Japan Struggles To Meet Kyoto Targets - Globe & Mail

[hatrack]

KYOTO, JAPAN -- "When Japan played host to the signing of the Kyoto accord in 1997, the symbolism seemed apt. The Japanese people saw themselves as global environmental leaders. Eight years later, however, Japan is struggling to comply with the greenhouse-gas limits of the Kyoto Protocol. As the treaty takes effect this year, the hosts find themselves embroiled in the same internal battles that have plagued Canada on the Kyoto issue: disputes over taxes, spending, government rules and corporate behaviour.

As the homeland of the Kyoto accord, Japan was expected to become a model for other countries, environmentalists say. Instead, its greenhouse-gas emissions have increased significantly in recent years. Rather than imposing tough limits on its domestic industries, Japan is planning to meet its Kyoto obligations with more pragmatic steps, including the purchase of emission credits from China or Russia.

Under the Kyoto accord, Japan pledged that by 2012, it would reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions to 6 per cent below its 1990 level. But the latest government reports show Japan's emissions were already 8 per cent above the 1990 level in 2003, and forecasts suggest that the country will not come close to achieving its 2012 goals. In response, the government has been forced to revise its official plan. The latest effort -- expected to be approved by Japan's cabinet next month -- seeks to meet its Kyoto pledge with a combination of emission cuts, new forests and the purchase of emission credits.

The plan fails to set any strict rules for Japanese industries or offices. Instead, the corporate cuts are left as a voluntary measure, with businesses promising that technological improvements would allow the goals to be met. Nor is there any commitment to an environment tax that would penalize polluters and help finance the estimated $13-billion (U.S.) cost of meeting the goals, even though Japan's Environment Ministry had said that a green tax was essential to the plan. Fierce lobbying by Japanese businesses and the Trade and Industry Ministry led to the scuttling of the tax proposal, although the government says the tax will still be considered."

EDIT

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050426/KYOTO26/TPInternational/Asia

[phantom power]

1. I don't like these "pollution credit" schemes.

They work in theory, but in practice they open the door for Enron-style accounting scams.

The cynic in me says that's probably why everybody agreed to them. Governments can sign on to the treaty, knowing that they can meet their requirements via creative accounting, instead of actually doing anything.

[rfkrfk]

2. Japan will never pay money for this

Japan, sending money to Russia or China, fat chance.

If there is some movement of money, it will
be a sham, just for the public to look at.