Japan says 15-25 pct emissions cut possible -paper

TOKYO May 26 (Reuters) - Japan's environment minister said cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels was possible, and 25 percent was achievable if emissions credits were purchased from abroad, a newspaper said on Tuesday.

Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito was speaking in an interview with the Asahi daily.

Prime Minister Taro Aso is expected to make a decision on Japan's official targets on midterm emissions cuts by mid-June, ahead of negotiations on a new international global warming pact to be held in Copenhagen in December.

Though the Japanese government is keen to carve out a role as a leader on the environment, the business community is nervous about setting stringent targets. A recent opinion survey found that a midterm cut of 7 percent was the most popular option with the public. (Reporting by Isabel Reynolds; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

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