LDP gearing up for climate change

The Liberal Democratic Party launched a panel Wednesday to discuss measures to attain Japan's goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, aiming to compile a proposal for the government before the Group of Eight summit in Hokkaido in July.

The LDP panel to address global warming will hold discussions mainly on three areas — promotion of a national people's movement, such as introducing daylight saving time; support measures such as technology transfers to developing countries; and emissions-trading systems and other methods that incorporate economic incentives to address climate change.

The panel plans to meet once or twice a week and sum up its discussions around June, said Yoriko Kawaguchi, a former environment minister who serves as the body's secretary general.