EU: Disappointed at Japan's new emission target

The European Union on Friday expressed disappointment at Japan's new greenhouse gas emission reduction target announced earlier the same day. Tokyo said it would cut its carbon emissions by 3.8 percent by 2020 compared to its 2005 levels, meaning that Japan's emissions would be 3.1 percent higher compared to its 1990 levels. The announcement triggered massive disappointment from a majority of nations, particularly from the developing world. The EU and its 28 member states called on Japan to consider the implications of the new target for Japan's contribution to international mitigation action, an EU delegate said in a press conference on the sidelines of the annual United Nations climate talks in Warsaw. "We expect all countries to stand by their mitigation commitments and developed countries in particular to continue to show leadership in this respect," according to an EU statement released on Friday. Up until now, Japan had been a leader in implementing effective policies to reduce emissions in line with its pledges, it added. The EU said it would further engage with Japan on climate change and look forward to the forthcoming EU-Japan summit in Tokyo later this month to deepen the climate dialogue.