Japan scored 19 points in terms of dishonorable awards given to countries reluctant to combat global warming during the two-week U.N. climate conference in Poznan, Poland, that ended Saturday, the second-highest after Canada.
In presenting the first prize of the Fossil-of-the-day Awards for Friday to Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Russia, the Climate Action Network — which groups more than 400 nongovernmental organizations worldwide — slammed the countries for blocking the developed world from setting ambitious 2020 targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
It is the fourth time Japan has received the daily-basis first prize during the U.N. climate talks.
"The fact that they reaffirmed the decisions on targets made in Bali. Guess what progress isn't?" CAN said in a media release. "Begrudgingly saying the same thing you did last year, and refusing to go any further."
Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito said receiving the awards may stem from Japan's lack of an emissions reduction target for 2020 or 2030, which the government is studying for release next year.
"Japan is by no means negative about fighting global warming," Saito said.