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Japan's Tech Initiative Against Climate Change

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Pat Sheen

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has compiled the outline of a costly program to develop innovative engineering and technology to advance the nation's "Cool Earth 50" initiative aimed at halving global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 from current levels.

The outline of the program, dubbed "Cool Earth -- innovative energy technology projects," was presented on Tuesday to a meeting of a private advisory panel to METI chief Akira Amari.
....click the link to read more

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bill (73)

Senior board member | 2007-12-02 14:17:27

This has got to be a positive development - the Japs are not known for half measures, so it will be good to see how they go. Also, in the past they have been very involved in the "heavy, dirty" inductries such as chemicals and steel making etc so they also have a "cross to bear" when it comes to taking responsibility for some of the worlds climate problems. I guess it's a case of -"watch this space" for further developments ....

Hariet ()

Newbie | 2007-12-02 19:12:47

What I'm really hanging out for is when we colonize Mars. From the outset the colony will be able to be planned to be sustainable and ecologically friendly. And I can see a lot of the technology we're developing now being put to use there.

Jules ()

Newbie | 2007-12-02 19:14:00

What makes you think we're going to be colonising Mars? I really can't see that happening.

Barry ()

Newbie | 2007-12-02 19:16:37

Well NASA is already planning a manned mission to Mars. And with the commercial side of things getting into space travel in a big way I can see them wanting to venture there shortly too.

I really think it's a matter of when not if.

Tina ()

Newbie | 2007-12-02 19:20:04

How can you be so pessimistic. Look at the pace at which technology is advancing in virtually all fields. We will have the technology to colonize Mars and since when have humans shied away from any challenge.

bill (73)

Senior board member | 2007-12-02 17:03:57

I guess that I was something of a skeptic, but have done a bit of digging and I am attching (I hope!) a speech given by the Japanese Prime Minister a few months ago on the Japanese perspective and the "Cool Earth 50" initiative
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/abespeech/2007/05/24speech_e.html

It all looks good and doable to me - but as they say in all the best Shakesperean plays - "theres many a slip twixt glass and lip" - or something like that....

Harry ()

Newbie | 2007-12-02 18:52:55

I think we are possibly going about this whole thing the wrong way. Everyone is talking about how we're going to have to invest in research and cleaner technology. What we really need also is to complement this with a change in our lifestyles. We need to become less technology dependent and go back to a simpler way of life.

Ryan ()

Administrator | 2007-12-02 19:01:10

Well it's all well and good to talk about that sort of stuff but in reality it's just not going to happen.

Some people reckon the worlds population should be a lot smaller than what it is now also. Realistically I can't see that happening any time soon either. Short of something like a major natural disaster that is.

Terry ()

Newbie | 2007-12-02 19:08:33

I have to admit that the idea of living a simple relaxed life, without any technology or deadlines or stress has appealed to me.

The only problem is I just don't have the time to work out how feasible it would be ;)

bill (73)

Senior board member | 2007-12-02 19:34:24

I am going back to Kyoto - my question was going to be how many countries have signed up - But probably the better question is - how many countries have not signed and who are they ? ..... and the biggest of them all is the US. If you can't get the biggest on board, what chance for the rest ??

DaveDee ()

Newbie | 2007-12-02 19:42:29

as long as George W and his gang of dim wits are in the White House there is no chance of any sensible outcomes - they have no idea whats happening in the world and stuff up everything they touch - do I mention Iraq or Afganistan at this stage ? - maybe the Dems can do change

Rosie ()

Newbie | 2007-12-02 19:49:28

it's got to be one in - all in to reduce the rate of climate change and it needs strong leaders to legislate the changes - will there be pain ? probably, but at the end of the day we fix the problems - for example the Germans went to extremes with their recycling laws and created a whole new set of industries and technol;ogies - the same would happen with climate change - just do it

Des ()

Newbie | 2007-12-02 19:55:29

u guys are on a different planet - well you should be - the world climate has been changing since year 1 and it will continue to change - the scientific evidence is there - don't panic - manage around if we're not carefull it'll be back to the horse and cart era

Pat ()

Newbie | 2007-12-02 20:04:45

a lot of good points, but we need to get the balance right - what strikes me is that the west has shipped much of it's "dirty" industry out to the third world countries and they arn't able to handle it - no rules, regulations, safety etc and much of what's happened has been a complete disaster particularly where pollution is concerned - In my view, The West needs to get control back of these dirty industries and fix up the pollution problems. I think that the best way to do that is to bring them back to our own "back yards" that will drive technological innovation to "clean up" and brings back jobs and make plenty of engineering work

Jonno (92)

Senior board member | 2007-12-03 00:39:11

Australia was also a notable absentee from Kyoto, and incidentally the highest polluter per capita in the world according to a recent report. I note that following a change in government, the new PM has just signed Kyoto - an article from a Sydney paper is attached

http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/rudd-signs-kyoto-deal/2007/12/03/1196530553203.html

bill (73)

Senior board member | 2007-12-03 20:09:31

will someone explain climate change to George W - use picture books with big print and short words and lots of bright pictures

Jonno (92)

Senior board member | 2007-12-04 04:11:44

just to prove that even the most passionate greenie has a sense of humor -
check this one out
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/more-climate-fakery/
What was that old saying - "Whatever happens - don't loose your sense of humor"

keep a smile on your face and people will never know what you've been doing !!

bill (73)

Senior board member | 2007-12-05 20:40:14

this doesn't sit well with the Japanese "Cool Earth 50" approach
http://www.physorg.com/news116095063.html
but hey, let the games begin - The problem is that the US and big third world polluters want to play by a different set of rules. I know what I think - one in - all in - we sink or swim together

Rosie ()

Newbie | 2007-12-06 15:12:41

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7125047.stm
it doesn't matter wether its a western country or a third world country - pollution is pollution - and we all have to take measures to cut it - it really bugs me when i read about third world countries saying that they shouldn't have to comply because they are new polluters -

Jonno (92)

Senior board member | 2007-12-09 04:17:24

http://www.climatechangecorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=4813
this is quite a good article - I have been a bit ambivalent about this whole climate change thing but if the world is serious about cutting emissions - then surely it should be the same rules for all ? I have real problems with this 3rd world thinking that because they've only just started being big emitters - then they don't have to do anything !!! or they don't have to comply with the same regulations - yeah - we are all in this together

DaveDee ()

Newbie | 2007-12-12 03:28:53

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7139676.stm
Bali is on and plenty for the players to talk about - but will we see some positive action out of this - do we need to wait for a change of government in the US before they want to get involved in the main game ? and still we see India and China sitting on the side lines ans saying this doesn't involve us - the mind boggles

Rosie ()

Newbie | 2007-12-12 03:34:33

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/world/12climate.html?ex=1355115600&en=ac26e8611d6fa5b3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
doesn't look too good for a resolution - if this article is anything to go by - you never know with politics - all sorts of deals are done in back rooms - but in this case - ?? the US has been pretty resolute so far and the Indians and Chinese still are playing this stupid game of pretending it's all somebody else's responsibility

Zahd ()

Newbie | 2007-12-13 03:18:34

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17132657&ft=1&f=1007
it maybe a bit of a talk fest - but it's all we've got !!- so lets hope that some of the talk translates into actions

Jonno (92)

Senior board member | 2007-12-18 03:35:31

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/303619/Carbon+crusader.htm
if you like to see a man (or woman) put their money where their mouth is - then check out this article - not only does he talk the talk - but he's prepared to walk the walk

Sunday 2 December, 2007 02:08 PM

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