Topic: UN's Role in preparing for Global Climate Shift
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Franklin Thornton
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Japan position papers GLIMUN 2013 committees
The Kyoto Protocol, implemented in 1997, was meant to reduce the overall greenhouse gas emissions by developing countries, thus reducing the projected scale at which global climate change may occur. However, it has not been completely successful, considering that the energy-related carbon-dioxide emissions in 2010 reached a height never before seen in history, seconded to those found in 2008. In addition to this, change in precipitation, atmospheric humidity, and the size of Arctic glaciers has been much greater than what was predicted in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
At this rate, many of the projected negative consequences of global climate change may occur significantly earlier. These consequences include mass shifts in climate causing the inhibitions or mass extinctions of some organisms, increases in the amount of unusual weather occurrences, and rises in water level. These in turn affect the human population, raising the concern of a shortage in food due to limitation or extinction of food sources and property damage caused by possible flooding and erratic weather patterns. However, there is still time and, therefore, still hope. According to the IPCC’s “Summary Report for Policymakers”, it is necessary that certain policies are employed in order to ensure the limitation and reduction in the use and production of greenhouse gases, similar to those expressed in the Kyoto Protocol.
In order to ensure a productive conference, it must be recognized that changes must be made in order to accommodate for the increasing need for a decrease in the use of greenhouse gases. Alternative sources, such as renewable and nuclear energy, should be utilized, the country of Japan serving as an example. Our country of Japan has been named a world leader in the development of climate-friendly technologies. For example, the Honda and Toyota hybrid electric vehicles have been named to have the highest fuel efficiency and lowest greenhouse gas emissions. This efficiency has been due to the use of hybrid systems, biofuels, and the use of lighter weight materials. However, it is not just resource use and design that is affecting the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, but also governmental measures being taken. Japan’s first emissions cap system has been made by governor Shintaro Ishihara and a bylaw for a carbon-dioxide reduction program was passed June 25th, 2008 by Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. Anyone who does not follow this bylaw will be fined 500,000 yen, approximately 5,000 United States Dollars (USD).
The country of Japan is far from perfect. According to the 2010 emissions estimate made by the United States Department of Energy’s Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis center, Japan is the 5th highest country in carbon-dioxide emissions and the 8th highest country in carbon-dioxide emissions per person. However, though the country of Japan is not the best, most efficient country there ever was, Japan is putting an effort into reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions it makes, and this should be the kind of initiative we hope to inspire in other countries.
