Goal of 25% cut in emissions should be withdrawn quickly
Vice Environment Minister Hideki Minamikawa has indicated that Japan's target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, including "the time frame and the size of the cut," will be "subject to review."His remarks came after a slew of accidents at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Given the uncertain situation at the nuclear plant, we think Minamikawa's remark--made as vice minister at the ministry tasked with promoting measures to fight global warming--is appropriate.
A nuclear power plant emits little carbon dioxide when generating electricity. Nuclear power is an essential energy source for any attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In its basic energy plan, the government said it would raise the operating rate of the nation's nuclear power plants to 85 percent by 2020 from about 65 percent in 2009, and construct nine new nuclear reactors.
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Difficult to stick to policies
However, given the ongoing problems at the Fukushima plant, we must say it has become difficult, at least for the time being, to implement these policies, which would have been prerequisites for reducing CO2 emissions by a quarter.
To make up for the power shortage caused by the shutdown of the Fukushima plant, the nation might have to raise its dependency on thermal power plants, which emit more CO2 than nuclear plants, and other energy sources.
These developments will have a major bearing on the source and amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced in this country. Accordingly, we think the government first needs to retract its commitment to cut emissions by 25 percent. It also should review its overall energy policy and reexamine what a realistic reduction target would be.
Then Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama announced the plan for a 25 percent emissions cut to the world before he had even secured a domestic consensus on the matter.
Hatoyama declared Japan's commitment was premised on building a fair framework for reductions by all major gas-emitters--including China and the United States, the two largest emitters--and on all major economies reaching an agreement on ambitious targets. Yet the reality is that Japan's numerical target has taken on a life of its own.
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Reconstruction at risk
One estimate said if Japan alone reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent, efforts such as making more energy-efficient facilities would cost 9.6 trillion yen a year. Yet business sectors have been up in arms over this plan because they believe it would adversely affect economic activity.
Revitalizing the economy will be crucial for reconstructing areas damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Insisting on sticking to the 25 percent target could hinder these rebuilding efforts.
The accidents at the Fukushima nuclear plant will affect the crafting of a new framework that will succeed the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012. After all, if nations involved in this process change their nuclear power policies, their emission targets also will need to be recalculated.
New emission-reduction rules are expected to be agreed on at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held at the end of this year. If Japan adheres to the goal of a 25 percent cut, it would be forced to shoulder extremely disadvantageous reduction obligations.
That is reason enough for the 25 percent reduction target to be withdrawn as soon as possible.
Prosecutorial reform must reflect outside opinion
Prosecutorial reform must be carried out at the initiative of the prosecutors, but outside opinions, however harsh, should be considered with wholehearted sincerity.
An expert panel, established in the wake of a series of irregularities involving a special squad of prosecutors at the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office, has compiled a report listing recommendations and handed it to Justice Minister Satsuki Eda.
In examining how prosecutors should carry out their duties, the panel called on the judicial and prosecutorial authorities to conduct a sweeping review of their functions, ranging from organization to investigative methods.
In 2009, the prosecutors arrested and indicted Atsuko Muraki, a former director general with the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, in connection with a postal discount abuse scandal, although she was innocent. The prosecutor in charge of the postal abuse case tampered with evidence, and his misconduct was allegedly covered up by his superiors. The incident revealed structural faults within the prosecutorial system.
The special squad of prosecutors ignored their mission of "elucidating the truth based on law and justice" out of a desire to establish a case against a senior bureaucrat of a central government office. They resorted to coercive investigation methods repeatedly, such as trying to obtain depositions that fit their storylines.
Senior prosecutors of the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office as well as the Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office and the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office approved the arrest and indictment of Muraki without recognizing how thin their case was.
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Monitoring function required
It was natural for the panel to place priority on bolstering the functions needed to monitor the investigation process.
To improve transparency, it proposed the establishment of a system in which outsiders would be encouraged to offer advice and a department to accept and deal with complaints about interrogations.
The panel also proposed transferring the right to indict to prosecutors not belonging to a special investigation squad. Up to now, cases undertaken by a special squad are conducted under the guidance of the lead prosecutor. As a result, evidence is often not given the thorough assessment it should receive.
Based on the panel's recommendations, the judicial and prosecutorial authorities must carry out drastic reforms as quickly as possible.
Prosecutors must ensure their investigations bring perpetrators to justice, and that the rights of suspects and defendants are protected.
Audio and visual recordings of closed-door interrogations are effective methods to prevent false charges. But police and prosecutors are concerned that recording all questions and answers during the interrogation process will make it more difficult to arrive at the truth.
To what degree could such recordings be permitted so as not to affect investigations? We suggest the prosecutors carry them out on a trial basis in various cases involving special investigation squads.
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Don't depend on depositions
The excessive emphasis placed on depositions in investigations and trials also should be examined. It is important to look into methods of investigation to establish cases that do not necessarily depend on depositions.
A plea bargain system exists in some countries under which punishment is reduced if a defendant admits a charge. It is unclear whether Japanese society would accept such a system.
The panel proposed the establishment of a forum to discuss such institutional reforms as well as legislative preparations for the adoption of audio and visual recordings of interrogations.
We hope the judicial and prosecutorial authorities discuss reforms from a wide perspective while listening to the voice of the people.
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