triple pundit

Japan will soon pilot a national carbon footprint labeling system. While the carbon footprint calculation system is still in the development phase, corporations are voluntarily committing their participation. Emphasizing the importance of implementing a uniform method of calculation, the trade ministry is working in collaboration with the participating corporations. According to the Guardian, some of the big name corporations involved include Sapporo, Lawson and Seven-Eleven.

The Guardian

Japan is to carry carbon footprint labels on food packaging and other products in an ambitious scheme to persuade companies and consumers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The labels, to appear on dozens of items including food and drink, detergents and electrical appliances from next spring, will go further than similar labels already in use elsewhere.

The New York Times

Now, with oil prices hitting dizzying levels and the world struggling with global warming, the country is hoping to use its conservation record to take a rare leadership role on a pressing global issue. It will showcase its efforts to export its conservation ethic — and its expensive power-saving technology — at next week’s meeting in Japan of the Group of 8 industrial leaders.

BBC News

Japan will aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60-80% by 2050. Announcing the target, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Japan could match the EU in cuts over the next 10 years, but did not set targets on this timescale.

Further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is being agreed upon by different industries in Japan, ranging from trucking firms, home builders, instant noodle makers and sugar manufacturers, in the hopes to help the country meet its goal.

In the year end in March 2007, Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 1.3%. However, some fear that Japan will have a rebound year, making Kyoto goals hard to meet. Japan is the world’s fifth biggest emitter of GHGs.

A major environmental initiative will be unveiled at the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Singapore by Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. The initiative calls for drastic emissions reductions.

“The European Commission urged Japan on Tuesday to stop a hunt it said could kill up to 1,000 mink, fin and humpback whales.”

At the Bali climate change conference, Canada, United States and Japan seem to have a similar message – “stressing that economic growth is just as valuable as the environment.”

Japan has signed an agreement with Hungary to purchase its surplus of greenhouse gas emission credits, under the Green Investment Scheme (GIS).