xliii
the amount of added value of that field of industry, or in other words, its contribution
to the GDP. The GDP in 2013 was ¥523 trillion, as represented by the dot at the
rightmost end, while the amount of CO 2 emissions was 1.254 billion tons shown by
the area below the line. Industries such as steel and chemicals appear at the leftmost
end of the horizontal axis, indicating that they generate large amounts of CO 2 per
GDP. Positioned at the right are tertiary industries such as financial, real estate,
commercial, medical care, education, and services. This specifically indicates that
the tertiary industries emit less CO 2 compared to the secondary industries.
The only way to achieve low-carbonization and simultaneously increase GDP is
to achieve low carbonization of the industries at the upper left and enable lowcarbon- emitting industries at the lower right to grow. In other words, low carbonization of the industrial and transportation sectors must be achieved, while promoting
growth of such areas as education, tourism, and medical care. A platinum society
promotes the use of electric furnaces in the steel industry, zero carbonization of
automobiles, and low carbonization of industries on the left side such as renewable
energy, as well as growth of areas such as for health and self-reliance, education,
and tourism. In other words, the transition to a platinum society is also a means to
achieve low carbonization and economic growth.
For example, if we were to aim at an annual growth of 0.3% until 2050 and
reduce CO 2 emissions by 80% by this point, the GDP in 2050 would need to increase
to ¥600 trillion and CO 2 emissions must be kept at 251 million tons. One case in
which this target value can be achieved is represented by the line at the bottom. As
outlined in this chapter, while it cannot be accomplished easily, it is nonetheless
possible. Furthermore, as it has happened with renewable energy and automobiles
in the past 20 years, innovation can be expected to occur if the goal is in reach.
Adapting the industrial structure to a platinum society and achieving both quantitative growth and dramatic enhancement of quality—that is the right choice.
Developing Countries Aim at a Platinum Society Together
Developing nations have the advantage of being able to begin from ground zero.
Africa did not have hardwired phones, allowing for a world of mobile phones and
internet to come to pass immediately. In building a system of renewable energy,
developing nations have an advantage of not having existing electric systems—i.e.,
an electric grid that presupposes the existence of large-scale power plants, which
could be restrictive. There are also advantages of urban mines. Developed countries
already have established steel industries that operate on shaft furnaces, causing difficulties when transitioning to utilizing metal scrap materials instead. While developing countries do not produce scrap materials since it has had a short time to build
up man-made objects, it is nevertheless able to build the technique and system centered on scraps by importing them from developed countries because they do not
have well-established shaft furnace-centered industries. This system is that of a
platinum society and can be exported to developed countries. In other words,
Preface: From “Vision 2050” to “New Vision 2050”
the amount of added value of that field of industry, or in other words, its contribution
to the GDP. The GDP in 2013 was ¥523 trillion, as represented by the dot at the
rightmost end, while the amount of CO 2 emissions was 1.254 billion tons shown by
the area below the line. Industries such as steel and chemicals appear at the leftmost
end of the horizontal axis, indicating that they generate large amounts of CO 2 per
GDP. Positioned at the right are tertiary industries such as financial, real estate,
commercial, medical care, education, and services. This specifically indicates that
the tertiary industries emit less CO 2 compared to the secondary industries.
The only way to achieve low-carbonization and simultaneously increase GDP is
to achieve low carbonization of the industries at the upper left and enable lowcarbon- emitting industries at the lower right to grow. In other words, low carbonization of the industrial and transportation sectors must be achieved, while promoting
growth of such areas as education, tourism, and medical care. A platinum society
promotes the use of electric furnaces in the steel industry, zero carbonization of
automobiles, and low carbonization of industries on the left side such as renewable
energy, as well as growth of areas such as for health and self-reliance, education,
and tourism. In other words, the transition to a platinum society is also a means to
achieve low carbonization and economic growth.
For example, if we were to aim at an annual growth of 0.3% until 2050 and
reduce CO 2 emissions by 80% by this point, the GDP in 2050 would need to increase
to ¥600 trillion and CO 2 emissions must be kept at 251 million tons. One case in
which this target value can be achieved is represented by the line at the bottom. As
outlined in this chapter, while it cannot be accomplished easily, it is nonetheless
possible. Furthermore, as it has happened with renewable energy and automobiles
in the past 20 years, innovation can be expected to occur if the goal is in reach.
Adapting the industrial structure to a platinum society and achieving both quantitative growth and dramatic enhancement of quality—that is the right choice.
Developing Countries Aim at a Platinum Society Together
Developing nations have the advantage of being able to begin from ground zero.
Africa did not have hardwired phones, allowing for a world of mobile phones and
internet to come to pass immediately. In building a system of renewable energy,
developing nations have an advantage of not having existing electric systems—i.e.,
an electric grid that presupposes the existence of large-scale power plants, which
could be restrictive. There are also advantages of urban mines. Developed countries
already have established steel industries that operate on shaft furnaces, causing difficulties when transitioning to utilizing metal scrap materials instead. While developing countries do not produce scrap materials since it has had a short time to build
up man-made objects, it is nevertheless able to build the technique and system centered on scraps by importing them from developed countries because they do not
have well-established shaft furnace-centered industries. This system is that of a
platinum society and can be exported to developed countries. In other words,
Preface: From “Vision 2050” to “New Vision 2050”