Japan Can Reduce CO2 Emissions by 70% by 2050: Report

On February 15, 2007, the 2050 Japan Low-Carbon Society project team released an interim report on its achievement, concluding that Japan has the technological potential to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the major greenhouse gases, by 70 percent from 1990 levels and still have a well-off and advanced low carbon society. Sponsored by the Global Environmental Research Fund of the Ministry of the Environment of Japan, the project was carried out mainly by the National Institute of Environmental Studies (NIES) since fiscal 2004 The first half of the project was completed at the end of March 2007. (For more information on the project, please visit the website below.)

According to the report, a 70-percent reduction in emissions can be achieved by reducing energy demand by 40 to 45 percent and by introducing low-carbon energy supplies. The energy demand-side emission reduction can be accomplished by a decrease in demand due to a shrinking population scenario, smarter energy use, and improvements in energy efficiency, while allowing energy demand to grow in some sectors.

The objectives of the project are to prepare medium- and long-term scenarios for a low-carbon society in Japan by integrating technological and social innovation, and to propose the direction of future Japanese environmental policies to achieve those scenarios.

The research is expected to help develop realistic medium-and-long term policies consistent with technology and social systems, to prevent global warming. The scenarios for a low-carbon society compatible with economic development are expected to boost public interest in policies to achieve a low-carbon society, and help improve societal systems and people's life styles.

http://2050.nies.go.jp/
http://2050.nies.go.jp/interimreport/20070215_report_e.pdf
- Low-Carbon Society Scenarios: 70% Reduction CO2 Emissions by 2050 (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1290-e
- Joint Japan-UK Research Project Launched For Low Carbon Society (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1368-e
- Japan and the UK Hold Joint International Workshop on a Low Carbon Society (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1477-e

Posted: 2007/05/21 09:19:46 AM
Japanese version