An advisory panel to the minister of economy, trade and industry proposed Monday taking a staged approach toward a target of reducing green house gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.
Japan is required to reduce emissions that cause global warming by 6 percent from 1990 levels by 2012, and a subcommittee under the Industrial Structure Council has been examining ways to achieve the target.
In its interim report, the advisory panel calls for reviewing the effect of emission-cutting measures and the level of emissions every three years before 2008 to decide whether further action is necessary.
According to the protocol, signatory nations have a window from 2008 to 2012 in which to achieve their target cuts.
As for preliminary measures, the proposal calls on the government to strengthen existing mechanisms designed to cut back on emission levels, focusing on technological development and campaigns to promote energy-saving and renewable energy.
Concerning the industrial sector, the report recommends that industries be left alone to come up with voluntary efforts and that the government refrain from imposing restrictions. But it called for increase transparency of voluntary efforts.
The recommendations will be reflected in an overall governmental plan to reduce the emissions of green house gases.