Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
Figure 2-3-2: Estimated shifting of saury fishery caused by rising seawater temperature

Mid-term perspective

Short-term perspective

Long-term perspective

Mid-term perspective

Short-term perspective

Long-term perspective

Saurv fishery (September)

Saurv fishery (November)

Note 1: “Present” shows current sea-surface temperatures measured by the Japan Metrological Agency (for future global warming trend analysis). “Short-term perspective” represents a rise of 1.0°C from the present, and “Middle-term perspective” indicates estimates based on the Agency’s long-term projection (for future global warming trend analysis) (a rise of 1.4°C from the present), and “Long-term perspective” represents a rise of 1.5°C from the “Middle-term perspective” values.

Note 2: Fishery location is based on the assumption that sea-surface temperature is 16 to 20°C in August, 16 to 19°C in September, 12 to 23°C in October and 12 to 22°C in November. Source: “Estimated Impacts of Global Warming on the Distribution of Marine Organisms in Japan” by Hisami Kuwahara et al, Chikyu Kankyo vol. 11, No. 1 (2006).

globefish, a hatchery fish, could also shift northward.

Some marine creatures that are a nuisance to the fishing industry also seem to be moving northward. Aetobatus flagellum (longheaded eagle ray), whose habitat ranges over the subtropics from the Indian Ocean to the East China Sea and tropical coastal areas, is a predator of bivalves such as clams and pen shells, and thus interferes with fishermen. Since 1989, when this ray was first discovered in the Goto Islands (Nagasaki Prefecture), a great many of them have been located in the Ariake Sea and the Seto Inland Sea, and fishery damage in those areas has been repeatedly reported.

Also, increased acidity of seawater attributed to increased $ CO_{2} $ concentration is considered to affect marine planktons, which could endanger oceanic biodiversity. In addition, a rising sea-surface temperature is expected to adversely affect the biosphere in southern water zones, although it could help to improve productivity in northern water zones. In southern waters, if surface temperatures rise, it would hamper vertical circulation of sea water because of the lowered ability of surface water to be exchanged with cold deep water. This would weaken the upwelling flow of abyssal nutritious salts, etc., which could seriously affect the distribution of phytoplankton that constitutes the basis of oceanic food chains. Consequently, it could affect marine products to be consumed by human beings.

### 3. Impact on Human Health

In the Earth, there are many infectious diseases that could be transmitted via vectors that convey pathogens from one host to another.

For example, malaria spreads through mosquitoes and is potentially threatening to 2.5 billion people in the world, which accounts for 40% of the global population. Every year, it causes disease in 300 million to 500 million people and kills 1.5 million to 2.7 million people worldwide. It is known that Plasmodia, malaria parasites, become active at a temperature of 15–20°C or higher, and
season. The pleasure of appreciating the spring season with cherry blossoms would be lost, and it would affect regional traditional recreational events. It is also possible that global warming could similarly affect ume (plum) blossoms, peach blossoms, hydrangea, camellia, peony and other plants in which temperatures play an important role in forming flower buds.

### 5. Vicious Spiral of Global Warming

Besides the direct impacts mentioned above, deteriorating functions of ecosystems could also have indirect but serious impacts on human beings. For example, it has been reported that the weakening ability of ecosystems to mitigate climate change could invite further acceleration of global warming.

Forests, where massive carbon sequestration takes place, are also affected by global warming in the form of extraordinary loss of moisture, which actually leads to frequent occurrences of fire. Forest fires release $ CO_{2} $ as a result of combustion and also accelerate the release of $ CO_{2} $ and methane from tundra and frost soil. It was reported that the forest fires that occurred in Indonesia as a result of El Niño effect from 1997 to 1998 burned down trees over several million hectares. It was discovered by a survey that Indonesia's carbon emission during 1997 was as much as 810 million to 2570 million tons, which accounts for 13% to 40% of the yearly global total $ CO_{2} $ emission attributable to the consumption of fossil fuels.

In addition, global warming promotes decomposition of underground organic substances, and net carbon uptake by terrestrial ecosystems is weaken or even reverse.

Consequently, GHGs stored in ecosystems would be released into the atmosphere, further promoting global warming. And it

could then adversely affect ecosystems. This is how a vicious spiral could be formed.

Thus, global warming has an enormous influence on ecosystems and biodiversity. Ecosystems support geoecological integrity and biodiversity support ecosystems. Therefore, it can be said that global warming would immensely harm, human beings either directly or indirectly. Human survival depends on the integrity of the biodiversity that supports ecosystems. However, human activities after the Industrial Revolution have significantly deteriorated global environment, and have invited critical conditions to affect themselves.

Global warming is a fact, and it is accelerating without doubt. It is our responsibility to make the right decisions to promote actions to protect the nature and its integrity so that we and future generations can continue to benefit from nature. Urgent and appropriate measures are required to stop global warming now.

Photo : courtesy of MODIS Rapid Response Project as NASA/GSFC

This forest fire in Alaska was observed on July 30, 2004 by MODIS (optical sensor of NASA). Ascending gray smoke was detected.

Forest fire at Alaska
Figure 3-2-2: Overview of Measures Concerning Energy-originated Carbon Dioxide Sources

Source: Ministry of the Environment

### 2. Significant Role of Technology in Implementing Global-Warming Mitigation Measures

When we make efforts to reduce GHG emissions, it is necessary to promote institutional development, including reform of conventional systems and mechanisms as well as improvement of people’s attitude and behaviors. In implementing the policy measures mentioned in the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan, the development and effective utilization of advanced technologies would certainly make great contributions to our efforts to achieve targets. The following sections will explain the significant role of technology in implementing global-warming mitigation measures, especially in the category of measures for reducing energy-oriented carbon dioxide that occupy a large share of GHG emissions in Japan.
# Section 4: Global Warming Countermeasures

The previous sections explained how important technology development and wide utilization of effective technologies are to the promotion of global warming countermeasures. Also, Section 3 discussed specific meaningful achievements attained from technology development and wide utilization of developed technologies. This section will provide overviews of current conditions of how technologies that are effective to mitigating global warming are actually being used and producing effects. Here, based on the understanding of the current status of $ CO_{2} $ emissions in respective major sectors in Japan, a focus will be put on those technologies that are being practically used and are expected to come into widespread use in the future and will thereby reduce $ CO_{2} $ emissions substantially.

### 1. Current Status of $ CO_{2} $ Emissions in Japan

## (1) Overall conditions

Figure 3-4-1 shows changes over time of $ CO_{2} $ emissions in major sectors in Japan, and the data begins with the year 1990, which is the base year under the Kyoto protocol.

## (2) Status of the industrial sector

As mentioned in the previous section, the industrial sector started introducing various energy-saving technologies after the oil crises, and since then this sector has been continuing its energy-saving efforts. As shown in Figure 3-4-1, however, the level of $ CO_{2} $ emissions attributable to activities within the industrial sector still constitute a large proportion of Japan's total emissions and therefore needs to promote further emission-reduction measures toward the achievement of their assigned target under the Kyoto protocol. At the same time, when compared to the base year 1990, emissions caused by the industrial sector have declined.

This declining tendency indicates the effective wide utilization of excellent energy-saving technologies in Japan in comparison with other countries. The aforementioned data of international comparison on $ CO_{2} $ emissions intensity by industry in major manufacturing sectors (Table 3-3-1) is evidence of Japan’s superiority in emission-reduction efforts. Therefore, it can be expected that the export of Japanese advanced technologies to foreign countries would be contributive to those countries pursuing emission-reduction efforts. In this light, Japan is capable of making valuable contributions to the international society’s global warming countermeasures.

Figure 3-4-1: Trends in CO $ _{2} $ emissions in Japan
Figure 3-4-2: Potential application of environmental technologies to households

Source: Ministry of the Environment

### a. Thermal and heat pump technologies

Heat pump technology, which moves collected atmospheric heat from one location to another, is being applied to air conditioners, food refrigerators and freezers, etc. This technology allows for the use of low-temperature thermal energy in a highly efficient manner. Recent improvements of various technologies have upgraded performance of heat pumps to a large extent. Actually, the use of heat pump technology has been expanded to include water heaters and dryers and washing machines, resulting in enormous energy-saving effects. In addition, heat pump air conditioners capitalizing on the use of underground heat or the use of sewage or river water as a heat source have been commercialized.

Also, advanced technologies to improve thermal efficiency, such as the technique of phased use of heat, latent heat recovery system, etc. are applied to commercial products one after another.

## (a) High-efficiency air conditioners

Today, most houses and offices have air conditioners and many of them have a heating system in addition to a cooling system. Since air conditioners are the major electricity consumer in homes, improvement of their energy efficiency is especially demanded.

Source: Tokyo Electric Power Company

Figure 3-4-6: Mechanism of heat pump
Actually, through the development and commercial application of high-efficiency heat pump technology and new control technologies, energy efficiency of air conditioners has improved greatly in recent years.

For example, some of the latest high-performance models have an excellent COP value of 6 or higher (“COP” or “Coefficient of Performance” is an index representing energy consumption efficiency in term of the cooling/heating capacity per power consumption of 1kW). These are much lower $ CO_{2} $ emissions than those of conventional products. Actually, the recent COP trend for air conditioners (Figure 3-4-7) shows a rapid improvement of efficiency in the last decade. You can save your money for electricity charges if you buy one of the latest high-performance models to replace your old one.

The number of air conditioners being installed at home in Japan is estimated to be more than 120 million units today, and quite a few of them are considered to be conventional models. Therefore, much energy-saving effects can be expected from replacement of those models with the latest models.

In addition, those high-performance models have various energy-

Figure 3-4-7: COP trend for air conditioners (in terms of sales)

Source: Jyukankyo Research Institute Inc.

“Fact sheet on energy-saving electric home appliances” issued by the Ministry of the Environment

saving functions, including a system to create a pinpoint air current that would effectively and immediately make users feel warmth when they turn on the heater and a system of automatic cleaning of internal structures (the latter system prevents dust accumulation from causing deteriorated operation efficiency). It can be said that the latest models embody an integrated improvement of convenience, economy and environmental-friendliness.

(b) Electric water heater with natural refrigerant heat pump and high-efficiency gas water heater with the latent heat-recovery function

The electric water heater with a natural refrigerant heat pump (known under the trade name “Eco Cute”) has been developed to use carbon dioxide as a refrigerant together with a heat pump system, just like ones used in many air conditioners, where electricity and atmospheric heat is used to heat water.

Figure 3-4-8: Mechanism of the electric water heater using a natural refrigerant heat pump

“Fact Sheet on energy-saving houses” issued by the Ministry of the Environment
Figure 3-4-9: Mechanism of gas water heater with the latent heat-recovery function

Because of the use of atmospheric heat, this water heater is energy-efficient, allowing for about a 30% saving of primary energy as well as about a two-fold reduction of $ CO_{2} $ emissions, when compared to combustion-type products. This makes it possible for users to save a lot of money for electricity charges when compared to conventional models.

The high-efficiency gas water heater with the latent heat recovery function has also been developed and widely distributed as an energy-saving product (known under the trade name “Eco-JOES”). The function of latent heat recovery from vapor contained in exhaust gas allows for about a 95% efficiency, instead of about 80% for conventional models.

In addition, the gas engine heat pump system is now being widely used.

## (c) Electric refrigerator

Electric refrigerators have also improved their energy-saving performance significantly through the introduction of advanced refrigeration technology, insulation technology, control technology and so on.

For the last twenty years, electric refrigerators have achieved more than the three-fold reduction in electricity consumption per

liter of capacity. During the past several years, the improvement of their energy-saving performance has been further accelerated, achieving more than 30% reduction in overall electricity consumption. It means that replacement of a conventional model with one of the latest high-performance models would result in great energy-saving effects (Figure 3-4-10).

## (d) Heat-pump washer & dryer laundry machine

In recent years, more and more households have come to use an electric dryer for laundry. Those laundry machines with an electric drying system generally consume a lot of electricity when compared to those using a non-electric drying process, but the latest models introduce heat pump technology, which allows for substantial energy saving and more than twice the reduction in electricity consumption. Those heat-pump models have been launched by several manufacturers one after another recently.

Figure 3-4-10: Changes over time in yearly electricity consumption of 450-liter-capacity electric refrigerators in actual operation

Source: Final Report by the Electric Refrigerator Evaluation Standards Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on Natural Resources and Energy "Fact sheet on energy-saving electric home appliances" issued by the Ministry of the Environment
Figure 3-4-13: Energy-saving technologies for television sets (comparison between 2004 models and 2006 models)

80% reduction in electricity consumption for heat retention and a combined reduction of about 50% in electricity consumption for water boiling and heat retention. Those models also use various advanced technologies such as control technology and material technology.

### d. Energy-saving technologies for kitchen appliances

Cooking stoves have improved their energy efficiency. The improved efficiency of gas ranges, for example, is attributable to various technical improvements, including optimized flame angles, downsized burner diameter and optimized air supply for combustion.

Figure 3-4-15: Heat-insulation performance by type of glass/sash

Figure 3-4-14: Comparison of yearly electricity consumption by type of warmwater bidets

### e. Energy-saving technologies for buildings

In order to ensure heat-insulating performance of a building, it is important to pay attention to windows because they easily let in heat. When compared to single-layer glass sheets, double-glazed glass, especially high performance heat shield double-glazed glass, exhibit excellent energy-saving performance. It is also necessary to pay attention to the thermal conductivity of sliding frames in sash windows, and the use of wooden or resinous frames that have a low thermal conductivity would be effective for improving energy conservation.

In addition, it is necessary to use insulating materials for walls or ceilings when structures other than windows have low heat-insulating
## Column : Mechanisms to Promote Wide Utilization of Technologies

Recent achievements from technology development have been remarkable, and various products with an embedded energy-saving system are commercialized one after another today. In order for those products to be widely used and produce substantial energy-saving effects, it is necessary to promote publicity of those products so that more and more consumers and businesses will be aware of them and come to use them. In short, the development of tactics or mechanisms for effective publicity is necessary in addition to the development of technologies themselves. Here are some examples of such mechanisms that have been actually introduced to facilitate the wide distribution and utilization of energy-saving products.

### 1. Labeling system

In order to promote the wide utilization of environmentally friendly products, it is necessary to provide appropriate, easy-to-understand product information that motivates people to choose those products.

In this aspect, the labeling system is considered to be effective, since people can easily identify energy-saving products by a mark or label attached to respective qualified products. There are several kinds of marks and labels, including the high-efficiency proof called “eco mark” as well as the label showing fuel economy for motor vehicles, the “energy-efficiency” label certifying the observation of the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy, etc. Starting from October 2006, the energy-efficiency labeling system has been introduced for air conditioners, electric refrigerators and television sets, where the uniform “energy-efficiency” label is supposed to be attached to all of the said designated products, to show whether or not the product satisfies the energy-saving standard under the said Law (Top-runner standards under the Top Runner Program). In addition, the label shows the level of energy-efficiency of the product through a five-grade evaluation system, yearly electricity consumption, and estimated yearly cost for electricity charge. Thus, the label allows consumers to easily identify and evaluate energy-saving products.

### 2. Financing programs

The introduction of energy-saving measures requires an initial investment. There are various financing programs that make it easier for businesses to make such investments. For example, an environmental activities evaluation program known as “Eco Action 21” allows medium- and small-sized businesses to enjoy a preferential interest rate, provided that they use a loan for introducing environmental protection measures (http://www.ea21jp/). This financing program encourages businesses to take actions for environmental protection.

Figure 3-4-17: Uniform Energy-Saving Label
Figure 3-4-18: “Bio-ethanol Island” plan in Miyako Island

Source: Ministry of the Environment

disadvantage of low efficiency, are practically utilized today, and the combined use of such a small wind-power generator with a solar cell has been commercialized as well.

### c. Biomass energy technologies

Biomass energy is obtainable from renewable, biodegradable organic resource (except fossil fuels). It is a sequestrated energy in the form of plant materials converted from sunlight through photosynthesis, and $ CO_{2} $ emissions caused by the use of such energy can be deemed as offsettable by the breeding of plants, etc.

In addition to traditional materials such as firewood and charcoal, more and more new materials are currently achieving increasingly widespread use. For example, used cooking oil is being used for diesel fuel, livestock excreta is being used for methane fermentation, and natural materials are being used for ethanol fermentation. In particular, bio-ethanol draws a great deal of attention today as a biofuel alternative to gasoline (for motor vehicles). Currently, various technologies to produce bio-ethanol fuels are at the commercialization stage, including the use of discarded wood construction material, non-standard farm produces, wastes generated during food processing and byproducts such as sugarcane syrup. In January 2007, the world's first commercial-scale plant to produce ethanol from wood construction waste was established in Osaka Prefecture. The plan is that, starting from fiscal year 2007, demonstration projects for regional mass-introduction of bio-ethanol fuels for local transport systems will be launched in some metropolitan areas as well as in Miyako Island, Okinawa Prefecture.

Thus, various energy-saving products, systems and technologies are at the stage of commercialization and expanding utilization, including the aforementioned heat pump technology for utilization of unused heat, integral and comprehensive energy control systems, and new-energy-utilizing technologies allowing energy suppliers to avoid emitting $ CO_{2} $ . $ CO_{2} $ emissions can be expected to be substantially reduced through the expansion and acceleration of the use of those technologies.

### 3. Development of National Campaigns

The aforementioned energy-saving technologies would fail to contribute to $ CO_{2} $ emission reduction if not widely utilized among the public. In this light, it is necessary for grassroots activities to improve people’s actions and change their lifestyles.

The national “Team Minus 6%” project initiated by the Prime Minister, which aims to promote large-scale civic campaigns to global warming countermeasures, is now in operation, and its activities have been expanding to involve many citizens, businesses and organizations, with registered membership numbering about 1.1 million individuals and about 11,000 companies and organizations as of March 2007. For example, the “Cool Biz” campaign, which advises people to save energy by limiting air