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16 July 2001- Japan: Climate Saviour or Climate Killer? Opening of
the UN Climate Meeting

Bonn, Germany - Latest press reports say that Japan has thrown into
question it's commitment to the only global agreement on climate change,
the Kyoto Protocol, by stating that there will be no progress at the climate
meeting which starts in Bonn today. The talks stalled in the Netherlands
last November as a result of US intransigence.

"The Protocol can only survive if Japan abandons its pretence of attempting
to turn around Bush's hard line rejection of the Protocol and commits to
ratify," said Bill Hare, Greenpeace climate policy director. "Japan cannot
hide behind its self-appointed "peacemaker" stance. There is no peace to
be made - Bush has said he rejects the Protocol, effectively making Japan
the country which will make or break it ."

"On the one hand Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Koizumi has said that
Japan will continue to negotiate in good faith. Yet now he has said that
there will be no progress at these crucial talks before they have even
started. With every passing day, Japan's credibility falls further and further."

As key countries including the European Union have clearly stated their
support for the Protocol and with US President GW Bush's rejection of it, if
the Japanese are to leave this meeting with any environmental credibility
they must state that they will ratify the Protocol.

The Protocol can enter into force without the US if Japan ratifies, making
up the 55 percent of countries needed to meet the requirements for the
Protocol to enter into force. This will not happen at this meeting without
Japan.

"Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Koizumi has recently bowed to US pressure
and said that he will work "to the last minute" to persuade Mr. Bush to
rejoin the Kyoto Protocol. Stories continue to circulate that Japan is
seeking to amend the emissions targets and timetables of the Kyoto
Protocol. If this is true Mr. Koizumi is making a terrible mistake in seeking
to somehow appease Mr. Bush, Exxon and other US fossil fuel interests
who are seeking to undermine the Kyoto Protocol."

Greenpeace has installed a six metre high inflatable planet earth outside
the conference surrounded by 24 televisions screening testimonies about
climate change from several hundred people from around the world.
Greenpeace wants to bring the voices of the people into the conference. As
part of its campaign world-wide to save the climate, Greenpeace is carrying
out protests around the world. Most recently, Greenpeace released a
balloon over one of Argentina's Patagonian glaciers with a banner reading:
"Bush & Co.= Climate Disaster". Activists are also displaying a banner
"Canada and Bush - Climate Killers. from Toronto's CN Tower observation
deck.

For more information contact:

Bill Hare +49 170 9057015

Susan Cavanagh +31 621296910 For

Photo requests: John Novis +31653819121

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