Waking up and smelling the cherry blossoms

From Anthony at Watts Up With That:

Breaking: Japan refuses to extend Kyoto treaty at Cancun
Talks threatened with breakdown after forthright Japanese refusal to extend Kyoto emissions commitments
* John Vidal guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 1 December 2010 18.16 GMT

Japan refuses to extend Kyoto protocol. �The forthrightness of the statement took people by surprise,� said one British official

The delicately balanced global climate talks in Canc�n suffered a serious setback last night when Japan categorically stated its opposition to extending the Kyoto protocol � the binding international treaty that commits most of the world�s richest countries to making emission cuts.

The Kyoto protocol was adopted in Japan in 1997 by major emitting countries, who committed themselves to cut emissions by an average 5% on 1990 figures by 2012.

However the US congress refused to ratify it and remains outside the protocol.

The brief statement, made by Jun Arima, an official in the government�s economics trade and industry department, in an open session, was the strongest yet made against the protocol by one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases.

He said: �Japan will not inscribe its target under the Kyoto protocol on any conditions or under any circumstances.�

Heh... Glad to see some clear heads prevailing. As Anthony said at the end:

Reality bites, when Japan says something so blunt, you know they mean it � Anthony

One of Anthony's readers -- Daniel M had this to say:

What sound does the first domino make?

Well put!