Easier greenhouse target in offing

The government is making final arrangements to set a target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 3.8 percent from 2005 levels by 2020, according to a government source.

The source said the new target assumes there would be no restarts of nuclear reactors and takes into account energy-saving measures and renewable sources, as well as forest absorption of carbon dioxide.

Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara is expected to announce the new target at the 19th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP19, to be held in Poland next month.

The new target was created after the government decided to review the earlier policy of cutting emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020, with achievement of the goal hampered by the reduced reliance on nuclear power because of the Fukushima debacle, the source said.

The new target represents an increase of 3 percent from 1990 levels and could draw international criticism.

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