The 2050 Japan Low-Carbon Society project team announced proposals on May 22, 2008, for concrete measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 70 percent before 2050 as compared to the levels in 1990. The project is sponsored by the Global Environmental Research Fund of the Japanese Ministry of the Environment and will be conducted mainly by National Institute for Environmental Studies.

The project concluded in its earlier report in February 2007, that Japan has the potential to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gases, by 70 percent from 1990 levels while creating a well-off and low-carbon society. This time, the project disclosed 12 specific actions to take in achieving this goal. The proposals include utilization of solar heat and natural wind in homes and offices, pedestrian friendly city design, promotion of seasonal and local agricultural products, labeling to show carbon dioxide emissions on products, and development of next-generation fuels.

Based on the results of analyses from previous studies, the effectiveness of these dozen actions was calculated quantitatively. The project has calculated the reduction ratio for each sector based on 2000 levels at 13 to 15 percent for industry, 21 to 24 percent for residential and commercial sectors, 19 to 20 percent for transportation, and 35 to 41percent for energy conversion. It is also stated that efforts for reducing energy demand is particularly important.

http://2050.nies.go.jp/20080522_press/20080522_report_main.pdf
http://2050.nies.go.jp/index.html
- Joint Japan-UK Research Project Launched For Low Carbon Society (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1368-e
- Japan Can Reduce CO2 Emissions by 70% by 2050: Report (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1721-e

Posted: 2008/10/08 10:32:01 AM

TAG Global warming , Government , University/Research institute