(1)Background and Summary
Coordinator: Hiromichi Yokoyama,
Editorial
Writer, The Mainichi Newspapers |
1) Background
Little by little, global warming is increasing.
The Third Assessment Report on Climate Change,
prepared by environmental specialists for
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), warns that, at the current rate,
average global temperatures will rise between
1.4 degrees C. and 5.8 degrees C. by 2100.
This is expected to create sever problems,
including the frequent incidence of abnormal
weather patterns, such as drought and flood,
destruction of ecological systems, and an
increase in the incidence of infectious disease.
There seems to be no way for island and low-lying
countries to avoid the effects of rising
sea levels resulting from global warming.
With the aim of halting global warming, the
Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the Third Session
of the Conference of the Parties to the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-3)
held in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997. However, before
implementation rules could be decided, the
Bush Administration shocked the world by
announcing America's withdrawal from the
protocol. A basic agreement (the Bonn Agreement)
was finally reached at the second COP6 meeting
in July 2001, but greenhouse gas reduction
targets must from now on become even stricter.
It is vital that the United States reenter
the Kyoto Protocol and that developing countries
endeavor to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
in some way.
How have the world's journalists reported
global warming issues, and what problems
do they intend to include in their future
reporting? A five-member panel comprising
journalists, researchers, and an NGO representative
from the United States, the United Kingdom,
India, and Japan was chosen and asked to
debate this question from a variety of viewpoints.
The panel discussion was intended to spotlight
questions such as "Why is there so much
disagreement among countries about the Kyoto
Protocol when halting global warming is a
common theme throughout the world? and "
Did journalists give priority to national
interests over global interests, presenting
reports that were advantageous to their own
countries?"
2) Summary
This session was held four days before the
COP7 meeting in Morocco, where final agreement
was to be reached on the rules for implementing
the Kyoto Protocol. The session was internationally
colorful, with the two panelists from Japan
joined by one panelist each from the United
States, which had withdrawn from the Kyoto
Protocol; the United Kingdom, a country representing
the European Union (EU), which continued
to take a strong stance on the global warming
issue; and India, ranked fifth among developing
countries in the amount of greenhouse gases
emitted.
However, the British panelist, Prof. Michael
Grubb of Imperial College, unfortunately
fell ill shortly after arriving in Japan
and his colleague, Mr. Ian Pottinger, stepped
in at very short notice. Mr. Pottinger has
a comprehensive understanding of global warming
issues and fulfilled his role on the panel
with expertise.
Both the presentations made by each of the
panelist and the discussion that followed
highlighted the fact that halting global
warming - perhaps the greatest challenge
for the 21st Century - is not a feat humanity
can perform easily.
First of all, Mr. Jim Detjen commented that,
"After the September 11 terrorist attack,
the World Trade Center's twin towers disappeared
from New York, and environmental issues disappeared
from the mass media." The fact that
the global warming issue received very little
news coverage in the United States - despite
America's possible reentry into the Kyoto
Protocol being such a huge issue - means
that domestic debate about America's rejoining
the Kyoto Protocol has subsided. Whichever
way you look at it, the situation is a real
headache.
Mr. Darryl D'Monte of India said that climatic
change was a phenomenon far removed from
the lives of ordinary people, emphasizing
that awareness of global warming and other
climatic changes was still very low in developing
countries. The amount of greenhouse gas emitted
by developing countries is expected to exceed
that emitted by developed countries in 2010.
Although efforts by developing countries
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions holds
important significance, the widespread need
for educating the general public about environmental
issues in a huge problem in these countries.
Mr. Kenji Takeuchi spoke about the difficulties
faced by the media in Japan, saying that
reporting itself had become difficult because
global warming had shifted from being a scientific
issue to being a political game.
Mr. Pottinger described problems
within the
media in the United Kingdom,
commenting that
there were "very few neutral,
independent
commentators."
Understandably, America's withdrawal from
and possible reentry into the Kyoto Protocol
was a major focus of the panel discussion.
Panelists' opinions were divided on the issue
of America rejoining the protocol. Mr. Detjen's
commented that America was certain to rejoin
the protocol soon, an opinion that Mr. Takeuchi
argued was "optimistic."
Although future environmental journalism
hinged on the coverage of global warming
issues, Mr. Detjen commented critically that
NGOs were putting out newsletters to fill
the gaps left by the mass media. Ms. Mie
Asaoka, who is an NGO representative, said
that journalists had a heavy responsibility
with respect to the global warming issue,
but that they also were capable of making
a great contribution. Researchers, ordinary
citizens, and NGOs also needed to cooperate.
Many audience members agreed with Ms. Asaoka's
comments.
The panel was unable to sufficiently explore
the role of and need for cooperation by journalists
in halting global warming, the first target
scheduled for discussion. Even so, the discussion
can be said to have clearly illustrated the
true nature of the global warming issue -
a problem that affects the entire world -
and the many real difficulties involved in
halting global warming.
Final agreement on the rules for implementing
the Kyoto Protocol was reached at COP7 -
a great step forward towards the protocol
coming into force in 2002. We must engrave
on our hearts that journalists have, and
will continue to have, a tremendous role
to play in preserving our precious planet. |
|
| (2)Panelists |
Panelists
Keiji Takeuchi(Editorial Writer, Asahi Shimbun,
Japan)
Jim Detjen (Director, Knight Center for Environmental
Journalism, USA)
Darryl D'Monte(Chairperson, Forum of Environmental
Journalists of India -FEJI / President, International
Federation of Environmental Journalists -IFEJ,
India)
Ian Pottinger (Research Associate, Imperial
College, UK)
Mie Asaoka(Representative for Kiko Network,
Lawyer, Japan)
Floor Commentator
Yukio Wakamatsu(Professor, The University
of Tokyo, Japan) |
|
| (3)Description of Proceedings |
1) Keiji Takeuchi
Because global warming has shifted from a
scientific issue to being a political game,
the media in Japan are running into thick
walls at both domestic and international
levels.
Despite the Japanese media pushing the government
to enter into the Kyoto Protocol agreement
at COP6, the combined factors of America's
withdrawal from the agreement and Japan's
prolonged recession created a difficult situation
in which controversy intensified within Japan
over ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.
The US withdrawal had a tremendous impact
on international society. Furthermore, the
war in Afghanistan has lowered the priority
of environmental issues. Within Japan, also,
the government is focusing on economy-boosting
measures, which often run contrary to countermeasures
against global warming. How can we overcome
this situation?
The task for Japan is already clear. We must
quickly overhaul our laws and social system
in order to realize a 6% reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions. Creation of an atmosphere
of positive action against global warming
is also necessary. This is a time for testing
the media's caliber and ingenuity.
2) Jim Detjen
Many factors cause media interest in environmental
problems such as global warming to wax and
wane repeatedly. The global warming issue
was covered widely during the period from
the late 1980s until the early 1990s, but
its priority was downgraded after opposition
from the Bush Administration, a government
supported by the oil industry. America's
withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol had just
made global warming a hot topic again when
focus shifted to the terrorist attack and
anthrax scare. Today, the global warming
issue is losing its dramatic appeal and timeliness
for the mainstream media.
However, we must not overlook the fact that
transmission of global warming information
continues through the Internet and other
media and that, more importantly, the general
public continues to show a high degree of
interest in this issue. Efforts at the local
level to reduce Carbon Dioxide levels are
steadily taking root.
3) Darryl D'Monte
Because a large proportion of journalists
in developing countries, including India,
have scant information about climatic changes,
climatic change is a phenomenon far removed
from the everyday world of ordinary citizens.
In these countries, practical issues such
as rebuilding the economy and liberalization
take priority, with environmental issues
taking a back seat. Despite this, a small
number of journalists are taking a much greater
interest in the Kyoto Protocol and other
environmental issues. India has the fifth
highest level of greenhouse gas emissions
in the world, but would have an extremely
low ranking if emissions were calculated
on a per capita basis. It is very important
that facts such as this are emphasized.
The world is a very complicated place, but
it is the only world we have. What journalists
must do in order to make the world a fairer
place is to firmly identify what we need
to do and where we need to start, and then
to act.
4) Ian Pottinger
Climatic change is not only a scientific
issue: it is intricately interwoven with
technology, economics, ethics, and politics.
The weakness of the European media is that
they tend to polarize public opinion about
information, even information regarded as
fact, into "for" and "against"
camps, and lack depth and earnestness in
their coverage of climate change framework
negotiations. On the other hand, the European
media's concentrated coverage under the difficult
circumstances of America's withdrawal from
the Kyoto Protocol and their insistence that
politicians throughout America fulfill their
responsibilities is extremely encouraging.
We must forge ahead with the Kyoto Protocol
- without the United States, if need
be. America asserts that it is imperative
that developing countries reduce emissions,
making clear that America has no intention
of cutting emissions in compliance with the
protocol. However, depending on the strategies
they employ, both developed and developing
countries may be able to persuade the United
States to change its stance. As yet, there
is no better proposal for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions than the Kyoto Protocol, and
for this reason, the United States is sure
to rejoin the agreement. This may not happen
before the Rio + 10 Summit in September 2002,
but I anticipate the USA rejoining the Kyoto
Protocol in within the next few years.
5) Mie Asaoka
At the COP6 meeting in Bonn, a nonexclusive
agreement was reached on rules for implementing
the Kyoto Protocol. Japanese Prime Minister
Koizumi's statement, on the even of the meeting,
that "there would be no agreement in
Bonn" created despair among Japanese
journalists and NGOs, and it was at this
point that the pessimistic media coverage
began. However, seeing the ability of their
counterparts in other countries and European
delegations to the meeting, the Japanese
NGOs and media came to regret their lack
of resolve.
The process from science to politics is like
a spiral staircase. Climatic change is interpreted
as a scientific phenomenon, forecasts are
made, and strong warnings are issued. These
then influence political policy decisions
through public opinions. In order for this
to happen, it is cooperation is vital between
journalists, scientists, the general public,
and NGOs.
What does it mean when members of the general
public keep a close watch on global warming
issues? It means that this is a problem that
needs to be resolved. Although at a glance
this may seem difficult, if we delve into
and thoroughly examine the issue, our efforts
will foster change within Japanese society.
Journalists and NGOs have a tremendous responsibility
to fulfill.
6) Discussion
After the five presentations, Professor Yukio Wakamatsu
of Tokyo Denki University, who has been studying
the relationship between science and technology
and the general public, commented from the
floor that, although international public
opinion seemed to be that the world should
proceed in line with the Kyoto Protocol,
this did not necessarily mean there was consensus.
Professor Wakamatsu the asked that this aspect
be explained in a little more detail.
America's withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol
became the central theme of the discussion.
Mr. Takeuchi expressed his dismay over the
American media's lack of criticism of their
government and coverage of global warming
issues so far. Ms. Asaoka asked if the American
media could afford to remain as it is, suggesting
that the US media clearly explain what is
happening at international negotiations and
present America's standpoint. Mr. D'Monte
openly criticized America's self-centered,
isolationist actions. At the same time, he
acknowledged the weakness of developing countries
to speak against the United States, saying
that "When America sneezes, India catches
a cold."
Because statements criticizing the United
States followed one after another, Mr. Detjen
stated repeatedly that he "was not here
as a representative of the United States."
He also said that President Bush "did
not represent the political wishes of all
Americans. He and his close Cabinet aides
come from backgrounds in the oil industry,
from an economic standpoint, their decisions
can be said to reflect the interests of this
industry. However, as long as President Bush
is a politician, we can assume that he will
react to the results of public opinion polls.
Although the American government is currently
focused on safeguards against terrorism and
the war in Afghanistan, in time, the United
States is certain to rejoin the Kyoto Protocol."
In response, Mr. Takeuchi suggested that
Mr. D'Monte was being too optimistic.
With regard to the so-called flexibility
measures contained within the Kyoto Protocol,
such as joint implementation, emission quota
transactions, and clean development mechanisms,
Mr. Takeuchi commented that, although the
Kyoto Protocol had been criticized as being
idealistic and its greenhouse gas emission
targets too high, we need to make full use
of mechanisms such as these as they bring
us closer to realizing our gas emission targets.
Ms. Asaoka said that it was not necessary
for members of the general public to fully
grasp the specialized details of global warming
issues. It is important that they have an
understanding of significant trends and the
outline of issues, and information is required
to achieve this. Mr. Pottinger suggested
that, just as the United Kingdom and the
United States had put forward the original
idea, so Japan should work on new designs,
such as emission quota transactions, and
introduce new technology.
A member of the audience asked that other
panelists comment on Mr. Pottinger's statement
that the European media "tend to polarize
public opinion about information, even information
regarded as fact." Mr. D'Monte warned
that researchers and businesses may provide
incorrect misinformation about funding, and
Mr. Takeuchi emphasized the importance of
reporting public debate plainly and accurately. |
|
|
