Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is set to to unveil a plan to force industry to cut carbon emissions in a bid to step up the fight against global warming despite resistance from the business community.

In a speech scheduled later on Monday at the Japan National Press Club, Fukuda will likely announce a self-imposed target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 60 to 80 percent by 2050, according to media reports.

He is expected to support a so-called "cap-and-trade" system which would require major businesses to reduce carbon emissions while creating an economic incentive by allowing the trade of emissions credits.

Fukuda's announcement is aimed at showing his determination in the global battle against climate change before he hosts the July 7-9 Group of Eight (G8) rich nations summit, where global warming will be a key issue.

UN scientists who shared last year's Nobel Peace Prize warned that unless human-made climate change is halted, the world risks more natural disasters and droughts, putting millions of people at risk.

Despite being home to the landmark Kyoto Protocol, Japan, whose economy is steadily recovering from recession, is far behind in meeting its own requirements to cut emissions by six percent by 2012 from the 1990 level.

Major industries, particularly steel, have been vocal in opposing the introduction of a cap-and-trade system.

The cap-and-trade scheme has been implemented widely across the European Union, while the local government in Tokyo is also preparing to go it alone to launch the system.

The envisaged target by Japan will be far beyond the long-term goal recognised by the G8 environment ministers and officials as well as those from growing nations during a climate summit last month.

At the environment talks in the western city of Kobe, the world's environment ministers "agreed to seriously consider reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by at least half by 2050."

But Fukuda will likely stay away from setting a mid-term emissions target for 2020 or 2030 as sought from rich nations by environmentalists and developing countries.

Japan and the United States, the main opponent of Kyoto, argue that a mid-term goal should be set during ongoing negotiations on a post-Kyoto treaty in which developing and rich nations have been at loggerheads.

Japan has also pressed for a so-called "sectoral approach" in which each industry would improve energy-efficiency standards.

"Japan needs the mid-term target goal as a tool of diplomatic negotiations," Yoriko Kawaguchi, a member of Fukuda's Liberal Democratic Party and former foreign minister, said during a Sunday debate show on public broadcaster NHK.

The European Union has committed to slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels and offered to go further if other countries come on board.

Momentum has also been growing in the United States to fight global warming, with both major candidates to succeed President George W. Bush in January pledging stronger action.

But lawmakers from Bush's Republican Party last week blocked moves to set up a US cap-and-trade system, arguing that it would hit the economy at a time of soaring oil prices.

Fukuda is taking the decision despite sagging popularity at home. The ruling coalition on Sunday lost another election when the opposition took control of Okinawa's local assembly due to a row over a medical insurance plan.