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Japan vows big climate change cut Japan vows big climate change cut
(about 1 hour later)
Japan's next leader has promised a big cut in greenhouse gas emissions, saying he will aim for a 25% reduction by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.Japan's next leader has promised a big cut in greenhouse gas emissions, saying he will aim for a 25% reduction by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.
Yukio Hatoyama is due to take over as prime minister on 16 September, after a resounding election victory in August. Centre-left Democratic Party leader Yukio Hatoyama is due to take over as prime minister on 16 September, after a resounding election victory in August.
His announcement is part of his Democratic Party's assertive policy on green issues. His predecessor, Taro Aso, had pledged cuts of only 8%. His predecessor, Taro Aso, had pledged cuts of only 8%.
Japan will present its new target at December's climate talks in Copenhagen. Mr Hatoyama said the plan was dependent on other nations agreeing targets at December's climate talks in Copenhagen.
Industry resistanceIndustry resistance
But the plans have already sparked resistance from Japanese business groups, and parts of the automotive industry are expected to lobby against the targets. But Monday's announcement has already sparked resistance from Japanese business groups, and parts of the automotive industry are expected to lobby against the targets.
We think developing countries are also required to make an effort to reduce greenhouse gases Yukio HatoyamaJapan's Prime Minister-elect Challenges for Japan's new leaderWe think developing countries are also required to make an effort to reduce greenhouse gases Yukio HatoyamaJapan's Prime Minister-elect Challenges for Japan's new leader
Analysts say Mr Hatoyama's announcement on Monday at a climate change symposium in Tokyo is more ambitious than many other industrialised nations. The BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says Japanese industry believes the country should focus on emerging properly from the recession it has just been through, rather than on emissions.
Japan's plan won praise from the climate change chief of the UN, which is recommending developed countries commit to a 25-40% reduction by 2020. Analysts say the plan, unveiled at a climate change symposium in Tokyo, is more ambitious than many other industrialised nations.
It won praise from the climate change chief of the UN, which is recommending developed countries commit to a 25-40% reduction by 2020.
"With such a target, Japan will take on the leadership role that industrialised countries have agreed to take in climate change abatement," Yvo de Boer, head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, told the Tokyo forum."With such a target, Japan will take on the leadership role that industrialised countries have agreed to take in climate change abatement," Yvo de Boer, head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, told the Tokyo forum.
Japan is the world's second-largest economy and fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, which are a major contributor to global warming.Japan is the world's second-largest economy and fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, which are a major contributor to global warming.
"As a mid-term goal, we aim at a 25% reduction by 2020 from 1990, based on the levels demanded by science to stop global warming," Mr Hatoyama told the conference."As a mid-term goal, we aim at a 25% reduction by 2020 from 1990, based on the levels demanded by science to stop global warming," Mr Hatoyama told the conference.
It is envisaged that the reductions will be achieved by bringing in emissions trading, renovating housing, subsidising solar panels and introducing low energy appliances in cars.It is envisaged that the reductions will be achieved by bringing in emissions trading, renovating housing, subsidising solar panels and introducing low energy appliances in cars.
Japan's new leader said his target was premised on ambitious goals being agreed by other major nations.
Without mentioning China or India by name, Mr Hatoyama said: "We think developing countries are also required to make an effort to reduce greenhouse gases, as a global effort is needed on the issue of climate change," reports AFP news agency.Without mentioning China or India by name, Mr Hatoyama said: "We think developing countries are also required to make an effort to reduce greenhouse gases, as a global effort is needed on the issue of climate change," reports AFP news agency.
December's UN-backed climate talks in Copenhagen will try to work out a deal on reducing emissions to succeed the current Kyoto Protocol, the first phase of which ends in 2012. December's UN-backed climate talks in Copenhagen in Denmark will try to work out a deal on reducing emissions to succeed the current Kyoto Protocol, the first phase of which ends in 2012.
Japan has been under pressure to introduce tougher policies on climate change after its emissions rose last year to 16% above the Kyoto target, which it played a leading role in agreeing in 1997.