As the Kyoto Protocol came in to force on Feburary 16, the 'Cabinet Decision on the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan' was made on April 28, 2005, taking into account the assessment and review of the Climate Change Policy Programme Interim Report made in September, 2004.

Entry Force of Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Plotocol came into force in Feburary 16, 2005.

May 31st, the Diet approved the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and passed the bill on amendment of "Climate Change Policy Law".

March, the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters revised "Guideline of Measures to Prevent Global Warming (Measures Towards 2010) of 1998.

February, the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters issued Future Policies Toward the Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. It confirmed to approve the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and pass the bill which necessary for ratification at this diet session.

November, and the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters issues a resolution for redoubled and revisited efforts necessary to meet the Kyoto protocol targets

July, and the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters publishes the Third Follow-Up to the "Guideline of Measures to Prevent Global Warming (Measures Towards 2010)".

COP-7: The Marrakesh Accords

November 2001, and at COP7 decisions are finalized regarding the detailed legal documents corresponding to the political agreements reached at COP6.

COP-6: The Bonn agreement

COP6 initially met in November 2000 but, unable to reach a settled conclusion in the available time, reconvened in July 2001 in Bonn. This second session yielded a political agreement on a rulebook covering the compliance regime. (English text of the report as a pdf)

September, and the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters publishes the Second Follow-Up to the "Guideline of Measures to Prevent Global Warming (Measures Towards 2010)"

July, and the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters publishes the First Follow-Up to the "Guideline of Measures to Prevent Global Warming (Measures Towards 2010)".

April, and the law encoding the basics of Japan's response to climate change and the Kyoto protocol takes effect.

October, and the basics of Japan's response to climate change and the Kyoto protocol (COP3) are set in law. Brought into force in April 1999, this law allows for the establishment of the JCCCA.

June, and the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters releases "Guideline of Measures to Prevent Global Warming (Measures Towards 2010)", pulling together material from the various ministries and agencies. Decisions include an annual follow-up to review progress, and the establishment of centers to combat global warming.

June, and the House of Councilors forms "Law on rationalizing energy use (energy saving methods)" as one effort to further energy-saving measures in response to the Kyoto protocol. The law comes into force in April 1999.

January. In view of the Kyoto protocol, the Environmental Agency releases an immediate action plan.

November, and COP4 in Buenos Aires yields a two-year Plan of Action for completing the Kyoto protocol operational rules. (English text of he report in html or pdf

December, and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry responds to the Kyoto protocol formulated by issuing a resolution and preliminary plan for countermeasures to global warming.(Japanese text of the resolution)

COP3:The Kyoto protocol

December, and COP3 in Kyoto yields the Kyoto protocol, giving "quantified emissions limitation and reduction commitments" for GHGs. The operational details of the protocol are not finalized.(English text of the protocol in html and pdf)

July, and COP2 in Geneva reiterates the urgent need for a protocol or other legally binding document, with the Americans calling for "legally binding quantified emissions limitation and reduction commitments".
(English text of the report in htmlor as a pdf

April, and the first Conference of the Parties decides in Berlin that action beyond 2000 is required and a protocol or other legal instrument is required.　
(English text of the report in html or as a pdf)

Aiming for the "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system", 154 states (plus the EC) sign the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the Rio Earth Summit. The treaty comes into effect in March 1994, 90 days after the receipt of the 50th ratification.
English text of convention in html and pdf

October, and a Cabinet meeting on preservation of the environment, "Examination of Immediate Global Warming Countermeasures" becomes the first government-level response. The plan includes

• 1. Background to and intention of this action plan


• 2.　The fundamentals of a response: national and international cooperation


• 3. Aims of the countermeasures: no increases in GHG emissions, per capita CO2 emissions to be stabilized at 1990 levels


• 4. Target times: first period to run from 1991 to 2010, with 2000 an intermediate objective


• 5. The Countermeasures: detailed under subheadings including "city, traffic, production, energy supply, lifestyle, other gases, absorption, measurement, technology, education, and international cooperation"