Major Carbon Emitters Hold Talks In Tokyo

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Representatives from 22 of the world's major carbon emitting countries recently met in Tokyo to participate in an informal session on ways to tackle climate change, AP reports.

The meeting marks one of the first negotiating opportunities on climate change since the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama, who has pledged to step up efforts to help slow down climate change.

The session comes ahead of a December meeting in Copenhagen meant to approve a new treaty on global warming. The new treaty will cover the period after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

Japan is expected to outline six options for its mid-term emission reduction target, which would “range from a 5 percent increase of emissions to a reduction of 25 percent by 2020, compared to 1990 levels,” said WWF International.

In January, CO2 cuts in the U.S. Steel Industry surpassed the reduction called for in the Kyoto Protocol, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute.

However, the U.S. has also been facing more pressure to pass legislation to move forward with climate goals before scheduled international talks in Copenhagen in December.

Environment + Energy Leader