Global Environment Note #09
“Note on Global Environment from Hokkaido” is a special series that will send you a report of Environment of the world, Japan and Hokkaido NOW, and give you hints to begin Eco-friendly life Now, to reduce the GHG (Green House Gas) by 6%, in order to avoid the global warming.
The key for the 9th series is “+6.2%”
Under the Kyoto protocol ratified in 1997, Japan has promised to reduce its GHGs emissions by 6%. Today’s key “+6.2%” is a number closely related to this promise. Do we emit less and less greenhouse gases or …. the opposite? Using this Global Environment Note as a guide, let us understand about global warming in Japan NOW.
Are greenhouse gases decreasing or increasing?
“-6%”—Important promise to the world
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the third Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3) in 1997. Under the protocol, Japan has promised to reduce its GHGs emissions by 6% from its 1990 levels by 2012. During the 11 years following the promise, Japan has been trying to prevent global warming by the united efforts of government and people.
Unwillingly, GHGs are increasing
Despite the efforts, Japan has emitted the total of 1341 million tons of GHGs in fiscal 2006. It is the 6.2% increase from the Kyoto Protocol’s base year of 1990. Therefore, in order to achieve its target of “6% reduction”, Japan has to reduce its 16years-accumulation of 6.2% plus the further 6% of GHGs emission.
Why do GHGs increase?
Energy consumption is still increasing
The cause for growing GHGs emission is the increase of the amount of energy consumption such as petroleum. Japan is now making many efforts to conserve energy and resources in industrial, transport, and domestic sectors. However, not much progress has been made due to Japan’s expanding economical activities. Especially in fiscal 2006, there was an increase, albeit small, in the CO
2 emission of manufacture sector. It increased 0.6% from the previous year.
Household CO2 emission is another problem
Another serious issue is the amount of CO
2 emission from households. In fiscal 2006, the amount of CO
2 emitted from domestic sector decreased by 4.4% compared to the previous year. However, it is only because it experienced a warmer winter in the previous year, which resulted in reduced use of heating and less energy consumption. In fiscal 2005, with the harsh and cold winter, there was 4.0% increase in the amount of CO
2 emission. The amount differs largely depending on the situation, and such instability poses serious problem.
What is Carbon offset?
Offset the CO2 emission
As long as we continue modern lifestyle and economic activities, there is a limit in the efforts to reduce CO
2 emission. Thereupon, the idea of “Carbon offset” began to emerge. While we keep trying to reduce the emission of CO
2, there is also a need to absorb CO
2 already emitted in the atmosphere. The activities that try to offset the already-emitted CO
2 are referred as “Carbon offset”.
CO2 reduction through afforestation and development of new energy
“Afforestation” might be the most familiar example of the carbon offset. Forest plants absorb carbon dioxide then fix and store it in the form of biomass. Therefore, we can achieve significant reduction of carbon dioxide by planting trees. A company can also participate in carbon offset by calculating the amount of CO
2 emitted through its economical activities, and “offsets” the amount by investing in eco-friendly enterprises or researches.
What are the “carbon offsets” applicable in Hokkaido?
Many autonomies and organizations have begun their action
In Hokkaido, many autonomies, research institutions, and NPOs have begun to take actions to realize the plans for carbon offset. For example, the Hokkaido Forest Research Institute has developed a new species of larch called “Clean Larch” which stores 20% more CO2 than regular larches, thus expected to play important role in carbon offsetting. In addition, many eco-friendly events such as tree-planting relay are held in various places in Hokkaido.
Each one of us can play a role
We can participate in carbon offset from today through some small efforts such as planting a tree in our yard. The important point is to reduce the already-emitted CO2 whilst emitting less and less CO2 in our everyday life. As G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit approach within a month, each one of us in Hokkaido should think of the things we can do.