Yenning for a Green Out
The home of the Kyoto Protocol is finding theres an easier way to cut global-warming emissions: Write a check.
Japan promised under the Kyoto treaty to cut its emissions 6% below 1990 levels by 2012. But as of 2006, Japans emissions were 6.4% above 1990 levels. Right number, wrong direction.
In a country known around the world as an energy-efficiency leader, it turns out that getting industry and consumers to further clean up their acts is tough. Businesses in Japan are fighting each other, and theyre fighting consumers, over who should get stuck with the cleanup bill.
So Japan is going shopping for cheap carbon credits from countries in the developing world. Under the Kyoto treaty, these credits reduce the amount of environmental work that developed countries like Japan have to do on their own turf. Already, Japanese electric utilities have been some of the biggest buyers of carbon credits in China, the country whose rapid and otherwise dirty growth has made it the worlds biggest green-credit bazaar. Now the Japanese government itself is going on a big carbon-credit shopping trip.
Earlier this month came word that Japan plans to ink a deal for Chinese carbon credits when Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Japan in March. Now Japan intends to go further: Its considering pledging $10 billion in green aid to developing countries over five years. Part of the money would bankroll emission cuts by improving the efficiency of Chinese coal-fired power plants. Japanese officials say details of the plan remain up in the air.
Japan isnt entirely looking beyond its shores for a green out. Japanese officials are asking Japanese citizens to do more to cut their own emissions. Among the sacrifices the government is calling for: replacing home appliances with more-energy-efficient models, and wearing light clothing in the summer to cut down on AC use, a campaign called cool biz.
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