years. Once they began developing and using irrigation techniques for farming
and to raise livestock, people began to settle. In this farming society that lasted for
nearly 10,000 years, humankind created a well-grounded ancient civilization (the
agricultural civilization), including the four ancient civilizations.
Industrial society: from approximately 1750 A.D., the first industrial revolution was
characterized using coal, ironmaking, steam engines, and railway technology.
From ~1870, the use of petroleum, electricity, plastics, and other new materials
and the proliferation of automobiles and home appliances characterized the
second industrial revolution. As humankind entered an industrial society, it
launched into an era of mass production, mass consumption, and mass pollution.
In particular, the massive consumption of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum
greatly improved social productivity and the living standard of society. However,
this led to a large amount of CO 2 emissions, causing a rapid increase in the
atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The atmospheric CO 2
concentration has been increasing since this first industrial revolution. The CO 2
concentration of 280 ppm at that time has risen to approximately 420 ppm in the
present day; this represents a more than 45% increase.
Information society: from the 1970s, the third industrial revolution has been characterized using computers, high informatization, electronics, and digitalization.
Super-intelligent society: the fourth industrial revolution, beginning from around
2010, has been able to positively integrate cyberspace (virtual space) and physical
space (real space), the real economy, and digital economy through the use of
artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). In the fourth industrial
revolution, information technology (IT), biotechnology (BT), environmental
technology (EnvT), energy technology (EneT), nanotechnology (NT), space
technology (ST), and other science and technological advancement will provide
the social, technological, and economic systems to realize a sustainable society.
This society will be characterized by low energy and resource consumption, low
environmental load, and high social utility (Japan Cabinet Office 2015).
It has been recognized that the speed of the industrial revolution has been
accelerating when compared to the length of each industrial revolution. Additionally,
the energy consumption and CO 2 emissions per unit of gross domestic product
(GDP) have also been decreasing; however, the total energy consumption and
emissions are still rapidly increasing.
1.2.2 Rise and Fall of the Four Ancient Civilizations
and Climate Change
It is difficult to completely deny that the formation, rise, and fall of civilizations were
influenced by its inherent factors and from significant changes in environmental
factors such as direct or indirect climate change.
1 Climate Change and Low-Carbon Society: Coping with Uncertainty
5
and to raise livestock, people began to settle. In this farming society that lasted for
nearly 10,000 years, humankind created a well-grounded ancient civilization (the
agricultural civilization), including the four ancient civilizations.
Industrial society: from approximately 1750 A.D., the first industrial revolution was
characterized using coal, ironmaking, steam engines, and railway technology.
From ~1870, the use of petroleum, electricity, plastics, and other new materials
and the proliferation of automobiles and home appliances characterized the
second industrial revolution. As humankind entered an industrial society, it
launched into an era of mass production, mass consumption, and mass pollution.
In particular, the massive consumption of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum
greatly improved social productivity and the living standard of society. However,
this led to a large amount of CO 2 emissions, causing a rapid increase in the
atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The atmospheric CO 2
concentration has been increasing since this first industrial revolution. The CO 2
concentration of 280 ppm at that time has risen to approximately 420 ppm in the
present day; this represents a more than 45% increase.
Information society: from the 1970s, the third industrial revolution has been characterized using computers, high informatization, electronics, and digitalization.
Super-intelligent society: the fourth industrial revolution, beginning from around
2010, has been able to positively integrate cyberspace (virtual space) and physical
space (real space), the real economy, and digital economy through the use of
artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). In the fourth industrial
revolution, information technology (IT), biotechnology (BT), environmental
technology (EnvT), energy technology (EneT), nanotechnology (NT), space
technology (ST), and other science and technological advancement will provide
the social, technological, and economic systems to realize a sustainable society.
This society will be characterized by low energy and resource consumption, low
environmental load, and high social utility (Japan Cabinet Office 2015).
It has been recognized that the speed of the industrial revolution has been
accelerating when compared to the length of each industrial revolution. Additionally,
the energy consumption and CO 2 emissions per unit of gross domestic product
(GDP) have also been decreasing; however, the total energy consumption and
emissions are still rapidly increasing.
1.2.2 Rise and Fall of the Four Ancient Civilizations
and Climate Change
It is difficult to completely deny that the formation, rise, and fall of civilizations were
influenced by its inherent factors and from significant changes in environmental
factors such as direct or indirect climate change.
1 Climate Change and Low-Carbon Society: Coping with Uncertainty
5