5 major Japanese firms launch coalition to combat global warming+

TOKYO, July 30 Kyodo -
Five major Japanese companies said Thursday they have jointly launched an
organization to fight global warming by creating a sustainable low carbon
society.

Aeon Co., the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Fujitsu Ltd., Tokio Marine &
Nichido Fire Insurance Co. and Ricoh Co. have founded the Japan Climate
Leader's Partnership, or Japan-CLP, which they said supports the idea of
halving global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The launching of the joint body, unique among Japanese businesses, comes ahead
of a key U.N. climate change conference to be held in Copenhagen in December
aimed at creating a global framework to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on
fighting global warming.
''We have founded Japan-CLP to urge the industrial community to develop a sound
sense of urgency on the issue of climate change and to initiate more proactive
actions,'' the five companies said, adding Japan-CLP will provide support for
''helping emissions to peak out at the earliest possible stage.''
''The transformation to a sustainable low-carbon society will also open up new
business opportunities driven by appropriate policies and frameworks, and the
proactive engagement of corporations,'' they said in a statement.
In reference to the Copenhagen conference, the companies said it ''will have a
significant impact not only on the implementation of effective climate change
measures, but also on the execution of future corporate management.''
Japan-CLP plans tie-ups with similar groups led by major companies in the
United States and Britain.
==Kyodo