Environment and Climate Change was one of the main issues of Hokkaido Toyako Summit in July 2008, and a summary of that conference stated a long term goal that "with respect to the goal of achieving at least 50% reduction of global emissions by 2050, the G8 leaders agreed to seek to share and adopt it with all Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change."

Begun in April 2004 with funding from the Global Environmental Research Fund, the Japan Low-Carbon Society Scenarios ｔoward 2050 Project demonstrated that Japan has the technological potential to reduce its CO2 emissions by 70% compared to 1990 levels. The Project published "Japan Low-Carbon Society Scenarios: paths to reduce CO2 emissions by 70%", a document that examines research results from difference perspectives, including city, transportation, IT, energy, and so on. The project also studied specific measures to achieve the reduction of CO2 by 70%, and proposed packs of such measures as "A Dozen Actions toward Low-Carbon Societies."

The Project held a symposium during February of its final year, to announce the results of five years of research activities to stakeholders who have influence on development of Low-Carbon Society, and to introduce the advancement of Low-Carbon Society scenario studies in Asian countries.