Japan CO2 Emissions Up 2.7% In FY07 On Lower Nuke Operating Rates
26 October 2008
Nikkei. A study by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry attributed a year-on-year 2.7% increase in CO2 emissions in fiscal 2007 mainly to lower operating rates at nuclear power plants.
The rise in CO2 emissions is certain to have pushed up Japan’s total greenhouse gas emissions for the year. The increase translates into a 15% hike in CO2 emissions since 1990, the base year for the Kyoto Protocol, which mandates emissions cuts for signatory nations.
The continued suspension of Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant and other nuclear reactors, as well as lower operating rates at hydroelectric power stations because of a nationwide draught, have made the country more reliant on coal-fired power plants. The government attributes a 23 million ton increase in CO2 emissions to the suspension of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, and another 73 million ton rise to the drought.
Without the lower nuclear plant productivity, the study projected that CO2 emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels would have dropped 0.7% in the same period.
"The increase translates into a 15% hike in CO2 emissions since 1990, the base year for the Kyoto Protocol, which mandates emissions cuts for signatory nations."
Ironic that even the host nation has increased not cut GHG emissions after signing a protocol which mandates emissions cuts.
"The government attributes a 23 million ton increase in CO2 emissions to the suspension of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, and another 73 million ton rise to the drought."
Have Greenhouse Gas Emissions contributed to their drought? Scary thought that global climate change theory forecasts an increase in extreme weather - more droughts and more floods. Long droughts limit Hydro Power to below normal annual output.
Posted by: Kristoff | 26 October 2008 at 11:06 AM
The word Nuc should be used for nuclear power plants. The word nuke is already taken for a verb that means to heat in a Microwave oven. It is less often used as a verb to describe massive destructive action. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 26 October 2008 at 01:02 PM
Well, good thing then that they are spending billions in research on a space based solar power beaming system [/sarcasm]
Posted by: | 26 October 2008 at 10:24 PM