Japan pumps out growing levels of noxious greenhouse gas
( 2001-07-10 15:36 ) (7 )

Japan's output of greenhouse gasses blamed for global warming surged in 1999, a government report said Tuesday, prompting Tokyo to pledge more efforts to combat climate problems.

Emissions of carbon-rich gasses in Japan rose 6.8 percent in 1999 compared with levels in 1990, according to the latest report by the government's Council of Ministers for Global Environment Conservation.

Greenhouse gas emissions grew to 1.3 billion tons, said the council, chaired by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

The figures are embarrassing for Tokyo, which is under pressure from the European Union not to abandon the Kyoto Protocol aimed at creating a cleaner global climate.

"The ministers in the council confirmed that they would continue their efforts to achieve the target of emission cuts spelt out under the Kyoto Protocol," an environment ministry official told AFP.

The report revealed that a tough challenge lies ahead for Japan, which is committed under Kyoto to slash gas emissions by six percent from 1990 levels by between 2008 and 2012.

But a Japanese environment ministry official downplayed rising emissions, saying the growth was no surprise to Tokyo.

"The data were within our expectations," the official said, adding that Tokyo had yet to iron out clear-cut reasons why greenhouse gasses rose.

"But it may be attributed to the fact that the then-economy was on a modest recovery, with the transport sector seeing heavier energy use," he said.

The data came a day after a European Union delegation met senior Japanese government officials to pressure Tokyo to sign up with the pact regardless of a position adopted by the United States.

But Tokyo insisted Washington's endorsement of the treaty remained a vital element to secure the protocol's ultimate goal of committing 38 industrialised countries to an overall cut by 2010 of 5.2 percent of greenhouse gases over their 1990 levels.

The report was also unveiled ahead of crucial July 16-27 talks in Bonn that many say will either make or break Kyoto, after US President George W. Bush declared in March the United States would not ratify the pact.