Former US Vice President Al Gore stated that Japan's top business lobby has the potential to bring about policy change regarding global warming by communicating effectively with their counterparts in the United States. Gore emphasized the influential role that the Japanese business community could play in shaping opinions within the US business community, ultimately leading to changes in US policy. He urged members of the Keidanren to send a strong message to big businesses in the United States. The United States had previously withdrawn from the Kyoto protocol, citing potential harm to the US economy. The Japanese government, as the host of the 1997 talks that created the protocol, has been urging major polluters like the United States, China, and India to increase their efforts in fighting climate change. During a recent visit to Europe, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reinforced this message. Japan's own greenhouse gas emissions have been increasing, falling short of their goal to reduce emissions to 6 percent below 1990 levels. Al Gore emphasized the importance of Japanese businesses in leading the way in combatting climate change, stating that their determination could be the key to solving the crisis. More than 330 cities in the US have expressed their support for the Kyoto protocol, showing strong grassroots backing for its goals, according to Gore. The former presidential candidate did not respond to media inquiries on Monday. None of the business leaders at the event inquired about speculations that he may use his increased visibility from his environmental efforts to run for president again.