Japan is the world's 5th largest CO2 producer, after the U.S., China and the European Union who are tied for second place, Russia and India. I guess they're hoping to move up in the ranks, because instead of reducing their carbon emissions, in 2007-2008 they set a record high. Japan's bad year will almost certainly mean a failure to hit the targets set by the Kyoto Protocol, even with the purchase of carbon offsets. Since the U.S., China and India are not bound by the Kyoto Protocol targets for 2008-2012, Japan's failure has political as well as environmental ramifications.
The rise in emissions was actually expected, following the shut down of the largest power plant in the world, run by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO). The plant was shut following an earthquake in July of 2007, and won't reopen until March 2009 at the earliest. To replace the energy normally produced by this plant, utility companies turned to higher CO2 producing methods like burning coal, oil and gas.
Unlike Australia and the European Union, Japan's caps on emissions are voluntary rather than mandatory, and it's clear this approach is not working. In fact, they opened two new coal plants this year! Oh, and also? Japan has to buy so many carbon offsets that it will probably drive up the price of carbon credits.
It sounds like Japan needs to make some some big changes, and probably also the Kyoto Protocol could use some touching up. Not that I have a vote, but this sounds like a good topic for a session at theUnited Nations Poznań Climate Change Conference in December.
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