Japan plans to revise its target for carbon dioxide emissions from energy uses to a 0.4 percent increase in fiscal 2010 from the current target of a 2.0 percent cut under a new action program to be adopted in March for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
Government sources said Monday that the new target is being considered as other greenhouse gas emissions might be reduced faster than earlier estimated to achieve Japan's requirement under the pact. The figures are based on the fiscal 1990 level.
The government has eased the target for the carbon dioxide emissions because they are projected to increase by nearly 5 percent in fiscal 2010 if no new measures are taken to reduce them.
The Kyoto Protocol will take effect Feb. 16, legally obliging developed countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases between 2008 and 2012 by an average of 5.2 percent from 1990 levels.
For other greenhouse gases, the new program might revise the target to a 0.2 percent increase from the present 2.0 percent rise for alternatives to chlorofluorocarbon and to a 1.1 percent drop from the present 0.5 percent fall for methane and some other gases.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, Japan is required to cut its annual greenhouse gas emissions between fiscal 2008 and 2012 by 6 percent from fiscal 1990.
The sources said purchases of greenhouse gas emission credits from other countries will also help Japan to meet the requirement.