Panel issues guidelines for reducing fossil fuel use

An advisory panel to Japan’s trade ministry has approved a set of guidelines for curbing fossil fuel use by power, gas and auto fuel suppliers to meet the country’s action plan on energy usage for 2030. The action plan, finalized by the government in June, could help Japan cut emissions by 30% or more by 2030 from 1990 levels. Among the targets, Japan aims over the next two decades to halve CO2 emissions from homes and boost the share of electricity from non-fossil fuels to 70% of the total, from 34% currently. Japan, the world’s fifth-largest greenhouse gas emitter, pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25%, from 1990 levels, by 2020. (September 15, 2010)