Japan vows big climate change cut

Japan's next leader has promised a big cut in greenhouse gas emissions, saying he will aim for a 25% reduction by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. Democratic Party leader Yukio Hatoyama is due to take over as prime minister on 16 September, after a resounding election victory in August. His predecessor, Taro Aso, had pledged cuts of only 8%. Mr Hatoyama said the plan was dependent on other nations agreeing targets at December's climate talks in Copenhagen. But the announcement has already sparked resistance from Japanese business groups, and parts of the automotive industry are expected to lobby against the targets. Japan is the world's second-largest economy and fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, which are a major contributor to global warming.