Prime Minister Taro Aso announced that Japan, a global manufacturing hub for automobiles and electronics, aims to cut greenhouse-gas emissions 15% below 2005 levels by 2020.
But meeting that ambitious target will pose a significant challenge to the world's second-largest economy as it struggles to recover from its worst recession since World War II.
Under the current Kyoto Protocol, which set limits to countries' greenhouse gas emissions, Japan agreed to reduce its carbon output by 6% from 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. But Japan has made no progress toward this goal; in fact, greenhouse-gas emissions have increased by 14% over 1990 levels, according to Japan's Ministry of Environment.
Due to the country's inability to reduce emissions in recent years, Japan's new target of a 15% reduction from 2005 levels by 2020 is actually equivalent to only an 8% cut below Japan's 1990 emission levels. Although its reduction targets appear to not be as aggressive as other nations', Japan argues that its industries are comparatively cleaner and more energy efficient than other nations' and thus don't need to make larger cuts.
Mr. Aso warned Wednesday that his plan to reduce greenhouse gases will increase unemployment, reduce Japan's gross domestic product and put new financial burdens on Japanese households and industries as the country invests heavily in solar power and other new technologies, expands the use of eco-friendly cars like hybrid electric vehicles and adds insulation and eco-friendly appliances to homes.
Still, opinion polls suggest broad Japanese support for more strict emissions reductions to address the problem of global warming.
According to a recent government study, the added expenses for government, business and individuals to achieve a 14% decrease in carbon-gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2020 would decrease Japan's GDP by 0.6% and raise unemployment by 0.2%. Japanese households would face an additional one-time cost of 30,000 yen for lighting and heating expenses. The government said Wednesday that a 15% cut would have a similar impact on Japan.
Already facing tough competition from China, India and other developing nations, Japanese manufacturers pushed for less ambitious targets, the government said. But critics -- including Greenpeace -- slammed Mr. Aso's plan, saying it was far from what is required to stop dangerous climate change.
In the U.S., a proposal making its way through the U.S. House of Representatives calls for cutting U.S. emissions 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83% below 2005 levels by 2050. China, which is widely believed to have surpassed the U.S. as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has instituted national energy-efficiency standards but has resisted capping its emissions, arguing that the U.S. should take steps before poorer nations do.
In a document outlining its negotiating stance ahead of December climate talks in Copenhagen, China said last month that developed nations should cut their greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 40% by 2020 from 1990 levels, a significantly more aggressive cut than anything being contemplated by U.S. officials.
If Japan can meet its target, Mr. Aso said it would serve as a stepping stone to Japan's longer-term goal of curbing emissions by 60% to 80%, from current levels, by 2050, though meeting such targets would require many technological breakthroughs and greater reliance on nuclear power.
Mr. Aso's announcement came as many governments are preparing for the United Nations conference in December. Talks are under way this week in Bonn, Germany, with delegates from 182 countries to produce a draft of a new agreement to combat global warming that would take effect in 2012.
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