Ties and jackets are also gradually being shed during the summer months by the 'babus' and 'techies' who are going in for half-sleeve shirts in 'Cool-Biz' initiatives.
In line with a slew of energy conservation measures, the environment ministry has asked government officials to adopt 'Cool Biz', a business style to be able to work in offices during the summer months comfortably at 28 degrees celsius.
A ministry report says raising of the preset airconditioning temperature to 28 degrees has brought about reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels by approximately 1.14 million tonnes which is equivalent to about three million households' one month emission amount.
"Global warming is a very serious challenge," says Tsuruoka Koji, director general of global issues at the Japanese Foreign Ministry. "It transcends national boundaries".
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Climate change will be a major issue at the three-day G-8 Summit in Hokkaido to be attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, US President George W Bush and other world leaders beginning from July seven.
In many offices, table fans have been kept as a standby. Car pools have become popular for long distance travellers and the demand for bicycles have shot up considerably.