Japan and Russia Barter on Greenhouse Gases

As one of the biggest supporters of the Kyoto Protocol, Japan has committed to a number of environmental programs that will help in the global fight against climate change. This week, Japan is entering talks with Russia to trade greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet its goals under the Kyoto Protocol.

The Kyoto protocol commits 55 industrialized nations to make significant cuts in emissions of gases like carbon dioxide by 2012.

Various types of emissions trading are allowed under the protocol, and if Japan helps Russia reduce its emissions, that could count toward Japan's total.

Japan has set a lofty goal for itself, promising a 6 percent cut in emissions of greenhouse gases below 1990 levels by 2012. Up to this point, the government's plan has relied heavily on credits for tree-planting projects that lead to emissions reductions, an offset process that is allowed by the Kyoto Protocol. The Environment Ministry also bought the rights to emit about 19 million tons of pollutants -- or roughly 1.6 percent of the country's total annual emissions -- from companies in 2006.

Japan is the world's fifth-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, and some observers are skeptical that Japan will be able to meet its goals under the Kyoto Protocol.