In a speech delivered at the Asahi World Environment Forum in Japan, Yvo de Boer praised the country's plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

Japan had shown leadership in climate change, he said, by spearheading climate-friendly technologies and by making its economy one of the most energy-efficient in the world. He highlighted renewed economic opportunities that exist through embarking on a green growth strategy, such as enabling the private sector to retain its global leadership role in clean technologies.