tokyo

A very public tussle between Japan's trade and environment ministries came to an end this week with the belated announcement that the country will support a worldwide average target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 5 per cent from 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012.

For Japan itself the proposal amounts to a reduction in emissions of just 2.5 per cent. The final figure was rounded on by environmentalist groups as too little, too late. It is also likely to create disappointment in European capitals, which had hoped for more from the host of this year's annual conference of the United Nations climate convention in December.

But Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry argued until the last minute that commitments to reduce emissions below 1990 levels would hurt Japanese industry. And the United States may take comfort from the announcement.

Japan has argued for a flexible system of greenhouse cuts that imposes fewer obligations on countries that promote energy efficiency and curb population growth. Under its formula, Japan's record of energy efficiency and low population growth entitles the country to halve its 5 per cent target. (See also pages 531 and 532.)