The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention established Quantified Emission Limitation and Reduction Objectives for Annex I countries.It also opened the way for international schemes of emissions trading.Since the global society is required ambitious emissions reductions in the medium and long run in various fronts, active applications of economic measures will be necessary and inevitable.However, there has been strong resistance to the introduction of economic measures in the environmental policy in Japan, both among business circles and within ministries and government offices. This article urges to shift the basic tone of environmental and economic policies in Japan toward more use of economic measures so that this country can attain not only the objectives of UNFCCC but also those of sustainable development at large.
