Japan, Switzerland urge US, China, India to join green efforts

Japan and Switzerland agreed on Wednesday to urge the United States, China and India to join efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Japan and Switzerland agreed on Wednesday to urge the United States, China and India to join efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, Japanese officials said.

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Swiss Vice President Pascal Couchepin told Japenese Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Akira Amari that Switzerland cannot welcome any new emission-cutting framework excluding the three large greenhouse gas emitters, and Amari supported the Swiss leader's position, they said.

The two were discussing a new framework to reduce emissions after the present reduction ends in 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol.

Japan and Europe, including Switzerland, have ratified the protocol and are required to achieve their respective emission-cutting targets.

The Swiss vice president welcomed the Group of Eight countries' effective agreement last month seeking to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as proposed by Japan, the officials said.