Consumer behavior holds the key to Japan's ability to fulfill its commitments under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to fight global warming, as rising greenhouse gas emissions in the household and transport sectors make it increasingly hard to achieve the nation's goals, said participants in a recent symposium in Tokyo.
And the post-Kyoto Protocol mechanism -- already on the international political agenda -- must ensure the participation of rapidly-expanding developing economies, they said, noting that a new approach needs to be considered to make them willingly join the efforts to address climate change.
As he opened the April 18 symposium organized by Keizai Koho Center, Fujio Mitarai, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), admitted that the prospect remains bleak for Japan achieving its goals under the Kyoto Protocol.