TOKYO (AFP) — Japanese media offered mixed reviews Sunday to a new environmental initiative announced by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at the World Economic Forum in Davos, calling it a good start but lacking details.
Fukuda said climate change would be a "top priority" for Japan when it chairs the Group of Eight (G8) summit in July and that he would press for a new global agreement with "fair and equitable" emissions targets involving "all major emitters."
He also said Japan would announce its own quantified national target for greenhouse gas cuts and that the base year for calculating emissions reductions should be reviewed.
Japanese media welcomed Fukuda's initiative to share advanced environmental technologies with the rest of the world, particularly introducing efficient power plants in rising powers such as India and China and other developing nations.
But editorials criticised Fukuda's announcement as being too general and said he needs to take more drastic steps.
Fukuda did not announce the target for Japan, only promising to offer it in the future, and did not clarify whether it would be legally binding, the Mainichi Shimbun said in an editorial.
"In order for Japan to exercise its leadership at the upcoming G8 summit, it must offer persuasive and detailed strategies while proposing a long-term vision," the Mainichi said.
Japan must change its ways to lower its emission levels, the Mainichi said.
The Nikkei business daily called on Fukuda to exercise leadership in pushing environmental measures and resist opposition from business lobbies.
Fukuda appeared bureaucratic at the question-and-answer session following his speech in Davos, and "failed to demonstrate a posture befitting a G8 chair," the Nikkei said in its editorial.
The prime minister's environment announcement "is ambiguous as to whether the goals are legally binding or mere targets," the Nikkei said.
"It failed to surprise European nations, which already have set emissions targets for themselves. Unless Japan takes a step further, positive reviews cannot be received consistently," the Nikkei said.
The liberal Asahi Shimbun, however, generally welcomed Fukuda's announcement, calling it a good start.
The Asahi also called on Fukuda not to succumb to pressure from the business lobbies.
"We had a good start. How will we reach the goal? Japan has assumed great responsibility," the Asahi said in an editorial.
The centre-right Yomiuri Shimbun also cheered on Fukuda and urged him to steer Japan to meet the targets under the Kyoto Protocol.
"Measures to combat global warming directly affect each country's industrial and energy policies. The negotiations are a power game in which developed, emerging and developing countries pursue their own national interests," the Yomiuri said in an editorial.
"We hope Fukuda will fully demonstrate his ability as a coordinator to defuse conflicting national interests and as a national leader tasked with securing Japan's interests," it said.
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