Japan to back 80% emissions cut by 2050 in Copenhagen accord+

TOKYO, Dec. 11 Kyodo -
Japan will seek an accord at the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen that
will involve a long-term goal of an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions by developed nations by 2050, while not obliging emerging economies
to cut emissions, government sources said Friday.

Tokyo will also urge fast-growing industrializing nations to declare nonbinding
numerical goals to combat climate change and call for an international
verification framework to gauge their activities, the sources said.
Japan's negotiating stance at the Copenhagen meeting through Dec. 18 was
formalized at a Cabinet committee Friday.
The overall goal of slashing developed nations' emissions by 80 percent by 2050
is considered necessary to keep the global average rise in temperature from
pre-industrial levels within 2 degrees Celsius and avert a catastrophic impact
from climate change.
The base year for Japan's long-term reduction goal is 1990 but the government
would consider different base years for other developed countries, according to
the sources.
Environment Minister Sakihito Ozawa told a press conference following the
Cabinet committee meeting that Japan will not endorse tougher emission cut
targets for developed country members of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, saying a
framework that does not involve the United States and China is ''meaningless.''
Ozawa, who will head to the Danish capital on Saturday, also said that Japan
will not withdraw its goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent
from 1990 levels by 2020.
The nation's target, however, has been put forward on condition that all the
major emitters agree on ambitious targets and a ''fair and effective''
framework involving all of those economies will be established.
At global climate talks, developing countries have been calling for the
continuation of the Kyoto process, which does not cover emissions by the
world's major emitters such as the United States, China and India, while
industrialized nations favor the eventual creation of a single legal framework
that covers all.
Developing countries say the protocol, which legally obliges developed country
members to cut greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by an average of 5.2
percent by 2012, should have new targets from 2013 onward because the pact
symbolizes industrialized nations' historical responsibility for global
warming.
The Kyoto pact does not include legally binding reduction goals for
industrializing nations. The United States ditched it in 2001.
Ozawa also said Tokyo will unveil its financial aid for developing countries
grappling with climate change ''at some point'' in the upcoming negotiations.
The support will be provided under the so-called ''Hatoyama Initiative'' over
the period through 2012.
The environment minister has said that Japan is ready to offer $9.2 billion as
near-term aid for developing countries and to present an additional amount
during the Copenhagen talks. Either he or Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who
will join the final phase of the U.N. gathering, will officially table the
offer, Ozawa said.
The $9.2 billion package consists of existing initiatives announced by previous
Japanese government.
Hatoyama told reporters Friday evening that he expects Japanese ministers will
''show their willingness to lead negotiations to produce a successful outcome
for the sake of the Earth.'' In addition to Ozawa, Tetsuro Fukuyama, state
secretary for foreign affairs, is scheduled to attend the conference.
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Masayuki Naoshima, who took part in the
Cabinet committee meeting, told reporters that he believes emission cut targets
pledged so far by various countries remain ''insufficient'' and that Ozawa will
pressure others into improving their offers by wielding Japan's 25 percent
reduction goal.
On longer-term financial support from 2013 onward, Ozawa said Tokyo will not
unveil the size of its contribution, but could express its view on how much
funding would be required globally.
In preparatory U.N. talks leading to the Copenhagen meeting, Japan has
presented the idea of creating three funds -- a climate change fund, an
adaptation fund, and a green enabling environment fund -- as long-term
financing mechanisms.
The funds would finance activities to mitigate and facilitate adaptation to
climate change as well as capacity building programs.
==Kyodo
2009-12-12 00:08:05