Japan's industrial sector must fulfill its responsibility for the environment -- Akahata editorial, May 24 (excerpts)

Six and a half years have passed since the COP3 Kyoto Conference urged the industrialized countries to implement their goals for reducing carbon dioxide in order to prevent further global warming.

By ratifying the Kyoto agreement in 2002, the Japanese government promised the world that it will reduce gas emissions by six percent from the levels measured in 1990. However, in late 2002, CO2 emissions showed a 7.6 percent increase from the 1990 level.

Therefore, there are concerns that Japan may not be able to achieve its goal of CO2 reduction in the 2008-2012 period.

The industrial and public sectors, including transport, are responsible for eighty percent of the total amount of CO2 emissions.

Notwithstanding this, the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) which represents Japan's business circles is reluctant to take positive actions.

In its 'voluntary' Action Program on the Environment, Nippon Keidanren only promised to "make efforts" to reduce gas emissions from industry- and energy-related sectors below the levels of fiscal 1990.

If Japan continues to depend on Keidanren's 'voluntary' action, it will be more difficult for Japan to achieve the 6-percent reduction goal, which Japan promised internationally.

The Japanese government is called upon to make efforts toward establishing agreement with the industrial sector on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, like the one EU countries have introduced to have the industrial sector fulfill its social responsibilities fully in protecting the environment. (end)