Building a Low Carbon SocietyFirst Draft
Ministry of the Environment, JapanDecember.2007

About this paper¾

In May 2007, Japanese Government has identified building Low-Carbon Society andpromoting Innovative Technology Development as two keys to make global emission halfin 2050.
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/abespeech/2007/05/24speech_e.html¾

Ministry of the Environment, Japan has started to develop ideas on Low-Carbon Society’sprinciples, images and strategies to realize, mainly for Japan. With regard to this work, wedon’t be based on numerical scenarios, instead, we try to describe broad direction toward
Low-Carbon Society.
Please refer to a research program," Japan Low-Carbon Society Scenarios toward 2050” for numerical scenarios.
http://2050.nies.go.jp/index.html¾Images and strategies for Low-Carbon Society should be diverse among countries,
depending on their natural environment, developing stages, industrial structures. But webelieve elements Japan describes will be useful for other countries and we would like towork together for further development of ideas with international colleagues.

¾This paper is not our conclusion but the starting point and material for discussion.
We very much welcome comments from all over the world.
Contact:
kyotomecha@env.go.jp
Office of Market Mechanism
Climate Change Policy Division
Ministry of the Environment, Japan1

Building a low carbon society
2. Images
1) Mobility

1) Carbon
Minimization in all
sectors
Minimization of carbondioxide emissions from all
sectors2) Toward a Simpler
life style that realizericher quality of life
Shifting from massconsumption society
towards QOL oriented
society. Revolution led byconsumers’ choice.
“Mottainai” spirit.

3) Coexistence withNature
Maintaining and restoringnatural environment that isessential for human society

Public transportation plays a centralrole. Intelligent transportation
system and efficient cars will beused.

3. Strategies to realize a Low-Carbon SocietyBarriersInnovations

Desirable actions for citizens
Desirable actions for companies

2) Living & Working
Scene
Highly insulated houses / buildings
and efficient appliances arewidespread3) Industry- Technical- Economical

Low carbon energy supply andproduction technologies aredeveloped and used

4) Consumers’ choice
Carbon minimum choices will
become common by widespread“visualization” technologies andchanges in consumer
consciousness

5) Forests & Agricultures
Contribute as carbon sink, energy
sources & QOL

6) Aspects fromAreas(Urban & Rural)Compact cities will be formed
depending on the scale of the cities

Policy instrument of the government- Energy technologies- Social systems- Lifestyle etc.

- Social- Informational

Development of low carbon infrastructures

1. Principles

1) Institutional infrastructures
Incentives (Prizes, regulations,economic instruments)
2) “Soft”
oft”-infrastructures
infrastructures
Human resources (capacitybuilding, education),
information (visualization),
financial resources
3) “Hard”
Hard”-infrastructures
Urban structure, buildings,transportation network,energy supply, adaptation
4) Natural capitals
Sink, biomass resources,adaptation

4. Sharing experiences andideas among countries & International cooperation
４．世界への発信・国際的な連携
2

1. Principles for a Low心-Carbon
SocietySpirit
All the world’world’s countries need to unite to make supreme efforts to establish a lowlow-carbon society by “reducing global
emissions by half from the current level by 2050.”
2050.” For example, if CO2 emissions per capita were the same worldwide when
the 50% reduction is realized, the developed countries would need
need to reduce its emissions by 70 to 80 % from the current level,
and the developing countries would need to keep approximately thethe current level while achieving economic growth andimproved quality of life. Such a society cannot be realized if thethe current trends continue. All countries, organizations, andentities have to take action based on the following philosophies.
philosophies.

1) Carbon Minimization in all sectors“A low carbon society”
society” in the ultimate sense would be a society that emits
greenhouse gases only in an amount which can be absorbed by nature
nature(Carbon Neutral Society). To achieve this goal, we have to have a social
system that all sectors, such as industries, governments, and citizens,citizens, will
naturally or automatically give special consideration to their selection
selection anddecisions in order to minimize carbondioxide
emissions(carboncarbon
minimization).

Principles for a Low-Carbon Society

CarbonMinimized

Minimization of carboncarbondioxide emissions from allsectors

Simpler & Richer
Quality of life

Shifting from massmassconsumption society
towards QOL orientedsociety. Revolution led byconsumer’consumer’ choice.
“Mottainai”
Mottainai” spirit.

Coexistencewith Nature

Maintaining and restoring
natural environment that isessential for LowLow-CarbonSociety2) Toward a Simpler life style that realize richer quality of life
People would need to forgo the massmass-consumption society, mainly formed
by developed countries, and build a new society in which value isis placed onfamily or community ties, health, interactions with mother nature
nature and“Mottainai”
Mottainai” spirit to improve the quality of life. This type of consumer
choice would lead to a revolution in the social system, moving toward
toward a lowlowcarbon, rich society.

3) Coexistence with Nature
We recognize human and its society is a part of global ecosystem.
ecosystem. In order
to secure the CO2 absorption essential for a lowlow-carbon society and to adapt
to the unavoidable global warming, it is important to maintain andand restore rich,diverse natural environments, such as forests. To achieve this symbiosis,
symbiosis, local
communities should place importance on harmony and coexistence withwithnature, and promote “naturenature-friendly technologies,”
technologies,” such as utilization ofbiomass.
biomass.

3

2. Images of a Low-Carbon
心 Spirit Society<1/6>

01 Mobility
Behavior

An image of transportation
in a low carbon society

・Environmentally friendly transportation will be chosen by thepeople. People’
People’s choice would be assisted with informationsuch as CO2 emissions of each transportation means(“visualization”visualization” technology) or traffic information on public
transportation (intelligent transportation system), as they
become readily available.
・Local residents will actively participate in the development ofthe community.

Technology・The efficiency of individual cars due to lighter bodies andwidespread use of motormotor-driven cars (plug(plug-in hybrid cars,electric cars, fuelfuel-cell cars) will increase substantially. Air
pollution caused by cars will have been overcome.
・Many personal (single(single-seat) vehicles will be introduced. The
choice of transportation means will be broadened considerably.
・Autonomous travel will be allowed by an intelligent
transportation system. Traffic accidents will be reduced toalmost zero.

Field of activities

Pride of Japan
High share of public transportation
10 0 %

1%
7%

5%

Excellent vehicle technologies

2%20 %

Air

80%
60%
40%
20%

5 3%

Veh icle

87 %

7 9%

8 4%
78 %

7%
3 2%0%
JPN

6%
6%

8%
8%

5%
1 0%

UK

DEU

FRA

2%
1%
USA

Bu s

PlugPlug-in hybridvehicle

Personal mobility

Rail

Share of transportation volume JPN:2003,UK,GER,FRA:2002,
by mode in developed countries USA:2001(Ref.MLIT)

Shinkansen(bullet train)

・Public Transportation services, such as railways, buses,
monorails, and LRTs, depending on the scale of the city, will beselected or combined.
・Physical distribution system will be sophisticatedly managed
by advanced ICT (Information & Communication Technologies),and appropriate mode of transportation, such as railways,ships, and trucks are selected. With those systems, low carbon
distribution systems are formed.
・A compact town convenient for pedestrians and cyclists will beformed (e.g., formation of a transit mall around a public
transportation station).
・Car sharing systems will be widely introduced. People rent anappropriate size of vehicle when needed.
・Intelligent transportation systems will not only collect andprovide traffic information, but they will also enable anadvanced billing method, thereby forming the basis of a lowlowcarbon transportation system.
42. Images of a Low-Carbon Society<2/6>

02 Living and Working Scene (Houses & Buildings)
An image of living scene
in a LowLow-Carbon SocietyBehavior
・It would become a common practice to avoid wasting energy and to efficiently
use natural energies at homes and officies.
・Energy will be conserved based on accurate information provided by“visualization”
visualization” technology.
・Energy will also be conserved by cooperation among members of families,families,
residents of apartments, and employees of companies that possess
environmental sensitivity and always consider how to avoid wasting
wasting energy.
・With the great support of advanced ICT, people would be able to choose theirworking style freely no matter where they live since working environment
environment intheir house or nearby facilities would be as good as in the office.
office. The
technologies also offer great flexibility to the companies, and allow companies
to start worldwide business without having office in the big city.
city.

Technology・EnergyEnergy-efficient devices and natural energyenergy-based devices will be developed by
Japanese “monozukuri (manufacturing)”(manufacturing)” technologies, and are widespread.
・Control technology using ICT will be widespread. Lighting and airair-conditioning
will be operated in association with the movement of people.
・Architects and builders who create houses suitable for local weather
weather conditions
will be fostered to provide and spread the use of comfortable buildings
buildings in which
natural materials are used and heating is less required in the wintertime.
wintertime.
・Construction methods & designs and renovation to lengthen the life
life of housing(200 years houses) will be widespread. The resale housing market will berevitalized.
・Wooden houses and other buildings would become more popular. Use of wood
will be introduced to midmid-story constructions as well.

Field of activities

An image of working scene
Note; Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbonss will not be used in airair-conditioner,in LowLow-Carbon Society
insulations, and heat pumps

・An infrastructure will be developed for “visualization”
visualization” where CO2 emissionsof individual devices can be recognized (display of the environmental
environmental load
and advice about environmentenvironment-conscious behavior).

52. Images of a Low-Carbon Society<3/6>

03 Consumers’ ChoiceBehavior

An image of consumers' choice and“visualization" in a LowLow-Carbon Society
Food

HousesRent¥200.Orange

Food
Mileage
28

Emissions are displayed on pricedisplay panels and barcodes onitems. Preference for seasonal
and local ingredients

Home appliances

Rent
Utilities
CO2Wood・・¥¥kg

GHG emissions during construction
or use will be indicated for eachhouse. The value would provide animportant reference for choice of ahouse. People would move intohouses with sizes suitable for theirlife stage.

Leisure activities

・These behaviors would become common practice when theypurchase goods:− do not receive unnecessary accessories or wrapping;− prefer to purchase reuse products or to purchase services rather
than products (rental);− prefer goods that have a low environmental load in terms oflifecycle;− Feel proud to their hometown and prefer to purchase locally
produced goods− do not purchase goods from companies that are not sensible ofCorporate Responsibility; and− pay counter value (price) for use of the Earth’
Earth’s limited resources(greenhouse gas emissions)Technology

Field of activities

・An infrastructure will be developed for “visualization”
visualization” where CO2
emissions of individual devices can be recognized (display of thetheenvironmental load and advice about environmentenvironment-conscious behavior).
・”EcoEco-points”
points” system, in which the points are awarded forenvironmentally friendly behavior or for purchasing environmentallyfriendly goods and services, will be widely introduced

Cars
Go to maintenanceand correct tire
inflation pressure

GHG emissions for each productthroughout its lifecycle will bequantified and indicated. Thisvalue would provide an importantreference for choosing a product

When a leisure activity having large
GHG emissions (overseas trip, etc.)
is chosen, a corresponding carbon
offset will be purchased.

A car with an appropriate size will
be rented only when needed.

Drive

Fuel consumption and advices on
ecoeco-driving will be displayed orguided. People would put the advices
on ecoeco-driving into practice6

3. Strategy for Building a Low-Carbon Society <1/4>
Citizens and corporations are expected to proactively take action to contribute to
the creation of a low-carbon society. The government is responsible forestablishing systems and rules, and for providing the social capital to ensure thatthese citizen and corporate actions can be taken in a smooth and sustainable way.
Desirable actions for

Desirable actions for

CitizensCorporations• Development of lowlow-carboncarbon-oriented products andpromotion of technological innovations on a global level• Creation of new business models• Promotion of disclosure of environmental information• Development of various environmentally friendly
financial products“EcoEco-participation,”
participation,” “ecoecothinking,”
thinking,” and “ecoeco-sharing”
sharing”
Practice “ecoeco-learning,”
learning,” “ecoecobuying,”
buying,” “ecoeco-use,”
use,” and “ecoecodisposal.”disposal.”

Policy instruments by the Government
Infrastructure development towards a low carbon society should be
be started at
an early point by considering that time needed for development ofof institutions,human resources, consumer durable goods,goods, buildings, and urban
infrastructures are different

Institutional infrastructures“Soft”
Soft”- infrastructures“Hard”
Hard”-infrastructures

Natural capitals

TodayTechnical barriers

LowCarbon
Society

Economical barriersSocial barriers
Informational barriers

7心 Spirit
4. Sharing experiences & ideas among countries andInternational cooperation <2/2>- Japanese possible contributions, toward broader international cooperations •••For developing countries in Asia and other regions, it would be beneficial to share Japan’
Japan’s
experiences in the manner that would be suitable for each countries
countries’’ circumstance, as the“Japan Model”
Model” for solving pollution and energy problems, as well as creating an efficientsociety.
Although Japan has developed high carbon society in the process of economic growth,developing countries can skip the process and create low carbon society directly by using
Japanese experiences and technologies.
There are many countermeasures on climate change that has coco-benefit effects such as
mitigation of air pollution or improvement of quality of life (QOL)(QOL) .

<Japan’<Japan’s unique traditions and experiences: “mottainai”
mottainai” spirit (too precious to waste),waste), environmental
and energy technology, transfer of the experience, systems, and knowknow-how for solving pollution
problems (enforcement of laws, capacity building on monitoring, systems to promote the creation ofa lowlow-carbon society, national and local government’government’s action plan/promotion plan toward a lowlowcarbon society), energyenergy-saving products and technology, improvement and wider use of public
publictransportation in the urban areas.

Leapfrogging of developing countries

GHG emissions

1) Sharing the “Japan Model”
Model” with developing countries

Experiences and technologies
of developed countries

Past development pathway ofdeveloping countries••

Japan will establish a center that collects, analyzes and provides
provides updated information(technology, action, systems, people, customs, etc.) for the creation
creation of a lowlow-carbon society andcoordinate joint international research activities.
In making these efforts, it is important to fully cooperate with existing domestic andinternational research institutes, universities and private organizationsorganizations for international
cooperation located in Japan and to establish a network of these organizations.
Capitalizing on the opportunity of hosting the Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit, it would be possible
to promote joint international research activities, for example, on measures that people shouldtake as moving toward the creation of a LowLow-Carbon Society based on the experience ofcooperation between Japan and the UK(JapanLow-Carbon Society Scenarios toward 2050” forUK(numerical scenarios.http://2050.nies.go.jp/index.html)

3) Proposal to strengthen globalglobal-level incentives toward a LowLow-Carbon Society••••

Formulation of rules on carbon pricing system, aiming to make people
people recognize carbonemissions as costs (provision of incentives and refund to developing
developing countries)
Promotion of countermeasures on international transportation throughthrough international
cooperation activities
Promotion of “green procurement”
procurement”, “green contracts”
contracts” and “environmental reports (CSRreports)”
reports)” across the world, as well as the facilitation of product and service
service development that
contribute to a LowLow-Carbon Society.
Promotion of approaches to manage and maintain forests through international
international cooperation

Development pathway
of developing countries
towards low carbon society

Economic growth2) Establishment of information center for a LowLow-Carbon Society andPromotion of international joint research activities and human development
development•

Development pathway
of developed countries
towards low carbon society

Past development pathway
of developed countries

CoCo-benefit approach
Countermeasures
on climate change
・Widespread use of energy
independent houses

Economic andsocial development
・Increase in electrification ratio
・Increase in energy self sufficiency

・Efficient production process
・Diffusion of motor driven

・Mitigation of air pollution

vehicles・CarCar-free society
・Development of intelligent

・Traffic accidents reduction

transportation system
・local production for localconsumption
・Practice of eco lifestyle(Mottainai spirit)

・Prevention of ruralcommunity disruption
・Reduction in water consumption
・Reduction in waste8