Carbon Emitters Hold Global Warming Talks In Tokyo

TOKYO (AFP)--The world's major carbon emitters were in "full negotiation mode" Thursday as they met in Tokyo with the clock ticking to draft a new U.N. treaty on fighting global warming.

Representatives from 22 countries, including major CO2 emitters China, India and the U.S., as well as the European bloc are taking part in the informal two- day session.

It marks one of the first negotiating opportunities on climate change since the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama, who has pledged to step up efforts by the world's largest economy to help slow down the planet's warming.
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The other co-chair, Akihiko Furuya of Japan, voiced hope for "ideas for a breakthrough" during the closed-door session, the beginning of which was open to the press.
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Japan, host of the Kyoto Protocol, is badly behind in meeting its own targets as the government hesitates at restricting industry amid an uncertain economy.