This year is crucial in the fight against global warming — especially for Japan. During the 2008-2012 five-year period, industrialized countries must reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions by an average 5 percent from 1990 levels under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. In July, Japan will host the summit of the Group of Eight leading economies, in which climate change is expected to top the agenda. Japan needs to make concrete efforts and meaningful proposals to demonstrate to the world how serious it is about climate change issues.

First and foremost, Japan must achieve the target under Kyoto. Japan must cut its greenhouse-gas emissions by 6 percent from the 1990 baseline. Gas emissions in fiscal 2006 were 6.4 percent above 1990 levels, thus putting Japan 12.4 percent above the target. The government plans to rely on gas absorption by forests for a 3.8 percent cut and emissions-quota purchases for a 1.6 percent cut. That leaves a 7 percent cut that Japan must actually undertake. The government also must consider the possibility that the cost of buying quotas may become more expensive than expected — more than ¥1 trillion over the five years.

Business lobbies oppose introduction of a carbon tax and emissions-trading schemes involving Japanese enterprises. Emissions-reduction proposals put forward by the government mainly rely on voluntary efforts by the corporate sector. The government needs to develop a system that will reward enterprises that make efforts to reduce emissions. It also needs to carry out nationwide energy-saving campaigns that involve households, offices and retailers.