Japan on Friday once again called for more greenhouse gas emitting economies to be included in a post-Kyoto Protocol framework to fight global warming.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in its annual energy white paper it is imperative for countries around the world to pursue energy-saving measures and shift from fossil fuels to nuclear, natural gas and renewable sources in a joint effort to reduce carbon dioxide and other types of greenhouse gases.
"The next framework must require a greater number of countries — especially major greenhouse gas emitters such as the United States and China — to substantially reduce emissions," the paper says. "It must be a framework that will be effective for solving the problem of global warming."
The effectiveness of the Kyoto Protocol, formulated in 1997 under a U.N. framework, has been questioned for not including such major polluters as the U.S., China and India.
Signatories required by the protocol to cut their greenhouse gas emissions from 1990s levels by an average of 5.2 percent by 2012 represent only 29 percent of all carbon dioxide emitting economies in the world. Economies that signed the protocol include Japan, Russia and the European Union.
The U.S. signed the pact but has refused to ratify it.
As of 2004, the U.S. accounts for 21.8 percent of global carbon-dioxide emissions, China 17.8 percent and India 4.1 percent, the METI paper says, citing International Energy Agency data.
It says the post-Kyoto Protocol framework from 2013 should reflect efforts by each nation to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.