Japan as a Pioneer in Taking on Challenges
KOMIYAMA Hiroshi / Chairman of the Institute, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.
February 25, 2010
Today, mankind is faced with three new paradigms – the Shrinking Earth, symbolized by the financial crisis which instantaneously afflicted the whole world; the Aging Society, which will be the case for most of the world before the middle of this century; and the Exploding Knowledge, which is good to have, but too much of it makes it difficult for anyone to see the overall picture.
There are bright and dark sides to each of these paradigms. Those nations that succeed in linking the "lights" to the birth of new industries will be leading this century. The challenge posed by the Exploding Knowledge is common to all nations, but, regarding the other two paradigms, Japan is a "pioneer in taking on challenges". With a large population squeezed into a small land and scarcely endowed with natural resources, Japan has moved steadily ahead, surmounting, like no other country, pollution and energy-related challenges arising from the Shrinking Earth. Today, the biggest challenges are global warming and industrial wastes, and Japan can again lead the world in this regard.
On global warming, it is not that Japan is expected to do something that would harm itself internationally. But Japan can do certain things for its own benefit, and the sooner the better. In particular, energy saving in "daily lives" such as consumption in homes, offices and transports should be started right away. Energy-saving electric appliances, heat pump water heaters, eco cars and solar cells comprise the finest collection of Japan's manufacturing technologies. The sooner we proceed in these areas, the better use we can make of our manufacturing prowess.
One could go so far as to say that the recycling of wastes would eliminate the need for underground mineral resources by 2050. A ton of gold ore would produce 5~10 grams of gold through refining. But if you can collect a ton of cell phones, they contain 250 grams of gold. If you succeed in inventing a system to collect and process all those cell phones, it will be scores of times more efficient than gold mines. Japan has a fine record in recycling, such as the invention of the recycling system for disposable cameras.
I have been arguing that Japan can reduce its greenhouse gas missions by 30% by 2020 compared to the 1990 level. It would consist of 12% reduction by energy-saving consumption in "daily lives", that is, in homes, offices and transports, 3% in manufacturing, 5% through the use of new energy sources including improvement in the rate of operation of nuclear power plants, 5% through forest preservation and agriculture, and 5% through the CDM (Clean Development Mechanism).
There is much room for reduction in the "daily lives" sector. When we dealt with pollution issues, it sufficed to control emissions by a limited number of manufacturing industries. This time, it is different. Japan's manufacturing industries are already highly energy-efficient, with little room left for further reduction, "like a towel squeezed dry" as they say. They can yield at most a 3% reduction, which would not have to be forced if other countries failed to join in. What is important is reduction with respect to homes.
In 2002, I converted my own house into an "eco house". Insulating material and double-glazed windows were put in place. The air-conditioner and the refrigerator were replaced by the newest models. A heat pump water heater was brought in, and solar cells were placed on the roof. As a result, the energy consumption at my home was reduced by 58%. Add to this the electricity supplied by the solar cells, which accounts for 23% of the electricity consumption. I have thus managed to reduce my CO2 emissions by 81%. Now I am enjoying the comfort of a life free from noises and dews on the window. It cost me \3.11 million to do this. But the electricity bill, which was about \300,000 a year, has come down to \48,000, and the cost is recoverable in about 12 years.
I venture to propose that Japan should set for itself the goal of converting all buildings into eco buildings and all means of transport into low-carbon ones.
To start with, all school buildings should be insulated. You keep the existing buildings, and cover the exterior with insulating material and put double-glazed windows in. You will hardly need heaters in winter because of the sunlight. The load on air-conditioners in summer will be reduced. You thus cut energy consumption and put solar cells on the roof. This is a very good practical education on global warming.
As for offices, first-rate firms are expected to rebuild their offices to have better insulation and ample sunlight in winter. Those who keep their existing buildings will install double-glazed windows. We aim at thus converting a quarter of the office buildings into eco buildings. We also aim at converting at least a quarter of cars into eco cars. Consumption in "daily lives" accounts for 55% of Japan's energy consumption. If we do it right, we should be able to achieve an 80% reduction, as I did in my home. Thus, if we can manage to make a quarter of this consumption eco-friendly, we should be able to reduce CO2 emission by 12%.
The question is who will bear the initial investment cost. If businesses are to finance the rebuilding costs through bond issues, the government can help by subsidizing interest payments. Higher interests will help mobilize the hitherto dormant personal financial assets amounting to \ 1400 trillion. For individuals as well, it is important to facilitate the initial investment.
The writer is President Emeritus of the University of Tokyo. This article is a summary of the interview published in the Yomiuri Shimbun of 8 January 2010.
There are bright and dark sides to each of these paradigms. Those nations that succeed in linking the "lights" to the birth of new industries will be leading this century. The challenge posed by the Exploding Knowledge is common to all nations, but, regarding the other two paradigms, Japan is a "pioneer in taking on challenges". With a large population squeezed into a small land and scarcely endowed with natural resources, Japan has moved steadily ahead, surmounting, like no other country, pollution and energy-related challenges arising from the Shrinking Earth. Today, the biggest challenges are global warming and industrial wastes, and Japan can again lead the world in this regard.
On global warming, it is not that Japan is expected to do something that would harm itself internationally. But Japan can do certain things for its own benefit, and the sooner the better. In particular, energy saving in "daily lives" such as consumption in homes, offices and transports should be started right away. Energy-saving electric appliances, heat pump water heaters, eco cars and solar cells comprise the finest collection of Japan's manufacturing technologies. The sooner we proceed in these areas, the better use we can make of our manufacturing prowess.
One could go so far as to say that the recycling of wastes would eliminate the need for underground mineral resources by 2050. A ton of gold ore would produce 5~10 grams of gold through refining. But if you can collect a ton of cell phones, they contain 250 grams of gold. If you succeed in inventing a system to collect and process all those cell phones, it will be scores of times more efficient than gold mines. Japan has a fine record in recycling, such as the invention of the recycling system for disposable cameras.
I have been arguing that Japan can reduce its greenhouse gas missions by 30% by 2020 compared to the 1990 level. It would consist of 12% reduction by energy-saving consumption in "daily lives", that is, in homes, offices and transports, 3% in manufacturing, 5% through the use of new energy sources including improvement in the rate of operation of nuclear power plants, 5% through forest preservation and agriculture, and 5% through the CDM (Clean Development Mechanism).
There is much room for reduction in the "daily lives" sector. When we dealt with pollution issues, it sufficed to control emissions by a limited number of manufacturing industries. This time, it is different. Japan's manufacturing industries are already highly energy-efficient, with little room left for further reduction, "like a towel squeezed dry" as they say. They can yield at most a 3% reduction, which would not have to be forced if other countries failed to join in. What is important is reduction with respect to homes.
In 2002, I converted my own house into an "eco house". Insulating material and double-glazed windows were put in place. The air-conditioner and the refrigerator were replaced by the newest models. A heat pump water heater was brought in, and solar cells were placed on the roof. As a result, the energy consumption at my home was reduced by 58%. Add to this the electricity supplied by the solar cells, which accounts for 23% of the electricity consumption. I have thus managed to reduce my CO2 emissions by 81%. Now I am enjoying the comfort of a life free from noises and dews on the window. It cost me \3.11 million to do this. But the electricity bill, which was about \300,000 a year, has come down to \48,000, and the cost is recoverable in about 12 years.
I venture to propose that Japan should set for itself the goal of converting all buildings into eco buildings and all means of transport into low-carbon ones.
To start with, all school buildings should be insulated. You keep the existing buildings, and cover the exterior with insulating material and put double-glazed windows in. You will hardly need heaters in winter because of the sunlight. The load on air-conditioners in summer will be reduced. You thus cut energy consumption and put solar cells on the roof. This is a very good practical education on global warming.
As for offices, first-rate firms are expected to rebuild their offices to have better insulation and ample sunlight in winter. Those who keep their existing buildings will install double-glazed windows. We aim at thus converting a quarter of the office buildings into eco buildings. We also aim at converting at least a quarter of cars into eco cars. Consumption in "daily lives" accounts for 55% of Japan's energy consumption. If we do it right, we should be able to achieve an 80% reduction, as I did in my home. Thus, if we can manage to make a quarter of this consumption eco-friendly, we should be able to reduce CO2 emission by 12%.
The question is who will bear the initial investment cost. If businesses are to finance the rebuilding costs through bond issues, the government can help by subsidizing interest payments. Higher interests will help mobilize the hitherto dormant personal financial assets amounting to \ 1400 trillion. For individuals as well, it is important to facilitate the initial investment.
The writer is President Emeritus of the University of Tokyo. This article is a summary of the interview published in the Yomiuri Shimbun of 8 January 2010.
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
「課題先進国」の潜在力
小宮山 宏 / 三菱総合研究所理事長
2010年 2月 25日
人類は今、新たな三つの課題に直面している。金融危機が一瞬にして世界を回ることに象徴される「小さくなった地球」、２１世紀半ばを待たずに人類全体が高齢化の時代を迎える「高齢化する社会」、知識が増えたのは良いが多すぎて誰にも全体像が見えない「爆発する知識」の三つだ。
それぞれ光と影があるが、光の部分を新産業に結び付けていける国が、これからの世紀を引っ張る。「爆発する知識」はどの国にも共通する課題だが、残りの二つでは日本は「課題先進国」だ。資源のない狭い国土に大きな人口を抱える日本は、「小さくなった地球」の現れである公害やエネルギー問題について、ほかの国が経験したことのない問題を克服しながら、前に進んできた。今後大きいのは地球温暖化や廃棄物の問題だが、そこでも、日本は世界をリードできる。
温暖化問題では、国際的に損をするようなことはやる必要はないが、早くやった方が得なことはやればいい。中でも、家庭やオフィス、輸送など「日々のくらし」の省エネは、すぐに始めた方が良い。ここは、省エネ家電や高効率給湯器、エコカー、太陽電池など日本のものづくりの得意なところを終結するような技術の塊だ。早くやった方が、日本のものづくり力が生きる。
また、廃棄物のリサイクルで、極論すれば２０５０年には金属地下資源がいらなくなる。金は金鉱石１トンに５～１０グラムが含まれ精錬で集めているが、携帯電話を１トン集めれば２５０グラムの金が入っている。携帯電話を集めてうまく処理するシステムさえ作れば、金鉱山より数十倍も良い資源だ。日本には、レンズ付きフィルムのようなリサイクルシステムを作った実績もある。
私は２０２０年までの日本の温室効果ガス削減について、家庭やオフィス、輸送など「日々のくらし」の省エネで１９９０年比１２％、ものづくりで３％、原子力発電所の稼働率向上など新エネルギーで５％、森林保全・農業で５％、クリーン開発メカニズム（CDM）で５％と、計３０％は可能だと主張している。
「日々のくらし」は削減余地が大きい。公害問題では、限られた数のものづくり産業を排出規制すれば済んだが、今回は違う。日本のものづくり産業のエネルギー効率は高く、かなり絞ったぞうきんだ。３％削減がせいぜいで、それもほかの国がやらないならやめてもいい。家庭の取り組みが重要だ。
０２年に我が家をエコハウスにしてみた。断熱材を入れ、窓は二重ガラスにし、エアコンと冷蔵庫を最新型に買い替えた。高効率給湯器を入れ、屋根には太陽電池を載せた。この結果、エネルギー消費が５８％減った。一方、太陽電池が２３％の電気を賄っているので、正味８１％削減できた。騒音がなくなり、結露もしなくなって、生活も快適になった。費用は３１１万円かかったが、年約３０万円だった電気・ガス料金が、今は年４．８万円で済んでおり、１２年程度で回収できる。日本はすべての建物をエコビルにし、すべての輸送を低炭素化する目標を掲げるべきだと提案したい。
スタートは、すべての学校の外断熱化だ。今の建物はそのままで、外に断熱材を張り、窓は二重にする。日の光で冬は暖房がほとんどいらなくなる。夏の冷房も負荷が減る。エネルギー消費を減らし、屋根に太陽電池を載せる。それが温暖化の環境教育になる。
オフィスは、一流企業には立て替えてもらい、断熱をよくして、日の光が冬には十分入るようにして明るくする。既築の建物も二重ガラスにし、全体の４分の１をエコビルにする。エコカーも最低４分の１は入れる。
日本のエネルギー消費は「日々のくらし」が５５％を占める。ちゃんとやれば、我が家のように８割は減らせるのだから、その４分の１がエコとなれば、１２％程度の削減は達成できる。
問題は、だれが初期投資費用を負担するかだ。例えば、企業が建て替え費用を社債発行で賄うなら、国が利子補助を出せば良い。利子を高くすれば、眠っていた１４００兆円の個人金融資産も出て来る。個人も同様で、初期投資しやすくすることが重要だ。
（筆者は、東京大学総長顧問でもある。本稿は、２０１０年１月８日付読売新聞に掲載されたインタビュー記事の要約である。）
それぞれ光と影があるが、光の部分を新産業に結び付けていける国が、これからの世紀を引っ張る。「爆発する知識」はどの国にも共通する課題だが、残りの二つでは日本は「課題先進国」だ。資源のない狭い国土に大きな人口を抱える日本は、「小さくなった地球」の現れである公害やエネルギー問題について、ほかの国が経験したことのない問題を克服しながら、前に進んできた。今後大きいのは地球温暖化や廃棄物の問題だが、そこでも、日本は世界をリードできる。
温暖化問題では、国際的に損をするようなことはやる必要はないが、早くやった方が得なことはやればいい。中でも、家庭やオフィス、輸送など「日々のくらし」の省エネは、すぐに始めた方が良い。ここは、省エネ家電や高効率給湯器、エコカー、太陽電池など日本のものづくりの得意なところを終結するような技術の塊だ。早くやった方が、日本のものづくり力が生きる。
また、廃棄物のリサイクルで、極論すれば２０５０年には金属地下資源がいらなくなる。金は金鉱石１トンに５～１０グラムが含まれ精錬で集めているが、携帯電話を１トン集めれば２５０グラムの金が入っている。携帯電話を集めてうまく処理するシステムさえ作れば、金鉱山より数十倍も良い資源だ。日本には、レンズ付きフィルムのようなリサイクルシステムを作った実績もある。
私は２０２０年までの日本の温室効果ガス削減について、家庭やオフィス、輸送など「日々のくらし」の省エネで１９９０年比１２％、ものづくりで３％、原子力発電所の稼働率向上など新エネルギーで５％、森林保全・農業で５％、クリーン開発メカニズム（CDM）で５％と、計３０％は可能だと主張している。
「日々のくらし」は削減余地が大きい。公害問題では、限られた数のものづくり産業を排出規制すれば済んだが、今回は違う。日本のものづくり産業のエネルギー効率は高く、かなり絞ったぞうきんだ。３％削減がせいぜいで、それもほかの国がやらないならやめてもいい。家庭の取り組みが重要だ。
０２年に我が家をエコハウスにしてみた。断熱材を入れ、窓は二重ガラスにし、エアコンと冷蔵庫を最新型に買い替えた。高効率給湯器を入れ、屋根には太陽電池を載せた。この結果、エネルギー消費が５８％減った。一方、太陽電池が２３％の電気を賄っているので、正味８１％削減できた。騒音がなくなり、結露もしなくなって、生活も快適になった。費用は３１１万円かかったが、年約３０万円だった電気・ガス料金が、今は年４．８万円で済んでおり、１２年程度で回収できる。日本はすべての建物をエコビルにし、すべての輸送を低炭素化する目標を掲げるべきだと提案したい。
スタートは、すべての学校の外断熱化だ。今の建物はそのままで、外に断熱材を張り、窓は二重にする。日の光で冬は暖房がほとんどいらなくなる。夏の冷房も負荷が減る。エネルギー消費を減らし、屋根に太陽電池を載せる。それが温暖化の環境教育になる。
オフィスは、一流企業には立て替えてもらい、断熱をよくして、日の光が冬には十分入るようにして明るくする。既築の建物も二重ガラスにし、全体の４分の１をエコビルにする。エコカーも最低４分の１は入れる。
日本のエネルギー消費は「日々のくらし」が５５％を占める。ちゃんとやれば、我が家のように８割は減らせるのだから、その４分の１がエコとなれば、１２％程度の削減は達成できる。
問題は、だれが初期投資費用を負担するかだ。例えば、企業が建て替え費用を社債発行で賄うなら、国が利子補助を出せば良い。利子を高くすれば、眠っていた１４００兆円の個人金融資産も出て来る。個人も同様で、初期投資しやすくすることが重要だ。
（筆者は、東京大学総長顧問でもある。本稿は、２０１０年１月８日付読売新聞に掲載されたインタビュー記事の要約である。）
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟