Tokyo cautious about climate proposals

Japan yesterday welcomed commitments by the United States and China to curb their greenhouse gas emissions but hinted that Tokyo expects more from a global climate summit in Copenhagen next month.
“We value the fact that each country, including the United States and China, has submitted figures over the issue of global warming,” said the top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano.
Japan, the world’s second largest economy, has proposed to cut its own emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 – an offer it says is conditional on meaningful commitments from other major economies.
Asked whether the US and Chinese targets were sufficient for Japan to stick to its own, more ambitious, goal, Hirano said: “This is subject to the negotiation process. So I can’t comment on your question.”
President Barack Obama has said the US aims to cut its carbon emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 – equivalent to a three percent cut from 1990 levels, subject to Congressional approval.
China this week vowed that by 2020, it will cut the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of gross domestic product by 40 to 45 percent compared to 2005 levels – essentially a pledge to increase energy efficiency.
Obama, China’s President Hu Jintao and other leaders are due to meet in Copenhagen for a UN summit next month aimed at forging a new global pact on tackling greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming.