Having succeeded in debut the highest-level international conference advocating an aggressive target of 25% GHG emission reduction vs.1990 by 2020, a practical "international commitment", Prime Minister Mr. Hatoyama immediately needs to tackle tough challenges. He would need to minimize domestic resistances, and draft and execute action plans to achieve the target, taking initiative of post COP3 debate in the international community.

Achieving the target is not easy even if the international community's reaction is positive, because even internationally, the entire environment is quite tough. It was when Mr. Obama changed the U.S. policy on this issue of proactively reducing GHG emission to cooperate and make harmony with the international community that the international negotiation for GHG emission reduction started to drive. However, Mr. Obama also has health care reform issue to handle and the U.S. Diet is now focusing on this issue, so the deliberation in the Diet of bill regarding GHG is behind schedule. If there is no concrete progress in the G20 summit started 24th this month, it is quite possible that the targeted consensus to be made in December becomes rather difficult.

The feasibility of capital aid execution by developed countries is still a question. EU would like to make consensus of reduction target leveraging capital aid of a tens of billions of dollars. However, discussions among developed countries, that are to raise funds for the capital aid, are still ongoing, far behind the original timeline.

And, even if Mr. Hatoyama manages to convince Japanese industries, related associations, opinion leaders and citizens, the hurdle is still quite high. According to the estimation developed during the former Aso administration, it is vital to increase the solar cell implementation by 5500% (55 times the current implementation) and shift 90% of new car sales to EV cars in order to achieve 25% reduction in GHG emission vs.1990.

Achieving an extremely aggressive target would require something very drastic, some kind of breakthrough. It is passive and conservative target that people tend to agree to easily but they are usually not so much energized by such target, not coming up with innovative ideas, thus often failing to achieve the target.

But history teaches us that although at first people are negative at first because it seems absolutely unrealistic, they finally agree and support extremely aggressive target set under tough environment. Such a target delivered by a leader with passion energizes and wins support from followers and related stakeholders. They will then get united to exert maximum effort, leading to creation of innovation and break through, and as a result being successful in achieving the target.

Reduction in GHG emission is an issue that each one of us on this planet is required to take action for the sustainability of human kind, and it is possible to convert this issue to business opportunities as well. It has potential to drive innovations and creation of new industry and employment, meaning growth in world economy and sustainable growth. It is highly hoped that the international community and all stakeholders in each country come in consensus and take their own responsibility to achieve their respective goal.