Utilises a comparative approach to examine paradigm shifts in climate change policy in Germany and Japan.

Rie Watanabe is a political scientist with expertise in policy process theory, comparative political studies, German and Japanese, as well as international climate policy. She received her bachelor and master degrees of law from the University of Tokyo, Japan, and completed her PhD at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. After having worked at several international environmental research institutes, and having been a member of several governmental committees in Japan, she is currently working as Associate Professor at the University of the Niigata Prefecture, Japan and affiliated with the Environmental Policy Research Centre of the Free University of Berlin, Germany.

1. Introduction 2. Historical Background of Climate Change Issues 3. Climate Policy Changes in Japan from 1987 to 2005 4. Climate Policy Changes in Germany from 1987 to 2005 5. Beliefs of Actors in Japan and Germany 6. The Introduction of the Cap and Trading Scheme in Germany - Factors to Determine the Major Policy Change in Germany 7. A Comparative Analysis of Climate Policy Change in Germany and Japan: A Path to Paradigmatic Policy Change. Annex I: List of Interviewees. Annex II: Questionnaire Concerning Actors' Beliefs