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Japan sets 2020 emission targets

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-11 13:49

TOKYO -- Japan Wednesday unveiled plans for only marginally deeper greenhouse gas cuts over the coming decade than its current UN commitments, a step green groups say threatens to deal a blow to global climate talks.

The world's fifth-biggest greenhouse gas emitter has been under huge pressure from developing nations to opt for deep 2020 greenhouse gas reductions to ensure a strong outcome from talks for a new global climate pact at the end of the year.

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But prime minister Taro Aso, with an election due within months, had to balance fighting climate change with the needs of industry and voters amid the nation's worst recession since World War II.

The 2020 target is equivalent to a cut of 8 percent below 1990 emission levels. Under the Kyoto pact, Japan has committed to cutting emissions by 6 percent for the 2008-12 period from 1990 levels but has struggled to meet that goal.

"It is an extremely ambitious target that aims to reach a 33 percent improvement in energy efficiency, more than the 30 percent rise in efficiency achieved during the oil crisis (in the 1970s)," Aso told a news conference Wednesday.

Environmental groups though were unimpressed, saying the target would do little to stop steel and other manufacturing industries from reining in their planet-warming emissions from burning fossil fuels.

"Prime Minister Aso's reported plan is appalling," said Kim Carstensen, head of WWF's Global Climate Initiative.

"We have waited a long time for Japan to finally inform the world about its emissions plans; and today we were presented something dangerously lacking any level of ambition."

Japan's choice on a target is seen as an important signal as to the level of ambition by rich nations to fight global warming.

"This commitment is not strong enough," said Matthew Clarke, associate professor at the School of International and Political Studies at Deakin University in Melbourne.

"Countries such as Japan must be willing to commit to deeper cuts in emissions if they are to encourage developing countries such as India and China to also make cuts to their emissions."

Reuters