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Japan to cut greenhouse gas emissions 15 % by 2020

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-10 13:16

TOKYO -- Prime Minister Taro Aso is expected to announce a 15 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels as Japan's midterm target for 2020, Kyodo News reported Wednesday.

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The cut is bigger than a previously reported target of a 14 percent reduction -- equivalent to a 7 percent cut from 1990 levels for Japan, the fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter, which saw a steep rise in emissions from 1990 to 2005.

The prime minister is to announce Japan's 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target at a press conference later Wednesday.

On Monday Aso held talks with labor federation leaders to seek their cooperation to meet the midterm greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.

During their talks, the leaders from the electric and steel industries asked Aso to set the midterm target for 2020 at a 4 percent increase from 1990 levels.

Aso, however, stressed the government would deal with the issue so as not to cause any disadvantages to Japan though he was making final arrangements to set the figure for 2020 at a 7 percent decrease from 1990 levels.