Japan's CO2 emissions hit record high
TOKYO —
Japan’s carbon dioxide emissions hit a record high of 1.37 billion tons in the year to March 2008, well above the target set by the Kyoto Protocol, the environment ministry said Wednesday. The figure, which marked a 2.3% rise from the previous fiscal year, was mainly the result of more polluting energy production following the closure of the world’s biggest nuclear power plant after it was damaged in an earthquake that struck northern Japan.
“The greater use of thermal power plants due to reduced nuclear power operations significantly contributed to the increase,” an environment ministry official said. The data shows that Japan’s CO2 emission rose 8.7% from the 1990 level.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, Japan is committed to reducing its emissions by 6% from the benchmark year in the period between 2008 and 2012. Japan relies on nuclear plants for nearly one-third of its power needs.
Leaders of the Group of Eight rich nations—Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States—called at a summit in Japan in July for global cuts in CO2 of at least 50% by 2050, without specifying the base year.
Negotiations are under way to draft a new environmental treaty covering the period after the Kyoto Protocol’s obligations expire in 2012.
Wire reports
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BlackFlag
goodo, they have plenty of time to prepare ways to ignore the new treaty too
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thepro
Yeah, so what was the point of the Kyoto Protocol?
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jerseyboy
I'm no math wiz, but, if they are supposed to cut 6% from the benchmark year, but are now 8.7% above, that says they have a big problem -- almost 15% reduction required. And they are increasing, not decreasing. Didn't Fukuda tout Japan's environmental leadership at the G8 (?) meeting in Hokaido this past summer? Typical Japan, all talk and good intention, but no real results.
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fatloser
YAHOOOO!!!!!!!!!! Greorge Bush was RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! He didn't sign their stupid paper!! Arf-ARF..George Bush was RIGHT!!! What does this say about Japan's PLEDGE to cut emissions by 50% by 20?? BUSH-BUSH-BUSH...HURAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sarge
What! Ya mean Cool Biz didn't help? Maybe next year we can have decent air conditioning.
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BlackFlag
they needed more posters of Fukuda hugging that polar bear, that would have done the trick
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Wottock_Hunt
Tell you what'd help - turn the bleeding heating down. 29 degrees in my office yesterday, and I had to open the window on the train as well. If you're cold - and you're not - put a sodding sweater on.
We Japanese like to live in harmony with nature. My ringpiece.
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Nessie
The C-o-o in Cool Biz stands for CO2.
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Nessie
The opposite problem in my office. The heat is on. My co-workers opens the window. While wearing a sweater.
Step 1. Turn down/off the heat Step 2. Remove/add clothes. Step 3. Open the window, if it really must come to that.
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Wottock_Hunt
Nessie - it's probably for the best that I don't have the option to open a window in my office. Not a few of the bloodless harpies who plague my days would be taking the fast route to the car park if I had that kind of temptation available.
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