Japan has announced that it will support a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 5 per cent from 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. Three key government ministries have failed to reach agreement on binding targets for reductions in greenhouse gases. Indonesia enveloped many cities in South-East Asia. The Pollutants Standard Index, devised by the US Environment Protection Agency, is based on the atmospheric concentrations of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. The committee will be chaired by the prime minister, Ryutaro Hashimoto.
Japan ends funding for 'cold' fusion project.
Task force will inspect safety at nuclear plants. The Council for Science Technology, Japan's highest science policy-making body chaired by the Prime Minister, may take over some of the functions of the present Science and Technology Agency. There is guarded optimism that the gap between different countries on the need for strict measures to restrict greenhouse gas emissions may be closing. A report from the National Research Council warns that Japan could soon become a formidable competitor to the United States in the field of research. Japanese funds sought for new drilling ship.