Japan aims to realize bulk of emission cuts at home

The Japanese government hopes to achieve at least 60% of its target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through efforts within Japan, with emissions trading and other steps to be undertaken overseas to cover the remainder, according to The Nikkei. The plans are included in a road map the government is drawing up for cutting the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 by 25% from 1990 levels. Japan’s industrial sector is to trim emissions by 17-24% from 1990 levels to 366-399 million tons by 2020. A 12% to 19% reduction from 2005 levels would be enough to reach this goal since the sector has already lowered emissions. The draft of the road map calls for sharp reductions for the household, commercial and transport sectors, however. Together, these sectors are to lower emissions by 12% to 25% from 1990 levels to 380-446 million tons by 2020. (February 2, 2010)