Japan May Propose Medium-Term Greenhouse Gas Cut Target
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Tokyo, Dec. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura on Wednesday unveiled the government’s intention to propose a medium-term global greenhouse gas emission reduction target, which should be achieved by around 2020.
Komura held out the idea at a meeting of the Japan Business Federation, the country’s biggest business lobby known as Nippon Keidanren.
He said it is time for Japan to map out concrete proposals on measures to tackle climate change toward the Group of Eight summit to be held in Japan in July 2008.
Environmental issues, including how to prevent global warming, will certainly be high on the agenda at the summit among the eight nations–Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.
Komura showed a plan to discuss introducing an emission trading system in Japan amid growing moves to adopt such a system in some U.S. states and European countries.
Japan also plans to propose a sector-by-sector approach, in which each industrial sector would enhance energy-saving efforts worldwide, Komura said.
The Japanese government is also considering calling on other countries to voluntarily scrap tariffs on eco-friendly products, he said.
Komura also stressed the need to promote the so-called carbon capture and storage approach.
Filed by Catherine Tsalikis under Climate Change