Japan

Japan plans to launch its first satellite to monitor global greenhouse gas emissions this week, as environmental monitoring goes high tech. Multi-billion dollar industries like transport account for nearly a quarter of human CO2 emissions, a literal byproduct of global economic growth as newly wealthy buy cars or travel overseas, but UN Climate Control Chief Yvo de Boer says 21st monitoring often remains distinctly ancient, so Japan's "Ibuki" satellite will help the fight. (Reuters)