New Japan PM Promises Massive Greenhouse Gas Cuts

Hatoyama said the large cut in greenhouse gas emissions was dependent on other nations agreeing targets at December's climate talks in Copenhagen. Photo by cleveland.com

Japan's next PM Yukio Hatoyama has promised a big cut in greenhouse gas emissions, saying he will aim for a 25% reduction by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.

Democratic Party leader Hatoyama is due to take over as prime minister on 16 September, after a resounding election victory in August.

His predecessor, Taro Aso, had pledged cuts of only 8%, the BBC reported.

Hatoyama said the plan was dependent on other nations agreeing targets at December's climate talks in Copenhagen.

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.

Analysts say the plan, unveiled at a climate change symposium in Tokyo, is more ambitious than those of 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.

 

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