In its measures against global warming, which are expected to be unveiled in June, the Japanese government may call for a 60-percent to 80-percent cut in domestic greenhouse gas emissions from current levels by 2050, the Yomiuri Shimbun learned last Sunday. Four Cabinet ministers, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura and Environment Minister Ichiro Kamoshita, are among those discussing the issue. They will start coordinating opinions over the measure this week, although Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will make the final decision.

The European Union says major countries should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent to 80 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels.

Japan has been discussing its own emissions target, taking into account the EU's position.

Some government officials insist Japan's greenhouse gas emissions target should be a 70-percent cut by 2050, as the National Institute for Environmental Studies reported in February 2007 that the nation could cut emissions by 70 percent from its 1990 levels by 2050.

In 2007, the administration of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for a 50-percent cut in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in its basic strategy for measures against global warming.

But Fukuda has decided that as a major industrialized nation Japan should take a leading role and set stricter targets than developing countries by establishing an emissions target above the one Abe proposed.

The government wants to promote the development of new energy sources and the practical application of new technologies to achieve this goal. It also will consider the introduction of an emissions quota trading scheme along the lines of the system already introduced in Europe.

The EU began emissions trading in 2005, mainly for companies based inside the regional bloc.