22.1.3 Design of Reciprocal Cooperation Mechanisms
Between Developed and Developing Countries
In reciprocal cooperation, projects are selected based on market needs and economic
benefits for both parties. This is in addition to the reduction of environmental
pollutants such as CO 2 and SO x and the economic and environmental benefits
garnered from projects that are shared by both parties. Under this approach, developed countries experience a risk reduction associated with technology transfer, while
the financial burden on developing countries for technology transfer is greatly
diminished. This enables more efficient retrofitting of old and obsolete thermal
power plants and other energy-intensive sectors. In turn, this provides a greater
number of business opportunities for developed countries. To promote this type of
technology transfer, the governments of both countries need to secure human
resources and provide specific policy incentives including financial incentives
(e.g., subsidies and preferential policies in terms of tax), to promote this type of
technology transfer.
22.2 China, Japan and the USA Should Establish
a Community to Tackle Climate Change
This book describes the concept of an “East Asia Low-Carbon Community” centered around the cooperation among the three CJK countries and the research
regarding the realization of this concept. In the climate change framework, one
country that must not leave the table in terms of responsibility and capacity is the
USA. Although the USA is the world’s largest cumulative and per capita emitter of
CO 2 , it has withdrawn from the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement; these are
the two most important frameworks on climate change. The Kyoto Protocol and the
Paris Agreement were signed by democratic administrations and withdrawn by
republican administrations, showing that domestic party politics greatly influence
international cooperation and global interests.
While the pros and cons of the US withdrawal will not be discussed in this book,
we would like to raise the possibility of cooperation among the three countries in
light of their responsibilities and capabilities. While we are currently in the midst of a
confrontation between the USA and China, the USA is a representative of Western
civilization, and China is a representative of Eastern civilization. Japan is unique in
that it is a civilization that fuses the three countries to a certain extent.
The CO 2 emissions from China, the USA, and Japan rank as the global highest,
the second highest, and the fifth highest, respectively. Their combined emissions
account for 45% of the total global emissions. These countries are also are the top
three economies in the world, with a combined GDP that is 40% of the world total.
Japan has a much higher energy-saving efficiency than the USA and China. If
Chinese and US energy efficiency and CO 2 discharges were to be the same as
22 Integration of Local and Global Perspectives
409
Between Developed and Developing Countries
In reciprocal cooperation, projects are selected based on market needs and economic
benefits for both parties. This is in addition to the reduction of environmental
pollutants such as CO 2 and SO x and the economic and environmental benefits
garnered from projects that are shared by both parties. Under this approach, developed countries experience a risk reduction associated with technology transfer, while
the financial burden on developing countries for technology transfer is greatly
diminished. This enables more efficient retrofitting of old and obsolete thermal
power plants and other energy-intensive sectors. In turn, this provides a greater
number of business opportunities for developed countries. To promote this type of
technology transfer, the governments of both countries need to secure human
resources and provide specific policy incentives including financial incentives
(e.g., subsidies and preferential policies in terms of tax), to promote this type of
technology transfer.
22.2 China, Japan and the USA Should Establish
a Community to Tackle Climate Change
This book describes the concept of an “East Asia Low-Carbon Community” centered around the cooperation among the three CJK countries and the research
regarding the realization of this concept. In the climate change framework, one
country that must not leave the table in terms of responsibility and capacity is the
USA. Although the USA is the world’s largest cumulative and per capita emitter of
CO 2 , it has withdrawn from the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement; these are
the two most important frameworks on climate change. The Kyoto Protocol and the
Paris Agreement were signed by democratic administrations and withdrawn by
republican administrations, showing that domestic party politics greatly influence
international cooperation and global interests.
While the pros and cons of the US withdrawal will not be discussed in this book,
we would like to raise the possibility of cooperation among the three countries in
light of their responsibilities and capabilities. While we are currently in the midst of a
confrontation between the USA and China, the USA is a representative of Western
civilization, and China is a representative of Eastern civilization. Japan is unique in
that it is a civilization that fuses the three countries to a certain extent.
The CO 2 emissions from China, the USA, and Japan rank as the global highest,
the second highest, and the fifth highest, respectively. Their combined emissions
account for 45% of the total global emissions. These countries are also are the top
three economies in the world, with a combined GDP that is 40% of the world total.
Japan has a much higher energy-saving efficiency than the USA and China. If
Chinese and US energy efficiency and CO 2 discharges were to be the same as
22 Integration of Local and Global Perspectives
409