Energy Saving News
Tokyo sets Lead for National Government
TOKYO aims to slash its harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, which is 25 percent compared with 2000 levels.
The program caps energy-related carbon dioxide emissions from some 1,330 offices and factories in the capital and allows for trading of emissions credits.
The move by Tokyo, whose energy consumption is about the same as that of Sweden or Norway, offers a case study for the Japanese central government that urgently needs to draw up a blueprint for its cap-and-trade system to achieve a 25 percent cut in emissions by 2020 and keep up with global efforts to set up carbon markets.
Teruyuki Ono, director general for climate strategy at the Tokyo metropolitan government's Environment Bureau, said:
"Sooner or later, we will no longer be able to emit massive amounts of carbon dioxide without any restrictions," Ono said. "Transforming economic activities and facilities into low-carbon models will help Tokyo continue to develop in a sustainable manner and provide incentives to companies willing to do business here."
About 1,330 offices, commercial buildings and factories that annually consume the crude oil equivalent of more than 1,500 kiloliters of energy will be required to cut total carbon dioxide emissions over the fiscal 2010-2014 period by 6 percent to 8 percent from base-year levels.
Base-year levels are calculated from average emissions over a past period of three consecutive years between fiscal 2002 and 2007. Office buildings face an 8 percent target and factories are subject to a 6 percent goal.
Following on from these reductions, in the fiscal 2015-2019 second phase, they will be required to slash emissions by 17 percent from their base-year levels.
To meet the targets, offices and factories can make efforts by updating to energy-saving equipment, or purchase emissions credits from other entities that have reduced their carbon dioxide output by more than the obligated levels in a system known as cap and trade.
They can also buy credits earned through energy reduction efforts by small and medium-size companies in Tokyo. But the credits from outside Tokyo should not exceed one-third of the required cuts.
Actual trading under the mandatory system is set to begin in fiscal 2011, after data on reduction efforts in fiscal 2010 are finalised.
Any entity that fails to attain its reduction goal will be ordered by the metropolitan government to cut emissions by 1.3 times the amount it failed to slash. Violators of such orders will have their names published and face fines of up to ¥500,000.
Ono pointed out that Tokyo's cap-and-trade system has prompted companies to implement serious steps to trim emissions and become energy efficient.
Friday 9th April 2010
