Elusive Green Deal For Japan
Yesterday, Japan's Environment Minister announced a "green deal" for Japan as a way to both boost the economy and the environment. Officially, it is called something like “Innovation for Green Economy and Society,” at least until the proofreaders come up with something better.
The Ministry of Environment says that through these measures, Japan will create 1.4-million new jobs.
One of the main features of the new program is to help fund technologies or programmes that cut CO2 emissions. It will impose a compulsory emissions trading scheme for fossile fuels - introducing an environment tax for the first time in Japan.
Yomiuri has already talked about one feature of the more general stimulus package that I like:
NHK World has more details, noting that the package includes plans to install solar energy panels at schools and other public facilities around the country. Power companies will be required to buy solar-generated power at premium prices, and to increase solar power generation by 20-fold from today's levels by around 2020.
That would mean that Japan's environmental industries and services would be worth 120 trillion yen or about US$1.22 trillion in just over 10 years.
Do have a look at the documents published. The contributions that Japan can make to help other Asian countries could very well be the most important parts of this package. Partnership and cooperation, a Clean Asia Initiative, founding a "sound material-cycle society" in Asia, "popularize Satoyama initiative" and supporting national biodiversity strategies or "good water governance" (such as better septic systems and human waste treatment facilities) are all great ideas.
So far, so good, but my conclusion is that the effects of the "green" parts of this deal are still going to be elusive here, and a lot more thinking will be needed to actually come up with plans that make a difference. For example, seriously reducing Japan's dependency on oil will never be easy, and with 60% of the food imported rather than farmed locally, Japan has a long way to go. Innovative? Sounds good, let's hope they mean it.
Ministry of Environment: The Innovation for Green Economy and Society (English)
On a brighter note (and with a hat tip to Mutant Frog blogger Adamu) Asahi says Prime Minister Taro Aso wants you, dear reader, to support the economy under the slogan 新三種の神器 (Shin sanshu no jingi) or "New consumption divine regalia" which will be (1) solar batteries (太陽電池）, (2) electric cars （電気自動車）, and (3) energy-saving consumer appliances (省エネ家電). These three holy regalia have been used to sell anything from washing machines to TVs, so why not use the concept now, when we really need them?
More "New" and "Green" and "Deal" here on Kurashi: A Green New Deal For Japan
The Ministry of Environment says that through these measures, Japan will create 1.4-million new jobs.
One of the main features of the new program is to help fund technologies or programmes that cut CO2 emissions. It will impose a compulsory emissions trading scheme for fossile fuels - introducing an environment tax for the first time in Japan.
Yomiuri has already talked about one feature of the more general stimulus package that I like:
Subsidies for consumers purchasing fuel-efficient automobiles and energy-saving home electric appliances are expected not only to serve the original goal of helping the global environment, but also help sales of these products recover. And to make sure increases in sales are not temporary, manufacturers should do their utmost, outside of government-subsidized help, to develop new products that appeal to consumers.
NHK World has more details, noting that the package includes plans to install solar energy panels at schools and other public facilities around the country. Power companies will be required to buy solar-generated power at premium prices, and to increase solar power generation by 20-fold from today's levels by around 2020.
The package also promotes measures to boost sales of energy-conserving home appliances, and to increase tax incentives to encourage purchases of hybrid and electric vehicles. The ministry says that through these measures, Japan will increase the size of its environment-related markets by 50-trillion yen, or about 500-billion dollars, by 2020, and create 1.4-million new jobs.
That would mean that Japan's environmental industries and services would be worth 120 trillion yen or about US$1.22 trillion in just over 10 years.
Do have a look at the documents published. The contributions that Japan can make to help other Asian countries could very well be the most important parts of this package. Partnership and cooperation, a Clean Asia Initiative, founding a "sound material-cycle society" in Asia, "popularize Satoyama initiative" and supporting national biodiversity strategies or "good water governance" (such as better septic systems and human waste treatment facilities) are all great ideas.
So far, so good, but my conclusion is that the effects of the "green" parts of this deal are still going to be elusive here, and a lot more thinking will be needed to actually come up with plans that make a difference. For example, seriously reducing Japan's dependency on oil will never be easy, and with 60% of the food imported rather than farmed locally, Japan has a long way to go. Innovative? Sounds good, let's hope they mean it.
Ministry of Environment: The Innovation for Green Economy and Society (English)
On a brighter note (and with a hat tip to Mutant Frog blogger Adamu) Asahi says Prime Minister Taro Aso wants you, dear reader, to support the economy under the slogan 新三種の神器 (Shin sanshu no jingi) or "New consumption divine regalia" which will be (1) solar batteries (太陽電池）, (2) electric cars （電気自動車）, and (3) energy-saving consumer appliances (省エネ家電). These three holy regalia have been used to sell anything from washing machines to TVs, so why not use the concept now, when we really need them?
More "New" and "Green" and "Deal" here on Kurashi: A Green New Deal For Japan
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