A Message to the World
from Kyoto,
Host City for the 3rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change |
Around the world, regions are being hit by drought and water shortages, inundated
with concentrated heavy rains and flooding, and glaciers in places like the Himalayas
and Alaska are shrinking. These problems are being caused by global warming. If
global warming continues unchecked, the sea level will rise, and the coastlines
of small island nations will begin to shrink. The increase in abnormal climatic
conditions around the world is also having a great impact on food production and
the habitats of wildlife.
Kyoto, as the city where the Kyoto Protocol was created as a promise to work to
prevent global warming around the world, is dedicated to supporting efforts to
stop global warming. In 2001, we asked people to submit their opinions and ideas
about what we can start doing as individuals to decrease the development of carbon
dioxide and other substances that are causing global warming. These ideas were
discussed at city meetings in December 2002, and on February 22, 2003, the "Kyoto
City Proclamation to Stop Global Warming" was adopted at the general assembly
of the "Sutoppu-za-Ondanka Kyoto Shimin Kaigi", Kyoto Meeting on Stopping
Global Warming. This proclamation defines the direction that will be taken by
future efforts of the city to prevent global warming. |
Kyoto City Proclamation to Stop Global Warming
- A Message to the World about Preventing Global Warming, from the People of Kyoto
City -
Working to Make Kyoto a City for the Environment
| Today, the world
is on the verge of crisis. We humans have gone too far in our pursuit of abundance,
convenience, and comfort, and as a result, have brought about global warming and
have greatly damaged Mother Earth, our planet which has borne and fostered a huge
diversity of life. Left unchecked, human activity could bring about disastrous
results. It is both the responsibility and the duty of those of us living today
to leave the children of the future a global environment rich in blessings. It
is not too late. Let us get underway with our efforts to stop global warming.
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Get started today. Harmonious coexistence between
our valuable natural environment and humankind, our cities, our lives.
Knowing, Learning, Telling
Environment-related efforts begin with knowing and learning. We need to foster
in people a sense of thinking and acting on a global scale. For this, we need
to create homes and schools that are friendly to the environment, and to create
a circle of activity that extends from parent to child, from child to parent,
and beyond into the communities and regions.
Living Together, Loving Nature, Protecting Natural Water Systems
and Greenery
Water is the source of life. Forests are the foundation for the cycle of nature,
places that foster and protect water and living organisms. Trees clean our air.
With a love for nature and an affection for living things, we strive to protect
our rivers and mountains, foster these gifts of nature, and treasure these blessings.
Let us also work to increase the nature and greenery around us.
Finding Ways to Reduce Waste and Conserve Energy in Our Daily Lives.
Fighting global warming starts close to home - with the problem of household waste.
Making things, using things, and disposing of things as waste, all consume large
amounts of energy. If each of us just makes small changes, working together, we
can make a huge difference. We shall try to find even the little things we can
do for the environment in our daily lives, strive to be thrifty, renew our awareness
of the importance of both goods and energy, and work to reduce the amount of waste
we produce.
Utilizing Natural Forms of Energy
We are indeed thankful for the blessings of nature. We shall work to make more
efficient use of natural forms of energy, including sunlight, water, wind, and
wood, and to reduce the use of fossil fuels like oil and coal.
Creating an Enjoyable Place for Everyone to Live through Transportation
That Is Friendly to Humankind and the Environment
The overuse of automobiles is a major cause of global warming. We aim to create
safe, reliable, environment-friendly systems of transportation, and to create
a city that can be enjoyable for everyone to live in, a city that encourages people
to support environment-friendly transportation, to reduce the use of private automobiles,
and a city that provides safe, enjoyable areas for walking and riding bicycles.
Environment-Friendly Purchases
Businesses and industries also have a huge impact on global warming. As consumers,
we shall support the environment-related efforts of businesses and industries
by choosing low-energy products and products designed to last a long time, endeavoring
to make environment-friendly purchases.
Valuing a Sense of Hospitality toward Humankind and the Environment
Kyoto is visited by countless tourists. As the heartland of Japan, Kyoto values
its sense of hospitality, and works to create tourism opportunities that incorporate
environment-related activities.
It Starts with You, and Spreads to the Community
We shall start by doing what is possible by us as individuals. But it is difficult
to carry on such efforts by oneself, we need to get others involved. Kyoto values
the ties between its communities and its people, respects individuality and diversity,
honors the idea of learning from one another, and works to utilize the qualities
each person and community have to offer.
The
People, Businesses, and Government - Cooperating, Working Together
No matter how much effort individuals make, if there are no concrete structures
for preventing global warming, individual efforts will stay at the individual
level. Of course, if such a structure exists, it cannot function without the cooperation
of everyone. Businesses and Government administrations are also "citizens"
of Kyoto. The people of Kyoto, its businesses, and its Government administrations
must work to understand the ideas and standpoints of each other, thinking together
and supporting each other in efforts to promote global warming countermeasures. |
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The Future of the Earth Depends on What We Do Today
The people of the
world are working to prevent global warming. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted as
a worldwide promise to make the prevention of global warming a reality.
The Kyoto Protocol was created here, in our city of Kyoto. The name "Kyoto"
will become even more deeply ingrained in the hearts of people around the world
as they depart on their journey to achieving the prevention of global warming.
As such, the world may look to Kyoto City and its people as an example. It is
with self-awareness and pride that we, as residents of Kyoto City, and as residents
of the world, work to carefully observe and foster the ideas set forth in this
Protocol.
The principal role in these efforts is taken by you, by each individual - our
actions are the first step to realizing the prevention of global warming. |
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February 22, 2003
"Sutoppu-za-Ondanka Kyoto Shimin Kaigi"
-Kyoto Meeting on Stopping Global Warming- |
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