Japan proposal stirs expert ire at Bali

Associated Press

Wednesday, December 5, 2007 (Bali)

In an opening gambit, Japan has proposed that the Bali climate conference pursue a broad ''least common denominator'' approach to negotiating new controls on global-warming gases.

The proposal says nothing about making future targets for emission reductions legally binding, the principle underlying the current Kyoto Protocol. Environmentalists couldn't think less of it.

''Is Japan scrapping the Kyoto Protocol on its 10th birthday?'' asked Japanese environmentalist Kyoko Kawasaka. A Canadian colleague spoke of a ''plot'' by Japan and the US to block a new Kyoto-style global agreement.

For their part, the Japanese protest they're simply trying to kick-start negotiations here at the annual UN climate meeting, viewed as the most critical such session in years.

The exchange offers an early view of what promises to be a contentious two weeks on this lush, relaxed resort island, where many hope the more than 180 assembled nations will decide to launch two years of serious negotiations on a future regime to head off dangerous climate change.

The 175-nation Kyoto Protocol of 1997 requires 36 industrialized nations to reduce their emissions of heat-trapping ''greenhouse gases'' carbon dioxide and some other industrial, agricultural and transportation byproducts by an average 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.

The US is the only industrial nation to have rejected Kyoto.

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