Japan’s incoming government has pledged to stand by its target of reducing emissions 25 per cent from 1990 levels, by 2020, despite opposition from business groups.
Japan tends to argue that, because it is already very energy efficient, it should not have to sign up to such big emissions cuts as some of its developed-world peers. The previous government’s target of 15 per cent reduction from 2005 levels – or, 8 per cent reduction on 1990 levels – by 2020 drew much criticism from environmental groups.
So a speech today by Yukio Hatoyama, the incoming prime minister, promising to stick by the party’s manifesto goal of a 25 per cent reduction, represents a big change. But how will it be received by the rest of the world?
