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Kyoto Protocol Target Possible in Japan
Cut of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and other greenhouse gases in Japan by 2-7 percent from 1990 levels by 2010 is possible, according to an committee under Japanese Environment Ministry committee Tuesday.
"The increase in reduction of the gasses by 2 percent to 7 percent would be possible if additional techniques are introduced, " the committee said in two interim reports compiled by the ministry's Central Environment Council committee.
The reports were based on achieving a 6 percent reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions, to which Japan is committed under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol aimed at curbing global warming.
The establishment of detailed systems to achieve the reductions will be necessary, the reports said.
Japanese government's current outlines on promoting measures against global warming require a reduction of 0.5 percentage point through efforts to cut emissions in Japan, with the remaining 5.5 percentage point by forest absorption and "external" measures such as emissions trading.
Under the current measures, gas emissions are anticipated to increase by 8 percent by 2010 compared with the present level even if seven more nuclear power plants are established.
However, a reduction of 2.4 percent in such gases will be possible by spending less than 100,000 yen per ton of carbon, and a reduction of 4.6 percent will be possible if more than 100,000 yen is spent for the same amount of carbon, the reports said.
The reports also estimated that cutting emissions of the targeted gases by 7 percent will be possible if maximum efforts are made.
The Kyoto Protocol aims to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions of industrialized countries by an average of 5.2 percent from 1990 levels by 2008-2012.
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