Japan's GHG Emissions Drop 6.4% in FY2008 vs. Previous Year

The Japanese Ministry of the Environment announced on April 15, 2010, that its confirmed figure of the nation's FY2008 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions totaled 1.282 billion tons. The figure was calculated based on several acts, including the Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures.

GHG emissions exceeded the base year level under the Kyoto Protocol (CO2, CH4 and N2O: 1990/HFCs, PFCs and SF6: 1995) by 1.6 percent; however, they dropped by 6.4 percent when compared to FY2007 levels. This decrease in GHG emissions included reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) attributable to reduced energy demand in industrial and other sectors due to the steep business slowdown in the latter half of FY2008 as a result of the latest financial crisis.

The absorption volume stipulated under the Kyoto Protocol was approximately 44 million tons for FY2008, including 43.3 million tons through forests and 0.7 million tons through urban greening and other efforts. The total absorption volume was equivalent to approximately 3.5 percent of the total emissions in the base year (absorption volume through forests was equivalent to 3.4 percent).

Japan's GHG Emissions Drop Significantly in 2008 to Just 1.9% Over 1990 Level （Related JFS article）
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/029688.html

Ministry of the Environment official website
http://www.env.go.jp/en/

Posted: 2010/07/01 06:00:15 AM