Japan has agreed to withdraw its contentious proposal of the so-called
''sectoral approach'', in which each sector is required to slash their
emissions, from the agenda in the next round of climate talks to be held in
Bonn, Germany, in June.
Tokyo's proposal was the subject of major debate on the last day of the five-day
climate talks attended by some 1,100 delegates from more than 160 nations.
The five-day conference in Bangkok was given the task of setting the first steps
to complete a pact by the end of next year to follow the landmark Kyoto
Protocol, which requires rich nations to slash gas emissions blamed for global
warming.
Following 14 hours of discussions, Japan finally agreed late in the evening to
exclude the controversial proposal from the agenda in Germany.
The Japanese proposal on the ''sectoral approach'' was based on an idea that
greenhouse gas emissions should be calculated by sectors, such as industrial and
agricultural sectors, which are obliged to meet emission reduction targets.
Developing nations fear the sectoral approach makes Kyoto obligations easier to
meet for rich countries, which already have cleaner technology, and that it
could be a backdoor way to legally require them for the first time to cut their
own emissions.
''Whatever attention is given to the sectoral approach can only be one part of
reduction measures'' by developed nations, said Li Liyan, a senior Chinese
negotiator.
Japan, which is far behind meeting its Kyoto obligations as its economy recovers
from a recession, hopes to shape the next global climate treaty when it hosts a
Group of Eight (G8) summit in July.
Saksit Tridech, the permanent secretary of the Natural Resources and Environment
Ministry who heads the Thai delegation, said the Japanese proposal had prolonged
the meeting.
''All parties have agreed to jointly mitigate the impacts from climate change.
But they have differing stances on what should be done first,'' said Mr Saksit.
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