Japan Press Weekly

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2008 July 2 - 8 [ENVIRONMENT]

JCP urges government to do more to cut greenhouse gas emissions

With the G8 Summit due to open at Toyako, Hokkaido, on July 7, the Japanese Communist Party called on the government to set mid-term targets for Japan to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

On July 2, JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi met with Environment Minister Kamoshita Ichiro to request that the government play an active role in reversing global warming gas emissions. He specifically proposed concluding an agreement with the gas emitting industries and companies to cut gas emissions by utilizing the emission trading system and levying an environment tax mainly on large corporations according to the amount of emissions they discharge.

Ichida also called for Japan’s energy policy to reduce dependence on fossil fuel and to develop and utilize renewable energy.

On the mid-term targets of emission cuts, Kamoshita just said, “We will continue to make efforts.”

Referring to the call for an official agreement and the use of the emission trading system, Kamoshita admitted that there can be no advance unless the business community accepts the need to endure certain inconveniences.

Ichida again emphasized the need for all industrial countries to play a leading role in the international effort to reverse global warming, saying, “They should be aware of their responsibility to lead the emission-reduction effort and extend technical and financial assistance to developing countries.”