The Prius That Shook.. - VFAQ Prius Site

At the time, the Japanese government was preparing
for COP3 in December and wanted to use Prius to create a
favorable impression on the global community with its
environmental efforts. That was why the Ministry of
Transportation dealt with the fuel economy certification
issue so promptly. Prius was very fortunate in that sense.
Debut at the COP3 Kyoto Conference
The COP3 Kyoto Conference started on December 1st ,
prior to Prius' launch on the 10th . Governments,
local governments, industries, and civil organizations of 150
nations participated in this conference. Reduction of
carbon dioxide (CO 2) to prevent global warming was
discussed for 11 days instead of the initially scheduled 10 days.
The delegates discussed CO 2 reduction targets for each
nation and each industry. While the European Union (EU)
proposed a 30% reduction from the 1995 level by 2010 and
Japan proposed 20% reduction, the United States
stubbornly refused to set a specific numerical target.
The United States claimed, "The allegation that CO 2
causes global warming is not scientifically proven, and
CO 2 reduction would hinder global industrial growth. We
cannot accept an agreement that excludes the participation of
developing nations." Both the American economy and the
sales by American auto manufacturers
368