Japan greenhouse emissions dip, still lag target

[jpak]

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUST28016920071105

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan curbed its greenhouse gas emissions by 1.3 percent last year thanks to a warm winter, the government said on Monday, but the world's fifth-biggest producer is still way behind its Kyoto Protocol target.

Progress by Japan is critical to the success of the protocol, which is under strain from Canada's admission that it will not meet its target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and from European countries lagging on their commitments.

Japan also faces an uphill battle to meet its commitments, with last year's emissions still 13 percent above the average level it must meet over the next five years, starting in 2008.

A government official said new measures were being considered to address the shortfall while analysts warned Japan needed more than its current voluntary targets for industry.

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