November 30, 2009. Copyright 2009, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Copenhagen Climate conference -- Japan
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, November 30, Graphic News:  With its pledge of a 25 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2020, Japan won itself a front row seat in Copenhagen, and new friends around the globe. Thanks to its new PM, Yukio Hatoyama, Japan (with the EU) has raised the bar for leading nations while also spelling out that developing nations must do their bit to slow warming as well.
 
On paper, the world's fifth biggest emitter deserves all the praise heaped upon it for upping its commitment from a measly eight percent cut it had promised earlier. Brushing aside opposition from powerful industrial groups, Japan plans to cap emissions and set up a domestic trading market, as well as subsidise solar panels among a raft of initiatives.

If only it were so easy: Japan, the world's second biggest economy, will only play ball if the U.S. and China make a big commitment too. And some say Japan's targets are just unrealistic, pointing to its shopping expeditions for carbon emission rights in other countries, including Ukraine and Latvia, after it fell behind on Kyoto targets.
/ENDS