An Osaka-based nongovernmental organization on Oct. 7 proposed a set of policy options that it claims would reduce the nation's 2010 carbon dioxide emissions by 21 percent of the 1990 level.The proposal, put forward by a study group of the Citizens Alliance for Saving the Atmosphere and the Earth (CASA), says that the policy options would cost 54.7 trillion yen but would reduce 95.4 trillion yen in energy costs, a savings of 40.8 trillion yen. CASA says its calculations are based on the assumption that living standards will remain unchanged from what they were in 1995, the latest year for which data is available.The report came a day after the government proposed to reduce 1990-level greenhouse gas emissions by a maximum of 5 percent between 2008 and 2012. The government's plan, however, is so flexible that Japan would not be obliged to cut emissions by more than 0.5 percent.Criticizing the government's framework as too lenient, CASA pointed out numerous options. The group calls for adopting 91 technological advances that are either already commercially available or are expected to be introduced on a substantial scale by 2010. The advances would be put to use in six sectors: industry, transportation, the home, office buildings, waste disposal and electricity generation.Some of the technologies already available include solar and wind generators, hybrid cars, and energy-saving office buildings.
