Japan

In a bid to reduce its carbon emissions to 6% less than 1990 levels by 2010 in line with the Kyoto Protocol and in order to combat the country's current increase of almost 8% in carbon emissions, the Japanese government has drawn up a law that would require manufacturers of air conditioners (the biggest consumer of household electricity) to design units that consume 20% less power by 2010. Similar regulations will be imposed on refrigerators and fluorescent lighting by spring 2007.