KAZE, October 2021
Greening? or Decarbonizing?
Konoe FUJIMURAThe IPCC Working Group 1 report issued this August warns that global warming
is faster than expected. More importantly, it clearly states that “Observed increases inwell-mixed greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations since around 1750 are unequivocallycaused by human activities." Despite the severe facts reported by IPCC, our government
has not clarified the ways to build a decarbonized society even during the LDP spresidential election and the Lower House general election campaign this month(October). It s high time for the government leaders to discuss which way they wish tolead this country.
Facing resource limitations on this planet, we, JAES, have discussed if capitalism
without economic growth is possible, or if we should support capitalism when we haveno alternatives, or if we should abandon economic development to build a decarbonizedsociety. However, these discussions have not been widely recognized in this country. Even
today, such issues are discussed only among scholars and those concerned and muchless by politicians. What we need is a nationwide discussion about “green recovery” fromthe COVID-19 pandemic. However, our government uses this term as a catchy phrase forits short-term growth strategy and spends little time discussing the nature of "growth"
itself.
Regarding the October general election campaign, Mr. Akira KUME, who worked
long for the LDP Secretariat, wrote in the Asahi Shinbun newspaper (7 Sept.) that LDP isdifferent from the political parties in Europe. According to Mr. Kume, CDU and SPD ofGermany, for example, are based on a specific ideology/philosophy. Their Diet members
are party comrades, while LDP, the governing party in Japan, does not have a clear party
ideology. It is nothing but a group of people elected by the constituency for various otherreasons. The lack of clear political philosophy probably explains why we have not seen
any substantial discussion among LDP politicians and other parties. Without philosophy,
they seem to be preoccupied with their desire to get a position in politics.
Due to its weak philosophy, Japanese politics avoids discussion about green
growth and decarbonization, namely, the future direction of this country. As a result,Japan s environment policy lacks a solid conceptual base, failing to make concerted efforts
to tackle global warming. The latest anti-warming plan adopted by the Cabinet this monthenvisions a society where technological innovation promotes economic growth. However,
the technologies it depends on are still uncertain. Decarbonizing society by 2050 is quitedifficult, and some researchers speak for "green growth” even if they recognize theultimate need for decarbonization. Those big businesses with vested interests mostly
agree with the green growth concept. However, still, they seem to stick to the old ideathat companies cannot exist without economic growth.
Global youth s climate actions initiated by Ms. Greta Thunberg have attracted thesympathy of young people in many countries, and Japan is not an exception. It seems
that Greta and her followers deny the current capitalistic society and seek decarbonization.
However, do those young people understand the pros and cons of capitalism? Do they
discuss what decarbonization implies? If they avoid serious discussion now, they will lose
the opportunity to deliberate fundamental challenges of their generation.
I believe, to overcome the climate crisis, we need a "paradigm shift” from thecurrent society of overshooting planetary boundaries. Among others, we should change
the unethical economy of destroying the mother environment and of making people
unhappy by widening social gaps. Then, should we aim for green growth? Or do we haveno other options than decarbonization? To seek an answer to this question, we, JAES,
have been advocating an essential set of citizen s behaviors, namely, “learning, thinking,and taking actions based on what they learned." Humans control the economy andestablish rules of society, so changing human behaviors would be a key to changing
society. We do not alter our behavior just for a principle or an idea.
It may be too early to expect decarbonization in Japan. We have not yet agreed
on how to phase out nuclear power generation. We have not achieved even a green
economy. It takes a long time to change society. If citizens' attitudes change, politicians'
mindsets will change, and so will the rules of society. Meanwhile, the climate crisis will
become more and more severe to the point of no return. Beyond generations, philosophy,and creeds, we should make urgent efforts to find a common ground of discussion on the
future direction of this country.