The realization of a low-carbon society involves the creation of a sustainable and
vibrant international society in which the economy, environment, and society are in
harmony and global climate change is addressed. Elemental issues of significance
for this are the development of innovative low-carbon technologies and the transfer
of existing technologies, the creation of low-carbon economic and industrial systems, and the transformation of low-carbon social systems such as life cycles, and
ecological energy and material cycles, through international collaboration. Through
the design and piloting of model projects, the study will demonstrate the feasibility
of a low-carbon society, present a road map that embodies the process of transition to
a sustainable low-carbon society, and guide construction of a low-carbon society in
Asia. Policy proposals and empirical research will contribute to the creation of a
model of cooperation for embodying Japan-China strategic reciprocal relationships.
This chapter presents an analysis of major international climate change agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, their significance and
limitations, and the climate measures taken by China, the world’s largest carbon
dioxide emitter. Primary energy consumption and CO 2 emissions of Japan, South
Korea, and China account for approximately 30% of the global total; thus the
concept and multilayered framework of an East Asian Low-Carbon Community
are introduced.
3.2 Major International Climate Change Agreements
3.2.1 Major Agreements Under the Framework Convention
on Climate Change
Table 3.1 shows the main steps in international negotiations on climate change. The
first international United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was held
in 1972 in Stockholm, Sweden. Negotiations were held in Berlin in 1995 following
the adoption of the Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992. The Berlin
Mandate was agreed at the First Conference of Parties (COP1) and the Kyoto
Protocol in 1997, and finally the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015. Other
agreements related to climate change have also been made.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) aims
to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations at levels that would not have
dangerous impacts on the climate system. Different country types are defined based
on historical and current greenhouse gas emissions, leading to “common but differentiated responsibilities” through “considering the right to promote sustainable
development.” Annex 1 countries include members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), other developed countries, and
economies in transition, such as Russia and countries in Eastern Europe. Developing
countries are classified as Non-Annex 1 and include China and India. In particular,
the contents of Article 4 of the Convention differ between developed and developing
62
W. Zhou
vibrant international society in which the economy, environment, and society are in
harmony and global climate change is addressed. Elemental issues of significance
for this are the development of innovative low-carbon technologies and the transfer
of existing technologies, the creation of low-carbon economic and industrial systems, and the transformation of low-carbon social systems such as life cycles, and
ecological energy and material cycles, through international collaboration. Through
the design and piloting of model projects, the study will demonstrate the feasibility
of a low-carbon society, present a road map that embodies the process of transition to
a sustainable low-carbon society, and guide construction of a low-carbon society in
Asia. Policy proposals and empirical research will contribute to the creation of a
model of cooperation for embodying Japan-China strategic reciprocal relationships.
This chapter presents an analysis of major international climate change agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, their significance and
limitations, and the climate measures taken by China, the world’s largest carbon
dioxide emitter. Primary energy consumption and CO 2 emissions of Japan, South
Korea, and China account for approximately 30% of the global total; thus the
concept and multilayered framework of an East Asian Low-Carbon Community
are introduced.
3.2 Major International Climate Change Agreements
3.2.1 Major Agreements Under the Framework Convention
on Climate Change
Table 3.1 shows the main steps in international negotiations on climate change. The
first international United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was held
in 1972 in Stockholm, Sweden. Negotiations were held in Berlin in 1995 following
the adoption of the Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992. The Berlin
Mandate was agreed at the First Conference of Parties (COP1) and the Kyoto
Protocol in 1997, and finally the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015. Other
agreements related to climate change have also been made.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) aims
to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations at levels that would not have
dangerous impacts on the climate system. Different country types are defined based
on historical and current greenhouse gas emissions, leading to “common but differentiated responsibilities” through “considering the right to promote sustainable
development.” Annex 1 countries include members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), other developed countries, and
economies in transition, such as Russia and countries in Eastern Europe. Developing
countries are classified as Non-Annex 1 and include China and India. In particular,
the contents of Article 4 of the Convention differ between developed and developing
62
W. Zhou