Former US Vice President Al Gore stated in a speech in Tokyo that Japan's top business lobby, the Keidanren, has the potential to influence policy changes on global warming by sending a strong message to their counterparts in the United States. He emphasized the importance of the Japanese business community's respected reputation and urged them to use their influence to shape opinions within the US business community, ultimately leading to changes in US policy regarding climate change. Gore also highlighted the impact of the United States' withdrawal from the Kyoto protocol, which aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, due to concerns about its impact on the US economy. In 1997, the Japanese government hosted talks that led to the creation of the protocol. Recently, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged major polluters like the United States, China, and India to do more to address climate change during his visit to Europe. Japan's own greenhouse gas emissions reached 1.36 billion tonnes in March 2006, slightly higher than the previous year and significantly above its goal of reducing emissions by 6 percent from 1990 levels. However, Al Gore believes that Japanese corporations have a crucial role to play in combating climate change by setting an example for the global business community. Gore stated, "The business leadership of Japan can lead the way and lead the business community of the world. Your determination to be a part of the solution can be the key to the world successfully solving this crisis." More than 330 cities in the US have expressed their support for the Kyoto protocol, indicating strong grassroots backing for its goals, according to Gore. The former presidential candidate declined to respond to media inquiries on Monday. Additionally, none of the business leaders present at the event inquired about speculations regarding a potential presidential run following his environmental advocacy efforts.