Take IPCC report seriously to prevent global warming!

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

   The U.N.-established Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released assessment reports on the realities and effects of global warming and measures to be taken.

   The IPCC Working Group I report in February estimated that the continuous pursuit of fast economic growth relying on fossil fuel would result in an increase in the average temperature by four degrees at the end of this century compared to the end of the last century.

   The Working Group II in April predicted that an increase of more than three degrees would bring about worldwide economic chaos.

   A Working Group III report released on May 4 pointed out that in order to contain temperature increase to within three degrees, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions should be halved by 2050 and that the measures for achieving this goal would cost less than three percent of the world GDP as of 2030.

   Under the Kyoto Protocol, Japan is obliged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by six percent from 1990 levels by around 2010, but there is not much hope that it can fulfill this international commitment.

   Eighty percent of carbon-dioxide emissions come from corporate and public sectors. The corporate sector must proactively tackle the task to reduce gas emissions.

   The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), however, is opposing restrictions on the green gas emissions based on the Kyoto Protocol and resisting a new target setting for reduction to be applied to industrial nations. The media criticizes the arrogant attitude of industrial circles and the timid attitude of the government toward industrial circles’ demands as irresponsible.

   The IPCC report made clear the responsibility of the developed countries, stating that in 2004, the developed countries “held a 20 percent share in world population, produced 57 percent of world Gross Domestic Product based on Purchasing Power Parity, and accounted for 46 percent of global GHG emissions.”

   The government and industrial circles must meet their international commitments without fail.                         - Akahata, May 9, 2007