Preface1

Preface
The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (2007) indicated that anthropogenic warming over the last three decades had
likely had a discernible influence at the global scale on observed changes in many physical and biological systems.
The Copenhagen Accord reached at COP15 confirmed in accordance with the IPCC Report that in order to avoid
dangerous anthropogenic interference with climate systems, it would be necessary to hold the increase in global
temperature below 2 degrees Celsius compared with the preindustrial level (UNFCCC, 2009). The Cancun Agreements adopted in 2010 explicitly referred to the importance of a paradigm shift towards creation of a low-carbon society (LCS) offering substantial opportunities and ensuring continued high growth and sustainable development(UNFCCC, 2010).
The realization of LCSs in Asia is imperative in order to achieve both sustainable economic growth and stabilization of climate change. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the Asian region accounted for approximately 36% ofglobal emissions in 2005. Considering the rapid economic growth expected in the coming decades, the share of emissions from the Asian region is projected to rise further, accounting for about 50% of global emissions in 2050. Realizing an LCS entails radical changes in technologies, energy systems, production and consumption patterns, social value
systems, and lifestyles, in addition to policy changes that mobilize finance and the willingness of people to achieve
such transitions.
The present special issue is dedicated to finding pathways towards LCSs in Asia. The first and second papers discuss the required GHG reductions in Asian countries to achieve climate stabilization, and analyse their feasibility. The
third paper assesses the implementation plan of the CO2 intensity target in the 12th Five Year Plan of China. Thefourth paper focuses on the effects of urbanization on CO2 emissions, reflecting the enormous future potential forurbanization in Asia. The fifth paper reviews literature on limiting GHG emissions from the resource consumption
associated with economic growth, which would also avoid resource depletion through the efficient and cyclic utilization of resources. The sixth paper proposes a backcasting method to macroscopically design measures to realize a
low-carbon land-use transport system. The seventh and eighth papers focus on international cooperation and transferof technologies. LCS scenarios are explored in the ninth to eleventh papers, with the ninth paper analyzing thefeasibility of LCS scenarios and their economic impacts, the tenth paper focusing on energy-scenario development,
and the eleventh paper proposing a methodology to create quantitative roadmaps towards LCSs. The final three papers
describe LCS scenarios that show the feasibility of LCS development in China, India and the Indian city of Bhopal,respectively.
It is my sincere hope that the present issue will promote LCS studies and contribute to sustainable development
and climate stabilization.
Mikiko KAINUMA
References
IPCC (2007) Climate Change 2007: Summary for Policy Makers.
UNFCCC (2009) Report of the Conference of the Parties on its fifteenth session, held in Copenhagen from 7 to 19 December 2009,
FCCC/CP/2009/11/Add.1, 30 March 2010.
<http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/cop15/eng/11a01.pdf>
UNFCCC (2010) Report of the Conference of the Parties on its sixteenth session, held in Cancun from 29 November to 10 December
2010, FCCC/CP/2010/7/Add.1, 15 March 2011.
<http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2010/cop16/eng/07a01.pdf#page=4>