October 17, 2024

Akahata ‘current’ column

This year’s global average temperature will be the highest on record, surpassing last year’s 14.98 degrees Celsius which was also the highest on record, according to the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). In particular, the average temperature of last month was 1.54 degree Celsius higher than that of pre-industrial times.

The Paris Agreement, an international framework to combat global warming, aims to limit the temperature rise to below 1.5 Celsius. However, due to extreme weather, meteorological disasters have already occurred many times worldwide. The EU weather organization warns that the risk of heavy rainfall continues to increase along with rising temperatures, and calls for urgent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Meanwhile, the only coal-fired power plant in operation in the U.K., the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, was shut down at the end of September of this year. Opened in 1882 in London as the world’s first coal-fired power station, the facility brought to a close its 142-year history.

The U.K. is the first among G7 countries that completely stopped coal-fired power generation, the most emissions-intensive source of power. The other G7 nations are also aiming to put an end to coal-fired power generation within a set period of time. Japan is the only G7 state that has not set a deadline for the withdrawal. In fact, Japan is promoting a policy of prolonging the use of coal-fired power generation by cofiring ammonia with coal. However, this technology has little effect in reducing CO2 emissions and has not even been put to practical use. Many experts point out that this is an immature technology that will not be ready in time as a global warming countermeasure.

Temperatures are expected to continue to rise for a long time into the future with some fluctuations. Some even predict that the global average temperature under current conditions will increase by about three degrees Celsius by the end of this century. There is no time left to waste to tackle climate change. Japan should immediately stop clinging to its support for coal-fired power generation.

Past related article:
> JCP proposes ordinance bill to organize Tokyoites’ assembly on climate change [September 25, 2024]