In a move likely to draw the ire of environmentalists, revisions to Japan's climate change legislation will not set a long-term numerical target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a document revealed Tuesday.
The revisions are in response to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's order to rethink the internationally pledged emissions goal announced in 2010 by the Democratic Party of Japan-led administration of Yukio Hatoyama, which states Japan will cut carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.
Environmentalists argue that the revisions, if adopted, will represent a backward step in Japan's fight against climate change.