Less Ambitious in Climate Change

One hundred forty-nine countries submitted each target for greenhouse gas reduction to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on Friday. Their goals were so various in terms of quantity or year for basis that the result would not meet fundamental requirement to limit the hike of temperature in the surface of our planet 2°C. Japan is degrading itself as a major contributor to cool down the earth.

The amount of greenhouse gas emission of countries that submitted reduction target covered about 90% of emission of all. Concerning the fact that about one hundred were developing countries that had not been mandated to reduce greenhouse gasses, it is fair to say that necessity for reducing emission became more common in the world than ever.

However, it cannot be said that human being will reach a goal to avoid tragic outcome of climate change. India currently submitted its target as reducing emission per gross domestic product by 33% to 35% from the level in 2005 before 2030. Indian government announced that it would produce 40% of its whole electricity with non-fossil fuels by 2030. But, because Indian GDP is expected to be growing by four times in 2030, the nation will rather increase greenhouse gas emission in amount, even if it will be successful in reaching its goal in 2030.

The greatest emitter, China, only upheld a goal of starting reduction in 2030. In other words, it may keep on increasing emission of greenhouse gasses until 2030. Although the second greatest emitter, United States, submitted its goal of reducing 26% to 28% of emission from the level in 2005, its target was less ambitious than that of European Union, which raised 40% reduction from the level in 1990 by 2030.

Japan once pledged 25% reduction from the level in 1990 by 2020, trying to take leadership on this issue. After major accident in a nuclear power plant in Fukushima and broad skepticism on nuclear power generation, Japan changed its mind from reducing emission to preserving energy resource. Now, its target is as weak as 26% reduction from the level in 2013 by 2030.

Japanese people are more aware of severe natural weather than ever these years. High tide often soaks cities facing Pacific Ocean and hard rain causes flood in rivers everywhere. While everyone realizes necessity to prevent further global warming, the government of Japan is lazy in leading the world to make concrete framework to protect environment preferable for human being. They do not understand true meaning of Preamble of Constitution of Japan, which reads “We recognize that all people of the world have the right to live in peace, free from fear and want.”