Japan on climate change

[Salty]

I am surprised that Japan has not yet set numerical targets for reduction of climate changing greenhouse gas emissions - CO2, methane, etc., etc. As the article says – the nuclear shutdown and resultant import of oil to generate more expensive, and releasing more greenhouse gasses, leaves Japan in a bit of a tight spot. Solar, still being in its infancy here, is not going to make a dent in meeting Japan`s needs for electricity any day soon. Plus, I have never heard reference made to possible changes in cultural practices, save the CoolBiz program, such as restricting the open burning of field ground cover that I observe almost on a daily basis throughout the year. It will be interesting to see how Japan faces this hurdle.

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/news ... 6000c.html

Japan pressured to show numerical target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Japan and other parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change have come under pressure to unveil their respective numerical targets for reducing greenhouse gas emission by the end of May 2015.

A draft of a statement by the chairman of the 20th Conference of the Parties (COP 20) to the convention under way in Peru that proposes the deadline was released on Dec. 8 (Dec. 9, Japan time). The proposal on a new framework for cutting greenhouse gas emissions will be discussed at ministerial talks that begin on Dec. 9, but developing and developed countries remain at odds over the details of the new framework.

In particular, Japan, which has lagged behind other parties in discussions on its target for reducing gases that cause global warming, will be urged by other parties to set its numerical target at an early date.

Parties to the convention are aiming to reach an agreement on a new framework to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol for countermeasures against global warming at the COP 21 scheduled to be held in Paris at the end of next year.

Under the new framework, all parties including developing countries will be required to show specific targets they are supposed to set voluntarily, unlike the Kyoto Protocol that mandates only developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Countries participating in the convention have so far agreed to submit their targets by March 2015 if they are prepared to do so. However, little progress has been made on debate on the issue in Japan because Tokyo has not set a clear energy policy, including the desirable ratio of power sources, such as nuclear power and renewable energy, in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

The government has pledged to submit its target as early as possible, but fallen short of clarifying when it can do so.

In contrast, the European Union has decided to aim for at least a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2030, while the United States has set a goal of cutting emissions by 26 to 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025. China has also announced that it will push its emissions downward after peaking sometime around 2030.

The draft statement by the chairman also urges countries that are unprepared to set numerical targets to submit their goals by May 2015 or as early as possible if they cannot make the deadline.

A member of the Japanese delegation stopped short of making a clear-cut comment on whether Japan can make the deadline. "We agree to hold discussions based on the draft proposal by the chairman. We won't oppose the deadline in order to make progress on the debate and we won't comment on our domestic discussions on the issue," said a member of the delegation.

The draft proposal also urges all parties to the convention to consider whether developed countries should incorporate measures to lessen damage caused by floods and drought in developing countries and implement financial assistance to that end in their goals.

The chairman has thus shown consideration to both developing countries, asking that such assistance be mentioned in the proposal, and developed countries, asking that they be allowed to focus mainly on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

[matsuki]

A member of the Japanese delegation stopped short of making a clear-cut comment on whether Japan can make the deadline. "We agree to hold discussions based on the draft proposal by the chairman. We won't oppose the deadline in order to make progress on the debate and we won't comment on our domestic discussions on the issue," said a member of the delegation.

That's alot of words to say so little

[J.A.F.O]

Burn.jpg

[Coligny]

You called ?

[J.A.F.O]

Just a shout out to those who have the forethought of bunkerspace

[matsuki]

ECO Kuni ECO Kuni oi oi oi!!

[Salty]

Just pondering what Japan, and probably a few other Asian countries could do at an individual level to counter climate change.

I already mentioned stopping the practice of field cover burning, but would like to add to that – the burning of trash, which several of my neighbors still do – in spite of there being a municipal collection and controlled burn facility. One of them still burns plastic, used engine oil, and the plastic/composite covering on scrap copper electric wire that he scavenges. It gives off an awful smell along with the black smoke.

Additionally, I believe it would help if all new roofs for homes and businesses were light colored, to facilitate sunlight reflection. I find it odd that black/dark grey are the preferred colors for roof tiles and other composite materials – in spite of the absorbed heat contributing to a shorter useful life. White, or lighter colors last much longer once installed.

Japan has a good auto exhaust control – built into the shaken inspection program. But I still see massive dump trucks spewing black soot. I am guessing that they get a pass for being the source of the trucker’s livelihood.

Others anyone?

[J.A.F.O]

This is just my professional opinion here, but most governments and businesses actually don't give a flying fuck about the environment. Yea it's great if we can please the masses or not destroy everything around us ... so long as it doesn't effect our bottom line, or effect our ability to fudge the number to make it look like we're doing something. Asking government to make changes is like going to the wolf and yelling "There is a fox in the hen house!"

[matsuki]

stopping the practice of field cover burning, but would like to add to that – the burning of trash, which several of my neighbors still do – in spite of there being a municipal collection and controlled burn facility. One of them still burns plastic, used engine oil, and the plastic/composite covering on scrap copper electric wire that he scavenges. It gives off an awful smell along with the black smoke.

Have you ever complained? Seems like they only enforce that shit when there is someone pushing them to....and even then the cops attitude seems to be "well, they had a couple of yaki-imo going on in there so it wasn't burning trash, he was cooking"

[Salty]

stopping the practice of field cover burning, but would like to add to that – the burning of trash, which several of my neighbors still do – in spite of there being a municipal collection and controlled burn facility. One of them still burns plastic, used engine oil, and the plastic/composite covering on scrap copper electric wire that he scavenges. It gives off an awful smell along with the black smoke.

Have you ever complained? Seems like they only enforce that shit when there is someone pushing them to....and even then the cops attitude seems to be "well, they had a couple of yaki-imo going on in there so it wasn't burning trash, he was cooking"

Well – no I haven`t, but I seriously doubt it would do much good – since on a good day, it looks like a war zone. I have a hill, surrounded by rice fields and have counted 10 or so. The really bad ones they save for dusk – so people will be going inside while their smoke fills the valley. To get control of this – it will need to come from on-high and be communicated thru a national program.

[matsuki]

Give it a try though, or even better, call the fire department. According to the police I encountered, it's supposedly already banned, just not enforced.

[Mike Oxlong]

Only time I've been called out on a burn is when the smoke drifted across a major roadway after a wind shift. Omawarisan was very friendly and helpful.

[matsuki]

I got called out because my bonfire was made of trees instead of pieces of wood....but even then, he was like "burning garbage like this is illegal but if you had something you were cooking it, I can't really do much about it"

[Mike Oxlong]

Yeah, as mine was using a bbq pit, he said he'd let it slide as a cookout, not a drunk fuck burning gardening waste in his yard.

[Yokohammer]

We're surrounded by rice fields where they burn after the harvest. Pillars of smoke all over the place in the fall, and of course you can't miss the smell. But the dumbitch down the end of the road burnt the front off her house by burning leaves and trash in her front yard not too long ago, so people are a little nervous about that sort of thing (and it's not allowed).

[Mike Oxlong]

In my defence I did have a garden hose with nozzle primed and at the ready.

[matsuki]

We're surrounded by rice fields where they burn after the harvest. Pillars of smoke all over the place in the fall, and of course you can't miss the smell. But the dumbitch down the end of the road burnt the front off her house by burning leaves and trash in her front yard not too long ago, so people are a little nervous about that sort of thing (and it's not allowed).

Well, you could always go night ninja on them and draw some sort of scary demonic pictures with lighter fluid in anticipation for their next burn

[Coligny]

We're surrounded by rice fields where they burn after the harvest. Pillars of smoke all over the place in the fall, and of course you can't miss the smell. But the dumbitch down the end of the road burnt the front off her house by burning leaves and trash in her front yard not too long ago, so people are a little nervous about that sort of thing (and it's not allowed).

Well, you could always go night ninja on them and draw some sort of scary demonic pictures with lighter fluid in anticipation for their next burn

Better, napalm in tube from the hardware store:

image.jpg

[matsuki]

That stuff wasn't nearly as flammable as I had hoped it was....those gasoline soaked particle board blocks on the other hand....Holy shit!!

[Yokohammer]

That stuff wasn't nearly as flammable as I had hoped it was....those gasoline soaked particle board blocks on the other hand....Holy shit!!

Um ... yeah.
Don't use gasoline to start fires. Just don't.

[Salty]

That stuff wasn't nearly as flammable as I had hoped it was....those gasoline soaked particle board blocks on the other hand....Holy shit!!

Um ... yeah.
Don't use gasoline to start fires. Just don't.

After the big one hit a few years ago, someone produced kerosene soaked fiber board to help start fires. It works well, and is safe – no explosions.

[Wage Slave]

That stuff wasn't nearly as flammable as I had hoped it was....those gasoline soaked particle board blocks on the other hand....Holy shit!!

Um ... yeah.
Don't use gasoline to start fires. Just don't.

After the big one hit a few years ago, someone produced kerosene soaked fiber board to help start fires. It works well, and is safe – no explosions.

Yep. Gasoline doesn't really burn - it forms a vapour, spreads and explodes when ignited. Kerosene or diesel is far far safer and very effective.

[Yokohammer]

That stuff wasn't nearly as flammable as I had hoped it was....those gasoline soaked particle board blocks on the other hand....Holy shit!!

Um ... yeah.
Don't use gasoline to start fires. Just don't.

After the big one hit a few years ago, someone produced kerosene soaked fiber board to help start fires. It works well, and is safe – no explosions.

Yes, kerosene is fine.

Gasoline is a big no-no.

[matsuki]

Don're remember the brand but must be kerosene soaked then. Cheap as shit and worked better than anything else we had.

[J.A.F.O]

That stuff wasn't nearly as flammable as I had hoped it was....those gasoline soaked particle board blocks on the other hand....Holy shit!!

Um ... yeah.
Don't use gasoline to start fires. Just don't.

After the big one hit a few years ago, someone produced kerosene soaked fiber board to help start fires. It works well, and is safe – no explosions.

Yes, kerosene is fine.

Gasoline is a big no-no.

Saw something like this while in Quantico.

Those EOD guys have way too much time on their hands.

[Coligny]

rule of thumb:
gasoline explode
kerosene burn
vaporised kerosene explode

which lead us to "oh shit" discovery #whatever:
toyu tanks are safe when full (burn only)
but when partially empty and especially during hot weather are at risk to explode. since they are full of vapor. empty tanks are better to be stored with the cap removed.

[Samurai_Jerk]

rule of thumb:
gasoline explode
kerosene burn
vaporised kerosene explode

And diesel is delicious.

[Mike Oxlong]

Japan uses climate cash for coal plants in India, Bangladesh

Despite mounting protests, Japan continues to finance the building of coal-fired power plants with money earmarked for fighting climate change, with two new projects underway in India and Bangladesh, The Associated Press has found.

The AP reported in December that Japan had counted $1 billion in loans for coal plants in Indonesia as climate finance, angering critics who say such financing should be going to clean energy like solar and wind power.

Japanese officials now say they are also counting $630 million in loans for coal plants in Kudgi, India, and Matarbari, Bangladesh, as climate finance. The Kudgi project has been marred by violent clashes between police and local farmers who fear the plant will pollute the environment.

Tokyo argues that the projects are climate-friendly because the plants use technology that burns coal more efficiently, reducing their carbon emissions compared to older coal plants. Also, Japanese officials stress that developing countries need coal power to grow their economies and expand access to electricity.

“Japan is of the view that the promotion of high-efficiency coal-fired power plants is one of the realistic, pragmatic and effective approaches to cope with the issue of climate change,” said Takako Ito, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry.

Climate finance is money promised by rich countries in U.N. climate talks to help poor countries limit their carbon emissions. Japan announced at a U.N. climate conference in Peru in December that it has provided $16 billion in climate finance since 2013. Yet the U.N. has no rules defining climate finance, meaning governments decide for themselves what projects to include in their accounting.

Environmental activists are demanding that at the very least, climate finance should exclude coal and other fossil fuels that scientists blame for warming the planet.

“Japan’s support for new coal-fired power plants not only destroys the climate — it also displaces communities, is likely to cause untold local environmental damage, and primarily benefits Japanese companies instead of recipient countries,” said Brandon Wu of ActionAid.

“This is unacceptable on its own, and the fact that it is being done in the name of ‘climate finance’ makes a farce of the entire concept,” he said.

Climate activists are now urging the recently created Green Climate Fund, which is supposed to become a key channel of climate finance, to explicitly ban funding for fossil fuel projects. The issue is likely to be discussed at the GCF’s board meeting this week in South Korea.

The Matarbari plant is financed with a Japanese development loan agreed with the government of Bangladesh last June.

The Kudgi project is partially financed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, which supports Japanese companies abroad through export credits. JBIC agreed in January 2014 to provide $210 million in loans to Indian power company NTPC Ltd. to finance the purchase of steam turbine generators and boiler feed water pumps to be used in the coal plant from a local subsidiary of Toshiba, a major Japanese company.

Construction there has resumed after coming to a standstill following violent protests last July when police opened fire on angry demonstrators. Two farmers were wounded in the shootings.

One of them, Chandappa Holleppa, said he was shot in the stomach and left hand.

“I fell on the road and was bleeding badly,” he told the AP. “Policemen picked me up and took me to a hospital,” where he remained for two months.

The protesters have set up a makeshift shed of bamboo sticks and tin sheets and plastic in the nearby village of Muttagi. They are focused on the plant’s local environmental impact like potential air pollution, rather than its contribution to global carbon emissions.

“We want more power but not this one,” said Sidramappa Ranjanagi, who leads a local farmers’ organization. “In America they have stopped coal-based plants because it affects people’s health. Why can’t the government come up with solar power plants? We use solar power units at home here and they’re good.”

A. Sathyabhama, a technical services manager at the plant, said NTPC is trying to assure the villagers that the plant is environmentally safe.

Japanese environmental activist Yuki Tanabe has met with JBIC officials several times to urge them to withdraw funding for the Kudgi plant, citing concerns over human rights violations and environmental damage.

“JBIC responded that the human rights situation has been improved, and environmental concerns have been addressed,” Tanabe said. “The project was approved, and no possibility to stop it now.”

Japan’s Foreign Ministry, which compiles the list of projects that get the climate finance label, said there was no change in policy regarding Kudgi.

“We are aware that the project mentioned was temporarily halted due to the protests by local residents,” Ito said. “But we also understand that the project company responded to them properly and the project is being continued with appropriate monitoring in line with JBIC guidelines” for environmental and social considerations.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/busi ... bangladesh

[Yokohammer]

“Japan is of the view that the promotion of high-efficiency coal-fired power plants is one of the realistic, pragmatic and effective approaches to cope with the issue of climate change,” said Takako Ito, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry.

Funny ... that's not what they're saying here at home.

Gee, d'ya suppose they might be full of it?

[matsuki]

“Japan is of the view that the promotion of high-efficiency coal-fired power plants is one of the realistic, pragmatic and effective approaches to cope with the issue of climate change,” said Takako Ito, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry.

Funny ... that's not what they're saying here at home.

Gee, d'ya suppose they might be full of it?

What's good for kaigai isn't good at home eh? (not that Japan is a "developing country" but the usual teeth-sucking excuses tend to be about money)

Japan still has a big ace up their sleeve though...the amount of time I spend idling in traffic due to the lack of a synchronized traffic signal system is insane. Sure, the band-aid fix to this is those eco-idle systems but even those bitches would be more efficient if you're not being forced to stop and re accelerate at every fucking light.