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airfares cheaper, price collapse will probably occur due to innovation in the transportation sector. Innovation takes place where there is a need. One positive aspect
of globalization is that innovations can occur anywhere in the world and can quickly
spread throughout the world. In consideration of the above, we will likely become
more affluent and gain more freedom as a result.
Energy Conservation Is the Best Policy
Significant progress will be made to promote the low-carbonization of daily life
activities, i.e., households, offices, and the transportation sector, which together
account for 60% of energy consumption. Energy conservation in the monozukuri
industries, which account for the remaining 40%, has been steadily progressing, and
will also continue to progress in the future. As I have asserted in Vision 2050, tripling energy efficiency from the level in 1990 is an achievable target.
Among businesses that promote energy conservation is the ESCO (Energy
Service Company) model. Currently, the model is aimed at large companies, large
buildings, and other large infrastructure. Potential future targets of energy conservation include small and medium-sized buildings, as well as homes, since there exist
great opportunities for the ESCO business in those targets. Given the expected
emergence of venture companies, they are also potential targets.
Urban Mines
Currently, approximately 70% of the world’s steel is produced with iron ore as its
raw material, while the remaining 30% is produced from scrap, which is waste
material resulting from man-made objects. Enough amount of scrap is generated to
produce necessary amount of steel in developed countries. Around 2050, a situation
where the saturation of man-made objects and the generation of sufficient amounts
of scrap-metal necessary for iron production will likely develop in many countries
in the world. In fact, producing steel from scrap-metal utilizes only one-third of the
energy required to produce steel from iron ore. The production of iron accounts for
about one-fifth of the total energy consumed in the monozukuri industry. Therefore,
urban mines will not only eliminate the need for iron ore but will dramatically
reduce energy consumption.
This situation is not limited to iron. It also applies to copper, tin, zinc, rare earth
metals, as well as precious metals such as gold. To turn urban mines into a more
efficient system, it is necessary to recover man-made objects efficiently. Systems to
recover buildings, houses, automobiles, and large home appliances to serve as scrap
are already in place in Japan. Potential items for recovery will be small home appliances such as personal computers and smartphones, especially since about half of
the precious metals and rare earth metals are contained in these items. While effiPreface: From “Vision 2050” to “New Vision 2050”
airfares cheaper, price collapse will probably occur due to innovation in the transportation sector. Innovation takes place where there is a need. One positive aspect
of globalization is that innovations can occur anywhere in the world and can quickly
spread throughout the world. In consideration of the above, we will likely become
more affluent and gain more freedom as a result.
Energy Conservation Is the Best Policy
Significant progress will be made to promote the low-carbonization of daily life
activities, i.e., households, offices, and the transportation sector, which together
account for 60% of energy consumption. Energy conservation in the monozukuri
industries, which account for the remaining 40%, has been steadily progressing, and
will also continue to progress in the future. As I have asserted in Vision 2050, tripling energy efficiency from the level in 1990 is an achievable target.
Among businesses that promote energy conservation is the ESCO (Energy
Service Company) model. Currently, the model is aimed at large companies, large
buildings, and other large infrastructure. Potential future targets of energy conservation include small and medium-sized buildings, as well as homes, since there exist
great opportunities for the ESCO business in those targets. Given the expected
emergence of venture companies, they are also potential targets.
Urban Mines
Currently, approximately 70% of the world’s steel is produced with iron ore as its
raw material, while the remaining 30% is produced from scrap, which is waste
material resulting from man-made objects. Enough amount of scrap is generated to
produce necessary amount of steel in developed countries. Around 2050, a situation
where the saturation of man-made objects and the generation of sufficient amounts
of scrap-metal necessary for iron production will likely develop in many countries
in the world. In fact, producing steel from scrap-metal utilizes only one-third of the
energy required to produce steel from iron ore. The production of iron accounts for
about one-fifth of the total energy consumed in the monozukuri industry. Therefore,
urban mines will not only eliminate the need for iron ore but will dramatically
reduce energy consumption.
This situation is not limited to iron. It also applies to copper, tin, zinc, rare earth
metals, as well as precious metals such as gold. To turn urban mines into a more
efficient system, it is necessary to recover man-made objects efficiently. Systems to
recover buildings, houses, automobiles, and large home appliances to serve as scrap
are already in place in Japan. Potential items for recovery will be small home appliances such as personal computers and smartphones, especially since about half of
the precious metals and rare earth metals are contained in these items. While effiPreface: From “Vision 2050” to “New Vision 2050”