Carmen Bunzl - Universidad Pontificia Comillas

Chapter 2. Options for future climate change architectures 109
3.2.4.3 Japan
Japanese emissions in 2005 were 6.9% above the 1990 base year emissions
and 12.9% above the Kyoto target emissions (UNFCCC 2007). The government
currently has a “Kyoto Target Achievement Plan” in place.
In general, Japan’s efforts rely on voluntary measures, buying of external
credits and expansion of nuclear capacity. In Japan, voluntary measures are not
the same as in Europe; business ethics in Japan would forbid not complying
with the measure. The aim of buying CERs is because Japan faces the highest
GHG emission abatement costs, it is partly explained by the fact that it has
already a highly efficient industry (Höhne et al., 2005).
Most of the Japanese voluntary action is coordinated through the Keidanren
Voluntary Action Plan, an agreement between the Japanese government and
the Industry association Keidanren – which made up 45.3% of Japan’s total
emissions in 1990. Under the plan, industries take on different voluntary targets
aiming at reducing emissions in various sectors (not only the manufacturing
and energy sector) in 2010 below 1990 levels. Monitored emissions in 2005 were
0.6% under the 1990 level.
In the Top Runner Approach, no quantifications are made as to how much
GHG emissions will be mitigated, the policy only aims at product performance.
The voluntary emission trading system in Japan (JVETS) was established in
order to accumulate knowledge and experience, whose biggest drawback is that
no major emitting industries participate.
3.2.4.4 Russia
Due to the economic downturn between 1990 and 1999, emissions in Russia
decreased; now emissions are again steadily increasing. Emissions between
1990 and 2005 declined by 27.8%, which equals the distance from their Kyoto
target (=1990 level).
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería ICAI Carmen Bunzl Boulet Junio 2008