daigo.org RSSKyoto Protocol and Cool Biz
First, disclaimer: I am not a tree-hugging environmental freak. But I thought the whole “CoolBiz” thing that Koizumi is pushing is quite interesting.
Japanese government’s Ministry of Environment even has this pretty nice website called “Team -6%“, where 6% reduction of “greenhouse gas” is Japan’s target number set by Kyoto Protocol. The Protocol is adopted by 141 countries and Japan is one of them. (I’ve always wondered why US hasn’t agreed to Kyoto Treaty, that is not to criticize the US, but I just didn’t know enough about it. I’m sure there is a good reason not to…) And the website tells you six simple step that an individual can take to achieve this goal as a nation. The steps are: Watch for Air Conditioner and heat to extreme temperature (that’s why the “CoolBiz”), Don’t let the water run too much, Don’t leave the car run while parked, Buy environment friendly products and service, Recycle and reduce trash, and Shut the light off and unplug unused electrics. Pretty simple and achievable. And any wise mom will tell you to do this kind of things anyway.
What the heck is Kyoto Treaty? Enter WikiPedia:
“The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding agreement under which industrialized countries will reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2% compared to the year 1990. The goal is to lower overall emissions from six greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, HFCs, and PFCs - calculated as an average over the five-year period of 2008-12. National targets range from 8% reductions for the European Union and some others to 7% for the US, 6% for Japan, 0% for Russia, and permitted increases of 8% for Australia and 10% for Iceland.”
