TOKYO - Most countries in the world are unable to meet the emissions targets set by the Kyoto Protocol. Europe is far from meeting the targets, while Japan is struggling to come to terms with the fact that it cannot reduce emissions.
Japan's Environment Ministry said that gas emissions rose by 0.6 percent in the light of increased oil consumption. Initial data reveal that Japan's emissions were 1.364 billion tonnes in the fiscal year, at least 14 percent above the set Kyoto targets.
"The biggest factor for the rise was winter heating at homes and offices," a ministry official told Reuters. The official said the main reason for increased oil consumption was due to the fact that Japan experienced a harsh winter season, thereby increasing the need for heating.
Kuniyuki Nishimura of the Mitsubishi Research Institute said that unless strict measures were put in place, Japan would not be able to meet its targets. "To achieve its Kyoto target Japan needs a carbon tax or an emissions trading scheme -- I think Japan can't succeed in its Kyoto target," he said.
Canada has almost given up on meeting the targets. Kenneth Green, of the American Enterprise Institute, who is a fierce critic of the protocol, said that the optimism projected by Kyoto activists appeared to be ill founded.
"It is becoming clear that the US policy which was based on harder-headed economic analyses is being borne out by what other countries are experiencing," he added. However activists dismissed these assertions.
The Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997 and seeks an average 5 percent reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2012. The base year for these reductions is taken as 1990. The US dropped out saying it would adversely affect its economy. It also objected to the exclusion of big polluters like China and India.
However despite flagging spirits, Aiko Takemoto, who is an official in the Japanese environment ministry is confident that they would meet the standards. "We are sure that we will achieve the target," Takemoto said. "If we judge that the present plan is not enough, we will introduce more stringent measures. We won't give up."
Only Sweden is on track for meeting the targets and supporters of Kyoto say that the European Union, which is the biggest supporter of the accord, must follow the Swedish example.
