Global Opinion Survey on Japan’s GHG Emission Reduction Targets for 2020

This is a call to participate in a global online survey from our friends at Japan for Sustainability.

In preparation for the Copenhagen meeting (COP15) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at the end of 2009, Japan is currently engaged in debate about the country’s medium-term greenhouse gas emission reduction targets (for the period 2013 to 2020).

After considering public opinion and various other views, Prime Minister Taro Aso will decide on the medium-term targets this June. While environmental NGOs are calling for major emission reductions, industry is making a strong appeal for targets that will not lead to big reductions. A large gap in their positions persists.

Japan that will set its own national medium-term targets, but we at Japan for Sustainability (JFS) would like to ask people around the world for their comments, and then share our findings with Prime Minister Aso and the media here. Please take a few moments of your time to review the background and options being debated (below), then tell us what you think.

http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/028987.html

Please reply by the end of the day, May 16, 2009. If you have any questions about this survey, please write to info@japanfs.org.

We will post our findings on the JFS website at the end of May. We very much appreciate your help!

Asia Environmental News: 24 Oct 08

• Japan launches voluntary CO2 market (Reuters) – Japan recently launched a voluntary carbon market based on companies setting voluntary emission cuts.
• Hong Kong night light pollution under the spotlight (Reuters) – Environmentalists are critical of the unnecessary and wasteful practice of keeping neon signs and buildings brightly lit all night.
• New book on how Singapore achieved environmental and water sustainability (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – A new book, Clean, Green And Blue, published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies gives a detailed look at how Singapore achieved environmental and water sustainability in 40 years.
• China report warns of greenhouse gas leap (Reuters) – Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other state institutes have concluded that China’s greenhouse gas emission could double or more in two decades.
• Recycling food waste into biogas in Singapore (Business Times via Wildsingapore) - IUT Global Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based company that operates a bio-methanisation plant to convert food waste into biogas and compost.
• Beijing offers cash to curb capital’s pollution (Reuters) – The Beijing government will give companies who stop highly polluting production up to 2.3 million yuan, to stimulate the replacement of high-pollution industries and clear the capital’s poor air.