JAPAN AND GLOBAL WARMING

JFS Newsletter No.3 (November 2002)

One of the most pressing global environmental problems facing humanity is global warming. The implications for humans and indeed all life on Earth are enormous. Global warming inevitably affects the entire Earth system. Even if we succeed in creating many protected areas and regulations to protect endangered species, it will be difficult to preserve them if the climate, weather and ecosystems are altered due to global warming.

Japan has experienced abnormally hot summers in recent years. More and more often, we hear reports of anomalies, including southern species propagating in northern regions and termites being found in northern areas that had no previous history of termites. In 1997 COP3 (the Third Conference of the Parties) of the Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Kyoto, Japan, resulting in the Kyoto Protocol. With all this talk swirling around us it is no surprise that today many Japanese are aware of the issue of global warming.

According to 2000 data, Japan emitted 1.332 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalent) that year. Carbon dioxide accounts for 93.7 percent of this amount, methane for 1.7 percent, and nitric monoxide for 2.8 percent.
(Source: Global Gasses Emission 1999, Ministry of the Environment)

One characteristic of Japan's emissions is that the percentage of carbon dioxide is very high in comparison to the world average composition of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide 60 percent, methane 20 percent, nitric monoxide 6 percent, CFCs and halons 14 percent)
(Source: IPCC The Third Report).

In 1998 Japan ranked as the world's fourth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases (accounting for 5 percent of entire world emissions of approximately 22.9 billion tonnes). The largest emitters were the United States (23.8 percent), followed by China (13.8 percent) and Russia (6.3 percent).
(Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

In terms of per capita CO2 emissions, Japan ranks seventh, after the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom.
(Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

Japan emitted 1.2371 billion tonnes of CO2 in the year 2000, a dramatic (10.5 percent) increase from 1.1193 billion tonnes in 1990. During the same period, annual per capita emissions also jumped from 9.06 to 9.75 tonnes.
(Source: Interministerial Meeting on Global Environmental Preservation, 2002)

The following is a breakdown of CO2 emissions in Japan by sector (1999):

- Energy conversion sector (power plants, etc.) 7.0 percent
- Industry 40.3 percent
- Non industry (household) 13.0 percent
- Non industry (commercial) 12.2 percent
- Transport 21.2 percent
- Industrial processes 4.3 percent
- Waste 1.9 percent
(Source: Global Gasses Emission 1999, Ministry of the Environment)

From the 1990 level, the industrial sector increased its CO2 emissions by 0.8 percent. The largest increase (23 percent) was registered in the transport sector. Greater use of office equipment and other factors pushed the commercial sector up by 20.1 percent. An increased number of households and ownership of household electrical appliances also drove up emissions in the household sector by 15 percent.
(Source: Global Gasses Emission 1999, Ministry of the Environment)

Japan ratified the Kyoto Protocol in May 2002. Read more:
Japan Ratifies the Kyoto Protocol

The government of Japan established the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters, with the prime minister as its head, in October 1997, and formulated the Guidelines of Measures to Prevent Global Warming in June 1998. Now the government is launching various measures based on the Guidelines, revised in March 2002.

Some interesting developments are cited below.
New Liaison Committee To Utilize Kyoto Mechanism Is Established

Application Process Started for Project Approval of Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanisms (translation coming soon).
Environment Ministry to Subsidize the Reduction of Greenhouse Gases

"Ten Tips for Households to Prevent Global Warming" from the Ministry of the Environment
Ten Tips for Households to Prevent Global Warming

The government of Japan has started discussions on the introduction of environmental taxes. Various developments are expected in system changes including laws, regulations and tax reforms. Please watch for new information on our website.

At the local governmental level, we are also seeing a variety of initiatives and activities. For example, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is to Make CO2 Cuts Mandatory for Major Companies.
Tokyo to Make CO2 Cuts Mandatory for Major Firms

Mie Prefecture to Simulate Emissions Trading
About 30 Companies in Mie Prefecture To Join Emissions Trading Simulation

Also in industry, an increasing number of companies are taking their own initiative to combat global warming, believing that "what's good for the environment is financially good for the company," and "environmental initiatives give us a competitive edge."

For example, Ricoh Corporation has already cut its CO2 emissions by 9.8 percent from 1990 levels and is targeting a 13 percent reduction by the year 2010. Mr. Hamada, CEO of Ricoh, said "For the past several years, we have been harvesting cost reduction benefits from energy saving, which have started contributing to our bottom line."

In the twentieth century, many companies and local governments believed that they had to choose between either the economy or the environment. Nowadays, however, more and more are starting to believe that incorporating the environment into operations is actually good economic sense. Such initiatives and achievements are being reported almost daily. Please visit the JFS Information Center website often for the latest information in the "global warming" category.