WORLD> Asia-Pacific
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WORLD> Asia-Pacific
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Japan PM-elect pledges 25% greenhouse gas cut
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-09-07 15:13 Bigger Role in Copenhagen Japan is under pressure for tougher climate policies after its emissions rose 2.3 percent to a record in the year to March 2008, putting the country 16 percent above its Kyoto Protocol target. The UN climate chief said Hatoyama's new commitment was "laudable" and would spur change in Japan's economy.
Industrialised nations are planning average cuts in greenhouse gas emissions of between 10 and 14 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 as part of the new UN climate pact, according to a compilation of national data. This is far below the 25-40 percent reduction by 2020 recommended by the UN climate panel. Hatoyama said industrialised countries should provide financial and technological support to developing nations working proactively to reduce emissions, adding that his new government would discuss steps soon after taking power. He also wanted to present his stance on climate policy in more depth at a UN climate change meeting among world leaders later this month, he said. To reduce emissions, Hatoyama's party has pledged to create a domestic emissions trading market with compulsory volume caps on emitters and introduce a "feed-in" tariff, or financial reward, for renewable energy to help expand capacity for clean energy sources. It is also considering a new carbon tax, but other campaign pledges such as a plan to eliminate highway tolls and to end a decades-old surcharge on gasoline have drawn concern from green groups.
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