# Chapter 3

# Policy Measures Taken by Japan to Create a Low Carbon Society and Japan’s International Contributions

As mentioned in Chapter 2, the world is moving towards a low carbon society. In view of this global trend, Japan must achieve the target set forth by the Kyoto Protocol and enhance policy measures to facilitate the creation of a low carbon society. This chapter will elucidate the basic concepts of the measures that Japan is taking to arrest global warming, focusing especially on the transportation area, which requires measures that match regional characteristics, and the area that utilizes nature's blessings, such as solar power. It will introduce the development and dissemination of technology in the industrial sector, which will be a major player in Japan's endeavor to create a low carbon society. Finally, it will describe the measures that Japan is taking to assist developing countries, especially in Asia, in curbing their rapidly rising GHG emissions.

Section 1

# Achieving the Target of Kyoto Protocol’s First Commitment Period

## 1 Status of GHG Emissions in Japan

According to the Kyoto Protocol, Japan is required to make a 6% reduction in GHG emissions from the base year (FY 1990 for carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for the three CFC substitutes, including HFC, PFC, and SF $ _{6} $ ) by the end of the Protocol’s first commitment period (2008-2012). Japan’s GHG emissions in FY 2006, however, reached 1,340 million tons (carbon dioxide equivalent), an increase of 6.2% from the base year.

Although progress has been made in the reduction of methane, nitrous oxide, and the three CFC substitutes, carbon dioxide emissions from energy use in FY 2006 increased drastically compared to the base year (12% increase from the base year). They account for approximately 90% of Japan's GHG emissions and totaled 1,186 million tons in FY 2006. The rise in carbon dioxide emissions is partly due to the lowered utility rate of nuclear power generating facilities after nuclear power generation was shut down in late 2002. In addition to such special event, it is also the result of economic expansion of China, change in the industrial structure, an increase in office floor areas, the increase in energy consumption in offices and households due to a rise in the ownership of computers and household electrical appliances, and so on.

Changes in carbon dioxide emissions by sector show that emissions from the industrial sector, which accounts for 30% of the total carbon dioxide emissions, have leveled off. Although emissions from the transportation sector, which accounts for approximately 20%, have increased by approximately 20% compared to FY 1990, they are on a downward trend. On the other hand, emissions

Table 3-1-1 State of GHG Emissions in Japan

(Unit: Mt- CO₂)

Base year (percentage to total)	FY2005 results (difference from base year in %)
CO2 emissions from energy use	1,059 (84%)	1,186 (+12.0%)
Industrial	482 (38%)	460 (-4.6%)
Commercial and others	164 (13%)	229 (+39.5%)
Residential	127 (10%)	166 (+30.0%)
Transportation	217 (17%)	254 (+16.7%)
Energy conversion	67.9 (5%)	77.3 (+13.9%)
CO2 emissions from non-energy use	85.1 (7%)	87.7 (+3.1%)
CH4	33.4 (3%)	23.6 (-29.2%)
N2O	32.6 (3%)	25.6 (-21.7%)
Three CFC substitutes	51.2 (4%)	17.3 (-66.2%)
Total	1,261 (100.0%)	1,340 (+6.2%)

Source: Ministry of the Environment