"Japan's landmark elections next week could have sweeping implications for the country's climate change policies.

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), projected to win by a landslide, has pledged to slash Japan's greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent below 1990 levels in the coming decade, compared to the 15 percent cut promised by the current ruling party. If that happens, Japan could become the first developed nation to strengthen its targets in the run-up to a major U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen this December."

Lisa Friedman reports for ClimateWire August 28, 2009. [2]