A split in Japan over carbon policy

Japan's central and the Tokyo metropolitan governments are at odds over whether to require office buildings and other corporate houses to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The conflict began after the environment ministry scrapped its plan to require office buildings and commercial facilities to cut greenhouse gas emissions and make any restriction voluntary. The ministry said it dropped the plan after business houses objected to it.

The metropolitan government, however, vows to go ahead with its own policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by 2020 from 2000 levels in Tokyo by imposing strict regulations on companies and households.