Japan should set 2020 CO2 reduction target now, says WWF

Tokyo, Japan – Japan’s announcement that it will reduce its carbon emissions in absolute terms is to be welcomed but making this action dependent on that of «other major
emitters» including developing countries is met with reservations by WWF.

The global conservation organization called on Prime Minister Fukuda, this year’s President of the G8 group of industrialized countries, to take clear responsibility and, with the other rich
countries, show the urgently needed leadership to tackle global warming by pledging a 2020 absolute reduction target.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was speaking today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland; he recognized the urgency of the challenge when he called for a global agreement that would
lead to a peak and decline in global greenhouse gas emissions. However, according to science, this peak should come in 10-15 years, rather than the 10-20 years offered by PM Fukuda if we are to
reach 50% emissions reduction by mid century.

The Prime Minister said that Japan would promote new criteria for setting «fair» reduction targets for countries for the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol starting in 2013, based
on a bottom-up approach from each sector’s energy efficiency levels. Unfortunately he also proposed to change the base year from 1990 which would punish those countries that took early action.

The bottom-up approach would further delay urgently needed action and increase the risk of warming well above the danger limit of 2 degrees. WWF believes Japan, being one of the world’s richest
countries, can and should lead the world in tackling climate change by announcing its own 2020 emissions reduction target now.

«PM Fukuda’s speech while accepting for the first time the need for further cuts in carbon pollution still reflects the position of the Japanese industry federation, Nippon Keidanren,
which continues to oppose the Kyoto framework and simply will not accept any serious reduction commitments», says Yurika Ayukawa, Special Advisor to WWF-Japan Climate Change Programme.
«The Nippon Keidanren stands in the way of Japan taking progressive steps forward, such as a cap and trade scheme or carbon tax, which would enable Japan to commit to such a much needed
deep cuts in emissions.»

According to WWF, G8 leaders should stand by the decision their countries signed up for at the recent UN climate change talks held in Bali. That meeting accepted the science that global
emissions should peak and decline in the next 10 to 15 years and emission reductions from industrialized countries need to be in the range of 25 to 40% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.

«Japan agreed in Bali to the need for deep cuts in carbon pollution by developed countries. To argue large developing countries should do the same undermines the G8 agreement reached in
Heiligendamm that all should do their «fair share» says Hans Verolme, Director of the WWF Global Climate Change Programme. «Progressive voices in the business world are
calling for legislation that will stimulate investment in innovative technologies and clean energy. By announcing a strong 2020 target now, the PM would send a positive signal internationally
and domestically that this year’s G8 will take seriously its climate change responsibility.»