Further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is being agreed upon by different industries in Japan, ranging from trucking firms, home builders, instant noodle makers and sugar manufacturers, in the hopes to help the country meet its goal.

In the year end in March 2007, Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 1.3%. However, some fear that Japan will have a rebound year, making Kyoto goals hard to meet. Japan is the world’s fifth biggest emitter of GHGs.

A major environmental initiative will be unveiled at the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Singapore by Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. The initiative calls for drastic emissions reductions.

“The European Commission urged Japan on Tuesday to stop a hunt it said could kill up to 1,000 mink, fin and humpback whales.”

At the Bali climate change conference, Canada, United States and Japan seem to have a similar message – “stressing that economic growth is just as valuable as the environment.”

Japan has signed an agreement with Hungary to purchase its surplus of greenhouse gas emission credits, under the Green Investment Scheme (GIS).

A final loan agreement of $46.3 billion yen (US$409.4 million) was signed by China and Japan in an effort to fund environmental projects in central and western China.

Japan and China have agreed on a deal for Japan to invest in emissions-cutting projects in China.

Japan, the United States and the European Union are aiming to create a new organization that would act as an advisory group for energy conservation measures.

Many countries around the world are striving towards a lighter footprint. The publication “The Hot Topic: How To Tackle Global Warming And Still Keep The Lights On,” by Sir David King, the British Government’s chief science adviser, and academic Gabrielle Walker looks at some success stories around the world including Japan, France, Germany, Britain, Austin (Texas), Newcastle (UK) and Western Cape province (South Africa).