TOKYO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Japanese greenhouse gas emissions rose 2.3 percent in the year that ended in March, the government said on Wednesday, pushing Japan further away from its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol climate pact.

Preliminary government data showed greenhouse gas emissions totalled 1.371 billion tonnes in carbon dioxide equivalent in 2007/08. Japan has a Kyoto target of 1.186 billion tonnes a year to meet over the five years that started in April.

A 2 to 3 percent rise after a 1.3 percent fall in the previous year was widely expected as the world's biggest nuclear plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Co <9501.T>, had to suspend operations after a July 2007 earthquake. [ID:nT18769] (Reporting by Risa Maeda; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

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