The government has decided to submit a “bill on responding to climate change” to the current Diet session in order to prevent damage to agriculture, fisheries, and so forth as a result of climate change, such as temperature increases caused by an increase in greenhouse gases.

The bill will call on the government to draw up plans on responding to climate change, assess its impact, provide assistance to the developing Asia-Pacific nations, and require prefectural governments to draw up similar local plans. These local plans are expected to include proposals for developing agricultural products tolerant of higher temperatures.

The plan for responding to climate change will require: 1) tapping scientific knowledge; 2) putting in place a system for collecting and disseminating information; and 3) setting up “broad area councils” involving regional environment offices, local governments, and so forth. (Abridged)