Japan – UK Joint Research ProjectThe 3rd Low Carbon Society

Shiga’s scenario for a sustainable
society in 2030

February, 2008

Yoshiaki Yamanaka

Shiga Prefectural Government0Background behind the project■Threats to the sustainability(1)Problems are becoming more serious on a global scale

If these continue…

We
We areare facing…
facing…
○Global○Global warming
warming○Overuse○Overuse ofof natural
natural resources
resources○Ecosystem○Ecosystem crisis
crisis●Climate●Climate changechange && extreme
extreme weather
weather events
events●Environmentaldamage●Environmental damage●Damage●Damage andand loss
loss toto thethe economy/society
economy/society●Depletion●Depletion ofof natural
natural resources
resources●Destruction●Destruction ofof thethe ecosystems
ecosystems

Affected by these global environmental problems…

(2)Transformation of Lake Biwa Basin
InIn Lake
Lake Biwa
Biwa Basin:
Basin:○Decline○Decline inin fish
fish catch
catch○Spreadofinvasive○Spread of invasive species
species○Accumulationof○Accumulation of waste
waste
includingincluding CO2
CO2○Our○Our alienation
alienation fromfrom naturenatureandand thethe lakelake(t)12,000

貝類
水産動物類

10,000

魚類

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

0
昭30354045505560

平元

51016 (年)

●Decreased●Decreased water
water quality
quality●Destruction●Destruction ofof thethe ecosystems
ecosystems

Urgent and firm actions for building a sustainable society are needed
Vision in 2030
A resource-rich, secure and prosperous society where its natural environment –first and foremost, Lake Biwa’ ecosystem – is protected, and citizens’ well-being
is being improved continually through sustainable development inenvironmental, social and economic dimensions.
1Shiga in 2030

From Vision to Reality

From Vision to Reality :A scenario for a Sustainable
Society in Shiga¾■¾GHG emissions are halved by the renovation of socialsystems and technology.
¾ All industries develop in an environment-friendly manner.
¾ We live in harmony with Lake Biwa ecosystem and makewise use of natural resources.
¾Compact urban development is carried out in appropriate
scale and form.
¾Social infrastructure improvement accelerates the use of
public transportation.
¾Lake Biwa retains an important role as a source of recreation
for citizens. (Etc.)

Illustration: Akemi Imagawa

By envisioning an ideal society
and using a “backcastingapproach” , we can identify
policies and measures needed toattain the goals.

Policies and MeasuresGoals■ Building a low carbon society◆Reduce our demand for energy■Building a low carbon society◆Use energy effectively◆Shift to low-GHG energy sources

Reduce greenhouse gas emmision by 50%
from its 1990 level by 2030

■Restore Lake Biwa healthy ecosystem◆Conserve and protect sound ecosystems◆Secure a sound aquatic environment◆Restore lively relation between Lake Biwa and citizen

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Policies and Measures to achieve a Low Carbon Society■Policies and measures that can be enacted at the local level, based upon cutting-edge cases3

Policies and Measures to achieve a Low Carbon Society

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GHG emissions and reduction by sectors

50％
reduction

8,060

note: Bau (“Business as Usual”) depicts the case in which no additional measures were taken to reduce CO2 emissions（source） This graph was originally created by the Shiga Prefecture Sustainable Society Research Team

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Actions for a low carbon society■Sustainable transportation and compact cities
To encourage peoples to switch from private cars to less GHG-producing transportation methods, wepromote use of bicycles and the introductin of the “New Transportation System”
Future tasks also include building compact cities and the introduction of Light Rail Transit (LRT).
<Promotion of bicycle use><“New Transportation System” (using buses)>■Further efforts and implementations
A sustainable transportation system

Sustainable community building

Introduction of LRT

Compact cities

Illustration by Akemi Imagawa

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