Daily news

UN urges Japan to 'lead on climate change'

The secretary-general of the United Nations on Sunday called on Japan to lead on climate change.

Ban Ki-moon's comments come ahead of the annual summit of G8 nations in Japan early next month, which will discuss a successor to the Kyoto protocol, which ends in 2012.

Mr Ban has called for a new deal to be adopted by December 2009.

In a speech at Kyoto University, Mr Ban said Japan, had a "moral and political responsibility" to play a bigger role in tackling global warming.

He urged Tokyo to share its environmental technology with other nations to cut their levels of greenhouse gases as well as help setup trading schemes for carbon emissions.

"Japan can play a leadership role in realising the potentials of these market-based mechanisms, now and in the future," Mr Ban said.

"For technology, Japan has been a leading country in technological innovation," he added.

Mr Ban said he will press G8 leaders to tackle the world food crisis, climate change and global poverty.

He has said the world already has the resources and technology to fight climate change but lacks the political will to change.

Japan aims to cut emissions by 14 per cent from current levels by 2020 but has balked at setting binding medium-term targets.

Mr Ban will ask for short and medium-term targets for cutting greenhouse gases at the G8 summit, a plea which leaders have already said is unlikely to win unanimous support.

Find out how the Energy Saving Trust can help you.