Japan Promotes Energy Conservation with Asian Countries: Two Examples

Japan's Ministry of the Environment held a fashion event called "Cool Asia 2006" at Omotesando Hills, a new fashion and residential complex in Tokyo, on May 31, 2006. Invitees included politicians of the Japanese cabinet, as well as ambassadors from overseas and celebrities from home and abroad. The event featured positive examples of companies that have introduced "Cool Biz" policies, as well as the 2006 summer collection of "Cool Biz" fashions. "Cool Biz" is the catchword used to suggest businesswear that keeps a person feeling cool despite hot weather, and is functional and fashionable at the same time. The event aimed at sending out a message to the world from Asia for the prevention of global warming by promoting the concepts of Cool Biz. One core concept is that air conditioners should be set no cooler than 28 degrees Celsius in order to reduce the amount of energy consumed to cool offices, and it is hoped that this thinking could be widely accepted in Asian countries, many of which have hot and humid climates similar to that of Japan.

On the same day, the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, under Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, released the New National Energy Strategy. It includes the "Asian Energy-Saving Program," which has the aim of increasing energy efficiency throughout Asia by utilizing Japanese energy-saving technologies, systems and experiences, in the context of the energy-related challenges the world now faces due to skyrocketing oil prices.

Aims of the New National Energy Strategy are to address environmental problems, including global warming caused by increasing coal use; and to stabilize worldwide energy demand and supply conditions by preventing panick in the markets when energy supply and demand conditions become tight and establishing effective schemes for managing oil reserves. It also covers a number of activities that are based on business-level cooperation with Japanese industry in the area of energy conservation, such as contributing to solutions to global environmental problems, creating new business opportunities, and creating win-win relationships between Asian countries and Japan.

The Asian Energy-Saving Program focuses on China, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam as prospective partners. The program has a particular emphasis on China and India, the world's second and fourth largest energy consumers, as they have great potential for energy conservation.

http://www.env.go.jp/en/headline/headline.php?serial=161
http://www.meti.go.jp/english/information/downloadfiles/PressRelease/NewEnergyStrategy.pdf

Posted: 2006/10/04 09:15:36 PM
Japanese version