JCP urges government to support setting national greenhouse gas emission targets

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JCP urges government to support setting national greenhouse gas emission targets

At a news conference on April 7, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi urged the Japanese government to agree to set national targets to control greenhouse gas emissions during the next G8 Summit in July in Hokkaido.

Ichida criticized a government panel on global warming for leaning to a sectoral approach to reduce gas emissions at a meeting held on April 5 in Toyako Town, Hokkaido, the venue selected for the G8 Summit.

The sector-specific approach would calculate a country’s emissions reduction goal by adding up business sectors targets for reduction.

Pointing out that criticism has been raised internationally over the sector-specific approach, Ichida said, “It would not be an effective way to cut greenhouse gas emissions because it will allow each business sector to voluntarily set their targets without any legal restrictions.”

Ichida revealed that Nippon Steel Corporation President Mimura Akio, who is a member of the panel, is firmly opposed to the introduction of an emissions trading system and setting a nation’s total reduction goal while insisting that each industry’s voluntary actions should be focused. Ichida expressed that this attitude by industrial leaders prevents Japan from effectively tackling issues of global warming.

- Akahata, April 8, 2008