Greenhouse cuts

Daily Mercury
Wednesday 4/6/2008 Page: 2

TOKYO: Japan's capital, Tokyo, is preparing to force industry to make big cuts in greenhouse gases, an official said yesterday, taking the lead in a country struggling to meet its Kyoto Protocol obligations. Tokyo's outspoken governor, Shintaro Ishihara, decided to go it alone and create Japan's first emissions cap system, an idea that has met resistance among some in industry and the central government.

"Tokyo will target reducing greenhouse gas emission by a total of 25% by 2020 from the 2000 level," Katsunori Yano, an official at Tokyo's environment bureau, said. Ishihara's administration informed the Tokyo assembly, which is dominated by the governor's supporters, about its plan. "The proposal will be submitted to the assembly on June 10, the day the next session opens," Yano said.

Under a "cap-and-trade" system starting in 2010, the Tokyo government would require major businesses to reduce carbon emissions while creating an economic incentive by allowing the trade of emissions credits, Yano said. Once approved, Ishihara wants Tokyo to join the International Carbon Action Partnership, a group of countries and regions with mandatory cap and trade systems. The move by Tokyo - which with 13 million people is one of the world's largest cities - is reminiscent of action taken by California.