A total of 34 1 industries participated in the 3rd Follow-up compared to 31 last year, reflecting the addition of three new industries (Japan Machine Tool Builder's Association, Japan Glass Bottle Association, and Flour Millers Association).
These 34 industries emitted 479.07 million t-CO2 2 in fiscal 1990, equivalent to around 42.6% of the 1.1244 billion t-CO2 emitted by Japan as a whole during that year. Moreover, the emissions of the 34 industries represented approximately 76.5% of the total amount of CO2 emitted by the country's industrial and energy-converting sectors in fiscal 1990 (626.0 million t-CO2 3).
Keidanren has declared that the goal will be "to endeavor to reduce CO2 emissions from the industrial and energy-converting sectors in fiscal 2010 to below the levels of fiscal 1990," and industries and companies are striving to achieve this target.
Results of the 3rd Follow-up indicate that CO2 emissions in fiscal 1999 were 478.65 million t-CO2, a 2.9% increase compared to fiscal 1998. This, however, was a 0.1% decrease compared to emissions in fiscal 1990.
According to results in the current follow-up, CO2 emissions in fiscal 2005 will reach 499.51 million t-CO2 (approximately 4.3% higher than in fiscal 1990); and, on a business-as-usual basis, they will increase to 524.04 million t-CO2 in fiscal 2010 (+9.4% compared to fiscal 1990).
| Fiscal year | 1990 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2005 (forecast) | 2010 (goal) | 2010 (BAU) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 emissions (t-CO2) |
479.07 million |
495.27 million |
464.98 million (-2.9% cf. 1990) |
478.65 million (-0.1% cf. 1990) |
499.51 million (+4.3% cf. 1990) |
Below the level of 1990 |
524.04 million (+9.4% cf. 1990) |
Of the 34 industries in the industrial and energy-converting sectors that participated in the current compilation, 20 reported declines in CO2 emissions in fiscal 1999 compared to fiscal 1990, while 15 reported declines compared to fiscal 1998 (see Attachment 1).
Moreover, of the 21 industries that defined their goals in terms of either CO2 emissions per unit input or energy input per unit of output, 15 reported improvements in their input-output ratios compared to fiscal 1990; and, of these 15, 9 also showed improvements compared to fiscal 1998 (see Attachment 2).
In the 3rd Follow-up, progress was made in the following areas in comparison with the previous follow-up.
- A higher coverage rate resulting from a larger number of participating industries (coverage of 76.5% of all emissions from the industrial and energy-converting sectors in fiscal 1990, compared to 75% in the previous follow-up).
- Analysis of factors contributing to increases or decreases in CO2 emissions (see Attachment 3).
- Improved content of individual industry reports (addition of section on "Other efforts to deal with global warming," etc.)
The 0.1% decline in CO2 emissions in fiscal 1999 compared to fiscal 1990 was related in part to the Japanese economy's weakness over recent years, but it was also the result of efforts by industries and companies to reduce their CO2 emissions. On the other hand, the reason that emissions increased by 2.9% in fiscal 1999 compared to fiscal 1998 was that, despite continued efforts by industries and companies to reduce emissions, the recovering economy generated emissions faster than they could be reduced. Hence, even assuming the adoption of measures to reduce emissions hereafter, the outlook is for CO2 emissions to trend generally upward hereafter to around fiscal 2005. This suggests that the achievement of goals is not a foregone conclusion by any means.
While calling upon participating industries to remain committed to efforts to achieve their individual goals, Keidanren will work toward achieving the common goal set for all industries, namely "to endeavor to reduce CO2 emissions from the industrial and energy-converting sectors in 2010 to below the level of 1990." Moreover, it will endeavor to enhance the effectiveness of voluntary action plans by increasing the number of participating industries, by analyzing factors that contribute to increases or decreases in CO2 emissions, and so on.
Through voluntary action plans, the industrial community is steadily achieving results that will lead to a suppression of CO2 emissions from the industrial sector. Simultaneously, by developing and disseminating products and services that generate minimal amounts of CO2, it is contributing to the reduction of emissions in the transportation, offices and households sector. The intent of the industrial community is to continue to contribute to a reduction of emissions in the transportation, offices and households sector through actively developing technologies and through other means.