Half of Japan’s CO2 emissions come from 180 largest factories

   Only 180 out of about 10,000 factories in Japan produce 51 percent of Japan’s total CO2 emissions (1.3 billion tons), according to calculations that Kiko Network recently made using FY 2003 data the non-governmental organization obtained from the Economy, Trade, and Industry Ministry.

   This analysis shows that regulations on these large-scale factories are the key to reduction in Japan’s overall CO2 emissions.

The 180 factories consist of 82 thermal power stations (28 percent of the total emissions) using coal and other energies, 17 iron works (13 percent), 27 cement plants (4 percent), 26 oil refineries (3 percent), and 28 chemical plants, paper mills, and other plants.

   While many citizens are trying to save energy partly due to oil price hikes, CO2 emissions from households account for only five percent of the total amount.

   Instead of imposing reductions in CO2 emissions on those large-scale emitters, the government simply relies on the Japan Business Federation’s (Nippon Keidanren) voluntary action plan that calls for efforts of member companies to reduce their CO2 emissions to the 1990 levels.

   Kiko Network representative Asaoka Mie said that it is necessary for the government to conclude agreements with factories requiring them to reduce the amount of emissions, encourage emission trading by setting emission caps, and introduce a carbon tax.
- Akahata, February 3, 2008