Japan's election: find new momentum

The ambitious climate policy of the winning Democratic Party will increase pressure on USA also other developed nations to raise their commitments.

Japan is likely to join the European Union as global frontrunners on climate protection, thereby increasing the pressure on other industrialized countries ahead of the UN climate conference in Copenhagen this December.

During his campaign, Prime Minister-elect Yukio Hatoyama of the Democratic Party has pledged for a 25 percent reduction in Japanese greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to the baseline year of the Kyoto Protocol, 1990. This is during line with the EU target of 20 percent – to be raised to 30 percent, if other developed nations follow. Earlier this year, the now defeated Liberal Democratic Party set a goal of eight percent reductions.

According to the original Kyoto deal, Japan should cut its emissions by six percent by 2012 compared to 1990, but so far emissions have increased – by nine percent.

Yukio Hatoyama is due to participate in UN-led talks on climate change into New York by the end of September.

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