Japan to begin emissions trading in 2013

Thu Sep 2 2010, 09:28 AM

The Japanese government plans to introduce an emissions trading scheme in April 2013, according to draft proposals obtained by Reuters. The environment ministry will review the proposals and reportedly aims to finalise them by the end of the year. The draft plans do not reveal the size of potential carbon dioxide emissions quotas, or whether the scheme would connect to similar international systems. Companies will be able to purchase carbon credits from abroad to meet emissions targets.

Japan is the world’s fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and aims to cut emissions by 25% by 2020, relative to 1990 levels.