Climate Change: What did the Paris Agreement accomplish, and what is Japan's perspective?
NISHIMURA Mutsuyoshi / Former Ambassador of Japan for Global Environment
January 22, 2016
The Paris Agreement, which was adopted in Paris on December 12, 2015, was a groundbreaking document of historic significance that made the decision to seek an end to our fossil fuel-based civilization. In general, international treaties are signed to resolve conflict and realize peace, promote economic exchange, regulate trade and determine the type and amount of aid to alleviate poverty. However, in the latest Paris Agreement, we chose what kind of civilization we wanted to live in as humans. In other words, we defined the kind of global environment we wanted to live in. Though packed with technical details, the Agreement is fundamentally civilizational in nature. That is the most important point.
The Agreement simultaneously seeks to address the existential threat faced by many island nations of disappearing national land due to rising sea levels, by aiming to keep the increase in average global temperature within 1.5 degrees Celsius from the time of the Industrial Revolution. It also attempts to ameliorate, if not end, the tragedy caused by aridification, which destroys traditional, sustainable systems of production and leads to conflict, which in turn forces people to drift out of their homeland. In that sense it is a unique diplomatic document that seeks to ensure the survival of human society.
Burning fossil fuel generates carbon dioxide (CO2) that causes global warming, which if left alone would bring irreparable disaster to the global environment. This is what science has been warning time and again, and the international community had been negotiating for a solution to this issue for more than two decades. But it was not until 190 countries gathered for the latest meeting in Paris that an agreement was reached.
Why? Because burning fossil fuel had been closely linked with people's living standards and economic growth. Fossil fuel was essential for supplying basic energy such as electricity, providing power for automobiles and manufacturing industrial products. Our living standards had risen by burning fossil fuel. The issue was further complicated by the historical differences that exist with regard to each country's development. Advanced countries had already burnt massive amounts of fossil fuel, causing global warming while enjoying affluent lifestyles. Meanwhile, poor countries are not only unable to do so, but are most severely affected by global warming. This was the situation that had prevented any agreement in the past.
Then what made an agreement possible this time around? There are two major reasons. One, because of our common awareness that we are wasting vast amounts of energy around the world. And two, because the price of natural energy sources, i.e. renewable energy, has fallen rapidly. These two reasons gave vigor to the "energy transition" theory, which calls on human society to stop using fossil fuel, conserve energy and turn to solar and wind power to meet energy needs. Bold efforts by Germany, which spearheaded the movement, had the effect of stimulating the discussion. And "energiewende" - the German term for energy transition, became part of the global vocabulary
The debate moved to a stage that had an even greater significance. Making the transition to renewable energy as the core source of power will create new global demand. Whereas electricity that depends on, or is derived from, fossil fuel involved a large-scale, centralized system of distribution, the new energy system centered on renewable energy sources is a distributed system that raises production and employment in the outlying regions. In a word, energy transition based on renewable energy would be a completely new industrial revolution accompanied by regional revitalization. This idea took the world by storm. For many countries it meant economic growth and democratization. This led to the most important realization – a common awareness among developing countries and advanced countries that energy transition provided an area in which they could cooperate with each other. And this was the mental framework that made the recent agreement in Paris possible
How should Japan respond? Energy transition will certainly benefit Japan. Complying with the Agreement means ending the use of fossil fuel over the long term and placing renewable energy that is quickly becoming affordable firmly in the mainstream. By doing so, Japan would be standing in solidarity with the world in preventing global warming and promoting a civilizational transition. Until now, the idea of preventing global warming meant burning less fossil fuel, which was considered synonymous with sacrificing growth. From now on, things will progress based on a completely new idea. Putting a stop to global warming has become an opportunity.
Energy transition will drive the global economy as well as the Japanese economy, generating new investment, technological innovation and demand, which would trigger growth and employment. This will be realized by propagating new values in the local regions. Even better, energy-poor Japan will become self-sufficient. We should look back upon the painstaking efforts this country has made in the past to secure its energy sources. We should think of the vast, rich possibilities that will open up for Japanese diplomacy and international relations, once energy security is achieved.
Energy transition is being promoted around the world. Let me offer the example of Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world, where Muhammad Yunus, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his work against poverty, is making a spirited effort to expand the use of solar power among the poor. Photovoltaic panels are being installed on the roofs of two homes per minute, enabling children to study at night. The same thing is happening across Africa. Japan should not only pursue its own interests but also seek to save poverty-stricken regions around the world as well. The effort to prevent global warming will in fact lead to saving the poor through energy transition.
The writer is former Ambassador of Japan for Global Environment
The Agreement simultaneously seeks to address the existential threat faced by many island nations of disappearing national land due to rising sea levels, by aiming to keep the increase in average global temperature within 1.5 degrees Celsius from the time of the Industrial Revolution. It also attempts to ameliorate, if not end, the tragedy caused by aridification, which destroys traditional, sustainable systems of production and leads to conflict, which in turn forces people to drift out of their homeland. In that sense it is a unique diplomatic document that seeks to ensure the survival of human society.
Burning fossil fuel generates carbon dioxide (CO2) that causes global warming, which if left alone would bring irreparable disaster to the global environment. This is what science has been warning time and again, and the international community had been negotiating for a solution to this issue for more than two decades. But it was not until 190 countries gathered for the latest meeting in Paris that an agreement was reached.
Why? Because burning fossil fuel had been closely linked with people's living standards and economic growth. Fossil fuel was essential for supplying basic energy such as electricity, providing power for automobiles and manufacturing industrial products. Our living standards had risen by burning fossil fuel. The issue was further complicated by the historical differences that exist with regard to each country's development. Advanced countries had already burnt massive amounts of fossil fuel, causing global warming while enjoying affluent lifestyles. Meanwhile, poor countries are not only unable to do so, but are most severely affected by global warming. This was the situation that had prevented any agreement in the past.
Then what made an agreement possible this time around? There are two major reasons. One, because of our common awareness that we are wasting vast amounts of energy around the world. And two, because the price of natural energy sources, i.e. renewable energy, has fallen rapidly. These two reasons gave vigor to the "energy transition" theory, which calls on human society to stop using fossil fuel, conserve energy and turn to solar and wind power to meet energy needs. Bold efforts by Germany, which spearheaded the movement, had the effect of stimulating the discussion. And "energiewende" - the German term for energy transition, became part of the global vocabulary
The debate moved to a stage that had an even greater significance. Making the transition to renewable energy as the core source of power will create new global demand. Whereas electricity that depends on, or is derived from, fossil fuel involved a large-scale, centralized system of distribution, the new energy system centered on renewable energy sources is a distributed system that raises production and employment in the outlying regions. In a word, energy transition based on renewable energy would be a completely new industrial revolution accompanied by regional revitalization. This idea took the world by storm. For many countries it meant economic growth and democratization. This led to the most important realization – a common awareness among developing countries and advanced countries that energy transition provided an area in which they could cooperate with each other. And this was the mental framework that made the recent agreement in Paris possible
How should Japan respond? Energy transition will certainly benefit Japan. Complying with the Agreement means ending the use of fossil fuel over the long term and placing renewable energy that is quickly becoming affordable firmly in the mainstream. By doing so, Japan would be standing in solidarity with the world in preventing global warming and promoting a civilizational transition. Until now, the idea of preventing global warming meant burning less fossil fuel, which was considered synonymous with sacrificing growth. From now on, things will progress based on a completely new idea. Putting a stop to global warming has become an opportunity.
Energy transition will drive the global economy as well as the Japanese economy, generating new investment, technological innovation and demand, which would trigger growth and employment. This will be realized by propagating new values in the local regions. Even better, energy-poor Japan will become self-sufficient. We should look back upon the painstaking efforts this country has made in the past to secure its energy sources. We should think of the vast, rich possibilities that will open up for Japanese diplomacy and international relations, once energy security is achieved.
Energy transition is being promoted around the world. Let me offer the example of Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world, where Muhammad Yunus, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his work against poverty, is making a spirited effort to expand the use of solar power among the poor. Photovoltaic panels are being installed on the roofs of two homes per minute, enabling children to study at night. The same thing is happening across Africa. Japan should not only pursue its own interests but also seek to save poverty-stricken regions around the world as well. The effort to prevent global warming will in fact lead to saving the poor through energy transition.
The writer is former Ambassador of Japan for Global Environment
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
気候変動：パリ協定は何を実現したか？日本の視座は？
西村六善 / 元地球環境大使
2016年 1月 22日
パリで2015年12月12日に採択されたパリ協定は化石燃料文明の終焉を目指すと云う決定をした点で歴史的で画期的な文書だ。普通、国際条約は対立を解決して平和を実現し、経済交流を促進し、貿易を規律し、貧困を救う援助の種類と額を決めてきた。しかし今回のパリ協定は人間がその中で住みたい文明の種類を選定したのだ。つまり人間がそこで暮らしたい地球環境とはどんなものかを規定した。この協定は多くの技術的詳細さに満ち溢れているが根本的に文明的な性格を持つものだ。ここが最も重要な点だ。
同時にこの協定は産業革命からの地球の平均温度を1.5℃以内に抑えることを目標としたことで海面上昇による国土の消滅と云う多くの島しょ国が抱く実存的問題に対処しようとするものだ。また、乾燥化が伝統的で持続的だった生産体制を破壊し、それが争いを生み、人々に流浪を強いる悲劇を終わらせないにしても緩和する試みでもある。その点では人間社会の存続を保証しようとする珍しい外交文書だ。
化石燃料を燃焼する時発生する二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）が温暖化を引き起こし、放置すると地球環境に取り返しのつかない破局を迎える。これが科学がかねてから夙に警告してきたことだ。そして過去20年以上にわたり世界はこの問題の解決を求めて交渉してきたが、今回パリに190か国が集合するまで合意は出来なかった。
何故か？ それは化石燃料の燃焼は人々の生活水準と経済の成長に深くリンクしていたからだ。電力等の基礎エネルギーの供給、自動車の動力、工業製品の生産において化石燃料は不可欠だった。化石燃料の燃焼が生活水準を引き上げてきた。それに更に問題を複雑にしたのは諸国間の歴史的な発展の違いだった。先進国は先に化石燃料を大量に燃焼し、温暖化を引き起こし、そして生活の豊かさを享受しているが、貧困国はそれが出来ないだけでなく、温暖化の被害を最も厳しく受けている。これが合意を阻んだ構図だった。
では今回どうして合意が出来たのか？ 大きく云って二つの理由がある。第一は世界中で人々は膨大なエネルギーの無駄使いをしていると云う認識に到達した。第二は再生可能エネルギー(再エネ)と云う自然エネルギーが急速に安価になったことだ。この二つの理由で人類社会は化石燃料を止めて、エネルギーの節約と必要なエネルギーは太陽光や風力発電などで賄うと云うエネルギー転換論が澎湃として起きた。その嚆矢となったドイツの大胆な試みが刺激になった面がある。ドイツ語のエネルギー転換を意味するenergiewendeは国際語になった。
この議論は更にもっと重要な段階へと発展した。再エネを軸にするエネルギーに転換することで新しい世界的需要が生まれる。化石燃料依存（又は由来）型の電力は中央統御制度(centralized)による大規模システムであったが、再エネを軸とする新エネルギー体制は地方へのエネルギー分散（＊）型エネルギーであるので、地方に生産と雇用を生む。一言で云えば再エネによるエネルギー転換は地方活性化を伴う全く新しい産業革命だ…。このような観念が忽ち世界を席巻した。これは多くの国にとり、経済成長と体制の民主化を意味した。それが一番重要な次のことに導いた。つまりこのエネルギー転換と云う局面でなら途上国と先進国は共同作業が可能だと云う観念を共有できた。これが今回パリでの合意を可能にした背後の精神構造だ。
日本はどう対応するべきか？ 当然エネルギー転換は日本の利益だ。この協定に従って長期的に化石燃料を廃止し、急速に安価になっている再エネを主流化することは世界と連帯して温暖化を喰い止め、文明転換を推進することになる。今まで温暖化を食い止めることは化石燃料の燃焼を減らすこと、それは成長を犠牲にすることと観念されてきた。これからは全く新しい観念で進むことになる。温暖化を食い止めることは寧ろ機会だ。
エネルギー転換が世界と日本の経済を動かし、新たな投資と技術革新と需要を生み、成長と雇用を起爆する。それを地方への新しい価値の増殖を通じて実現する。更に素晴らしいことにエネルギー貧困国日本が自給自足できることになる。エネルギー資源確保にこの国がどれ程の苦心と努力をしてきたかを回顧するべきだ。エネルギー安保が確保された時、日本の外交と国際関係にどれほど広大で豊かで新しい展望が生まれるか？
エネルギー転換は世界中で進んでいる。一例をあげれば最貧国の一つであるバングラデッシュでは有名なモハメッド・ヤヌス氏（2006年貧困救済事業でノーベル平和賞）は今や貧困層への太陽光発電の拡大に渾身の努力をしている。1分間に２軒の家の屋根に太陽光パネルが取り付けられ、子供たちは夜勉強が出来るようになった。アフリカの全土でも同じことが起きている。日本は自分の国のことだけでなく世界の貧困地域をも救うべきだ。温暖化防止への努力は実はエネルギー転換を通じて貧困を救うのだ。
（筆者は元地球環境大使）
同時にこの協定は産業革命からの地球の平均温度を1.5℃以内に抑えることを目標としたことで海面上昇による国土の消滅と云う多くの島しょ国が抱く実存的問題に対処しようとするものだ。また、乾燥化が伝統的で持続的だった生産体制を破壊し、それが争いを生み、人々に流浪を強いる悲劇を終わらせないにしても緩和する試みでもある。その点では人間社会の存続を保証しようとする珍しい外交文書だ。
化石燃料を燃焼する時発生する二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）が温暖化を引き起こし、放置すると地球環境に取り返しのつかない破局を迎える。これが科学がかねてから夙に警告してきたことだ。そして過去20年以上にわたり世界はこの問題の解決を求めて交渉してきたが、今回パリに190か国が集合するまで合意は出来なかった。
何故か？ それは化石燃料の燃焼は人々の生活水準と経済の成長に深くリンクしていたからだ。電力等の基礎エネルギーの供給、自動車の動力、工業製品の生産において化石燃料は不可欠だった。化石燃料の燃焼が生活水準を引き上げてきた。それに更に問題を複雑にしたのは諸国間の歴史的な発展の違いだった。先進国は先に化石燃料を大量に燃焼し、温暖化を引き起こし、そして生活の豊かさを享受しているが、貧困国はそれが出来ないだけでなく、温暖化の被害を最も厳しく受けている。これが合意を阻んだ構図だった。
では今回どうして合意が出来たのか？ 大きく云って二つの理由がある。第一は世界中で人々は膨大なエネルギーの無駄使いをしていると云う認識に到達した。第二は再生可能エネルギー(再エネ)と云う自然エネルギーが急速に安価になったことだ。この二つの理由で人類社会は化石燃料を止めて、エネルギーの節約と必要なエネルギーは太陽光や風力発電などで賄うと云うエネルギー転換論が澎湃として起きた。その嚆矢となったドイツの大胆な試みが刺激になった面がある。ドイツ語のエネルギー転換を意味するenergiewendeは国際語になった。
この議論は更にもっと重要な段階へと発展した。再エネを軸にするエネルギーに転換することで新しい世界的需要が生まれる。化石燃料依存（又は由来）型の電力は中央統御制度(centralized)による大規模システムであったが、再エネを軸とする新エネルギー体制は地方へのエネルギー分散（＊）型エネルギーであるので、地方に生産と雇用を生む。一言で云えば再エネによるエネルギー転換は地方活性化を伴う全く新しい産業革命だ…。このような観念が忽ち世界を席巻した。これは多くの国にとり、経済成長と体制の民主化を意味した。それが一番重要な次のことに導いた。つまりこのエネルギー転換と云う局面でなら途上国と先進国は共同作業が可能だと云う観念を共有できた。これが今回パリでの合意を可能にした背後の精神構造だ。
日本はどう対応するべきか？ 当然エネルギー転換は日本の利益だ。この協定に従って長期的に化石燃料を廃止し、急速に安価になっている再エネを主流化することは世界と連帯して温暖化を喰い止め、文明転換を推進することになる。今まで温暖化を食い止めることは化石燃料の燃焼を減らすこと、それは成長を犠牲にすることと観念されてきた。これからは全く新しい観念で進むことになる。温暖化を食い止めることは寧ろ機会だ。
エネルギー転換が世界と日本の経済を動かし、新たな投資と技術革新と需要を生み、成長と雇用を起爆する。それを地方への新しい価値の増殖を通じて実現する。更に素晴らしいことにエネルギー貧困国日本が自給自足できることになる。エネルギー資源確保にこの国がどれ程の苦心と努力をしてきたかを回顧するべきだ。エネルギー安保が確保された時、日本の外交と国際関係にどれほど広大で豊かで新しい展望が生まれるか？
エネルギー転換は世界中で進んでいる。一例をあげれば最貧国の一つであるバングラデッシュでは有名なモハメッド・ヤヌス氏（2006年貧困救済事業でノーベル平和賞）は今や貧困層への太陽光発電の拡大に渾身の努力をしている。1分間に２軒の家の屋根に太陽光パネルが取り付けられ、子供たちは夜勉強が出来るようになった。アフリカの全土でも同じことが起きている。日本は自分の国のことだけでなく世界の貧困地域をも救うべきだ。温暖化防止への努力は実はエネルギー転換を通じて貧困を救うのだ。
（筆者は元地球環境大使）
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟