Japan opposition floats climate bill
29 April, 2009
Japan’s largest opposition party has introduced a bill calling for an ambitious 25% cut in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 1990 levels by 2020.
The bill, brought forward by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which has historically been in support of stiffer reduction targets, went before Japan’s upper house of parliament on Friday.
“I don’t think the bill will be adopted,” said Yuji Mizuno, a manager at research group Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. “At this moment, the DPJ does not have a majority in parliament. Further, a 25% reduction by 2020 would be extremely difficult to achieve.”
On 17 April, six mid-term targets proposed by the government were opened for public comment. They range from a 4% increase to a 25% reduction from 1990 levels by 2020. Prime Minister Taro Aso plans to announce the target by June.
The bill stands in contrast to targets supported by Japan’s influential industry lobbies. The Japan Iron and Steel Federation favours a 4% increase in Japan’s GHG emissions, while the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association supports a target of between 1% above and 5% below 1990 emissions. Under the Kyoto Protocol, Japan is committed to a 6% reduction against 1990 levels by 2012.
The DPJ has a chance of taking control of parliament in elections in September, and said it plans to make the bill’s mid-term target the centre of Japan’s “basic negotiating position” at international climate change talks this December. “If the opposition wins the election, it will affect negotiations,” said Mizuno.
The bill represents “long-term positioning before Copenhagen”, said Laurent Segalen, managing director of commodities at investment bank Nomura in London. “I would say it’s an interesting exercise, but still it doesn’t mean that it will be passed as such should this party win, because they face the industrial lobby.”
