Officials in Tokyo are to propose amendments to an upcoming climate change bill that would set binding emissions targets for factories and large offices in the city from 2010.
According to Reuters' reports, the bill would enable the capital to introduce a cap-and-trade scheme covering up to 1,300 firms.
Satoshi Yamashita, director at Tokyo's environmental policy planning section, told the news agency that the pioneering scheme was necessary if Tokyo is to meet its target of cutting emissions by 25 per cent on 2000/01 levels by 2020/21.
He added that the Metropolitan Government was confident the proposals would be approved. "We understand that assembly members in general agree with a plan to cap emissions of major polluters and also with a trading scheme of emissions... We're hoping the bill will be passed in the next regular session starting in June," he said.
The move comes as the federal government is continuing work to assess the feasibility of introducing a nationwide cap-and-trade scheme. Announced earlier this year, the viability study has been broadly welcomed with Japan's influential Business Federation dropping its opposition to the proposed scheme.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment has released data underlining the success of the country's voluntary cap-and-trade scheme. The Ministry claims that the 73 companies signed up to the scheme are on track to cut emissions by 330,000 tonnes in 2009 as a result of the trading mechanism.
Ministry drawing up plans to reintroduce solar panel subsidies as means of reinvigorating domestic market 25 Jun 2008
Presidential hopeful plans to deliver US emissions trading scheme as energy official insists carbon regulations are inevitable 09 Oct 2007
As influential business group drops opposition to idea trade ministry confirms it is to investigate launching a formal cap-and-trade scheme 21 Feb 2008
Leading motor industry group claims plans to exempt low emission vehicles from congestion charge will have no impact on pollution 23 Oct 2007
As San Francisco enacts the US's first carbon tax, institutional investors call on the Senate to support binding emission cuts of up to 90 per cent by 2050 22 May 2008
As delegates at African climate change conference are criticised for not offsetting, events management experts insist buying offsets should become standard practice 29 Aug 2008
Proposals to reduce traffic emissions by tweaking insurance options and tackling urban sprawl are on the drawing board 29 Aug 2008
New team to develop Treasury's green policy and manage new Clean Technology Fund 29 Aug 2008
More news
Recent claims from the oil giant's chief executive suggesting tar sand extraction is required to slow the shift to coal may have caught the eye, but as BusinessGreen.com discovers they do not make much sense 28 Aug 2008
With all eyes on the Democrats' convention this week, environmentalists are asking whether it will live up to the green claims of politicians 26 Aug 2008 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
