September 3, 2009
JAMA Comments on August 30 Lower House Election Results
Satoshi Aoki, Chairman
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association congratulates the Democratic Party of Japan on its victory in Japan’s Lower House election held on August 30.
JAMA looks forward to the speedy adoption of appropriate measures by the incoming government, under presumptive Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, in support of both an early recovery from Japan’s economic stagnation and proactive solutions to other broad-ranging issues facing the nation.
At this juncture, JAMA would like to comment specifically on the DPJ’s goal, included in its official manifesto, of lowering Japan’s carbon dioxide emissions by 25% from the 1990 level by 2020, as a countermeasure to global warming. We have concerns about the feasibility of this goal in view not only of the impact such a policy would have on economic activities and employment, but also of the enormousness of the public burden.
In light of these concerns, and with regard to the achievement of this goal, JAMA urges the new administration to formulate clearly defined policies as well as identify projected revenue sources and anticipated impacts of related policy implementation on economic activities and employment. We hope that, subsequent to those initiatives, the new leadership will then determine its final policy measures regarding this critical issue on the basis of comprehensive discussions with, and taking into account the views of, all the sectors and stakeholders involved.
