(For related story, see CLIMATE/JAPAN or click on [ID:nT18769]) Nov 7 (Reuters) - Japan, the world's fifth-largest greenhouse gas emitter, plans to cut emissions to meet its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol in two ways. The government plans more forest conservation at home while investing in clean energy projects abroad, which generates credits to offset emissions. The other step is to seek voluntary pledges on emissions cuts by major industry sectors, including electricity generators and steel makers. Unlike the European Union, Japan has been reluctant to impose a mandatory cap on companies' emissions because of past efforts by industry to conserve energy. Its Kyoto goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1,186 million tonnes in carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent a year on average between 2008 and 2012, bringing emissions down 6 percent from 1990 levels. It emitted 1,340 million tonnes in the year ended in March, 2007. Japan is set to release emissions data for 2007/08 this month. The figures are poised to rise due in part to the indefinite shutdown of the country's biggest nuclear plant after a July 2007 earthquake. For related graphic, see: https://customers.reuters.com/d/graphics/JP_CO21108.gifThe halting of electricity production at Tokyo Electric Power Co's <9501.T> Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant raises the electric power sector's CO2 emissions by 30 million tonnes a year by boosting the usage of coal and other fossil fuels. Following is a rough guide to measures being implemented by Japan to cut CO2-equivalent emissions (per year, average). The steel industry said last week it had stepped up buying of verified carbon reduction offsets, or VERs, to help meet the sector's voluntarily pledged emissions target. [ID:nT139840] Based on the figures for 2006/07, the latest data available, the aim is to cut national emissions by 154 million tonnes per year to meet the Kyoto target. Cuts will come from: Public sector - Forest conservation 48 million tonnes - *Kyoto mechanism 20 million tonnes Private sector - Electric power about 60 million tonnes, including 38 million tonnes via *Kyoto mechanism - Steel about 15 million tonnes, including 12 million tonnes via *Kyoto mechanism - remaining emission cuts are up to other industrial sectors and households. * The Kyoto mechanism refers to a United Nations scheme which allows rich nation polluters to fund emission cuts in poorer or former communist countries and put them towards domestic carbon reduction targets or sell them for a profit. (Reporting by Risa Maeda; Editing by David Fogarty)
China's Premier Wen Jiabao delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of Beijing high-level conference on climate change at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing November 7, 2008. REUTERS/Jason ...
