of reporting.

From analysis of media coverage at COP, I found that their news

reporting was very haphazard.

To report accurately, it is necessary for media companies to

maintain a system for covering climate change. Most newspaper

companies are suffering a financial crisis. If we want to win readers’

support, we have to concentrate on improving the value of our news

as much as possible. We must be on the spot and providing

first-hand interviews.

I would like to propose 3 principles for reporting climate change:

1, For journalists to improve their specialist knowledge

of climate change to aid their coverage of international

conferences.

2, To meet the parties concerned and report directly.

3, To write articles that are as easy to understand as

possible.

Parts of the United Kingdom faced heavy snow this February - more

than at any time in the last 18 years. Oxford was among the regions

affected.

How cold Oxford is, though I am researching Global Warming - as it

is generally called in Japan and the USA. This is one illustration of

the perceptions gaps between Japan and the US on one side, and

Europe on the other. The Europeans refer to the heating of the

Earth as “Climate Change”. If global warming causes the ocean

currents from Mexican Bay to stop, a freezing chill will come from

the North Sea and everything would freeze like in the movie ”The

day after tomorrow”. So climate change can equally mean ”Global

Freezing”.

No one knows what kind of conclusions will come from COP15.

But it is likely that the Obama administration will promote their

“Green Deal Policy” strongly, and negotiate on climate change

policies with enthusiasm. I would like to dedicate my life to writing

on these issues accurately. And be able to walk hand in hand with

colleagues at Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, and

researchers at University of Oxford, in the future.