The government Monday launched a preparatory committee for an international environmental conference to be held in Johannesburg in the summer, government officials said.
The committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development comprises members of the Cabinet Office and nine ministries.
With its headquarters in the Foreign Ministry, the committee aims to compile measures for the summit in coordination with nongovernmental organizations, firms, local governments and other groups, the officials said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Shotaro Oshima will serve as its head and Hironori Hamanaka, the environment ministry's vice minister for global environmental affairs, will serve as deputy head for the preparatory committee, according to the officials.
In addition to the Cabinet Office and Foreign Ministry, representatives from the environment, finance, education, health, economy, farm, land, and public management ministries will sit on the committee, they said.
Separate preparatory offices have been set up within the environment and foreign ministries.
The summit is to be held Aug. 26 to Sept. 4.