Climate Change In Japan
Climate change in Japan is being addressed at a governmental level.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) proposes two hypothetical future scenarios. One is Scenario "A1B" based on the assumption that a future world will have more global economic growth (the concentration of carbon dioxide will be 720ppm in 2100). The other is Scenario "B1" based on the assumption that a future world will have global green economy (the concentration of carbon dioxide will be 550ppm in 2100).
Earth Simulator calculations, reveal the daily increase in mean temperature in Japan during the period of 2071 to 2100. The temperature has increased by 3.0°C in Scenario B1 and 4.2°C in A1B compared to that of 1971 to 2000. Similarly, the daily maximum temperature in Japan increased by 3.1°C in B1 and 4.4°C in A1B. The precipitation in summer in Japan increased steadily due to global warming (the annual average precipitation increased by 17% in Scenario B1 and by 19% in Scenario A1B during the period of 2071 to 2100 compared to that of 1971 to 2000).
Currently, Japan is a world leader in the development of new climate-friendly technologies. Honda and Toyota hybrid electric vehicles were named to have the highest fuel efficiency and lowest emissions. The fuel economy and emissions decrease is due to the advanced technology in hybrid systems, biofuels, use of lighter weight material and better engineering.
As a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol, and host of the 1997 conference which created it, Japan is under treaty obligations to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions and to take other steps related to curbing climate change. The Cool Biz campaign introduced under former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was targeted at reducing energy use through the reduction of air conditioning use in government offices.
Read more about Climate Change In Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan
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