Looking Beyond Kyoto
With the 2012 expiration date of the Kyoto Protocol fast approaching, Japan is already thinking about its future emissions goals.
Japan is one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases and has vowed to cut those emissions by 6% from 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. The country’s environment minister, Ichiro Kamoshita, even went as far as to say that an environment tax could be instituted if there was the potential for Japan to miss their goals.
One of the key tools that Japan is considering when Kyoto expires involves a cap-and-trade emissions trading system. This is seen as a major change in Japanese climate policy, which has appeared weak because of the lack of buy-in from the business lobby. Because of this, the government has relied heavily on voluntary emissions cuts from businesses and citizens.
Another option, should the targets seem too difficult to meet, include the introduction of an environment tax for all businesses, scaled on how much carbon they are responsible for emitting. Depending on how well the government handles the revenue from such a tax, this may prove to be one of the better options for the environment ministry to pursue. Not only would it be controlled by a group of people that would monitor the actual amount of gases being released into the atmosphere, but it would offer some great incentives to businesses that have so far had no reason to clean up their pollution-causing processes.
Finally, Kamoshita also hinted at raising the price of oil and fuel further. But with so many businesses already struggling with the 30 Yen/Liter increase since September 2007, this may not be the best option for reducing emissions while also keeping the struggling economy afloat.
When asked about the global climate policy, Kamoshita said that Japan is aiming to take the lead role of any high-level talks on the environment. Considering how the Kyoto Protocol is almost exclusively responsible for Japan’s existing image as a “green” nation, you can’t blame him for this stance.
Good News For The Environment
Personally, I think this is a great thing for Japan to do. One nation does need to take a lead role in cleaning up the environment as well as developing the systems and technologies necessary to scrub the grime from our atmosphere and biosphere. Lord knows that other nations are not yet willing to take that role, so why not leave it in Japan’s capable hands? They’ve already proven that they can meet and exceed their Kyoto promises, so we needn’t worry about hypocrisy on the part of the Japanese.
Considering how I live in Japan, I have a strong interest in this government’s environmental ambitions. As more information becomes available, and as more nations begin working to combat their carbon footprints, I’ll be writing about the endeavors here on TheCarbonBlog.
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