Revised Law against Global Warming Requires Franchise Chains to Report Emissions

A partial amendment to the Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming was passed and enacted at the upper house plenary session on June 6, 2008, to ensure the achievement of the commitment under the Kyoto Protocol. The calculation, reporting, and publication of CO2 emissions, which have thus far only been imposed on business offices a certain size, will become required by business unit. As a result, franchise chains and other enterprises with no obligation under the previous law will be required to report the aggregate amount of their emissions from all business locations.

Calculations on an aggregate basis will start in April 2009. As a result of the amendment, the percentage of businesses required to report in the commercial sector will increase from 13 percent to about 50 percent.

In addition, major cities are expected to take further detailed actions, such as setting up climate change action centers and promoting transparency and recognition of CO2 emissions in daily life.

The Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming went into effect in 1998, following the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol at the Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3) held in Kyoto in 1997. Since then, the law has been strengthened gradually, with this 2008 revision, during the first commitment period of the Protocol, being the fourth time the law has been amended.

- Ministry of the Environment offical website
http://www.env.go.jp/en/
- Amended Law Makes GHG Emissions Reporting Mandatory for Certain Businesses (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1424-e
- Revised Energy Conservation Law Enhances Measures for Offices and Homes (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/2172-e

Posted: 2008/11/16 11:30:03 AM