Climate Change Mitigation A Balanced Approach to Climate Change

Climate change is mainly caused by emissions of carbon dioxide when burning fossil fuels, which provides more than 85% of the primary energy of the world. Strategies for mitigating climate change are closely connected with how to handle economic and social activities through their effects on the use of energy. Climate Change Mitigation takes a comprehensive approach to investigate and evaluate response strategies using both a vertical balance approach and a horizontal balance approach. The former investigates the costs of mitigation measures in comparison to benefits of implementing them, while the latter compares the effects of implementing mitigation measures on various aspects such as global environment, energy security and energy economy.

“This book provides a fresh and innovative perspective on climate change policy. By emphasizing the multiple facets of climate policy, from mitigation to adaptation, from technological innovation and diffusion to governance issues, it contains a comprehensive overview of the economic and policy dimensions of the climate problem. The keyword of the book is balance. The book clarifies that climate change cannot be controlled by sacrificing economic growth and many other urgent global issues. At the same time, action to control climate change cannot be delayed, even though gradually implemented. Therefore, on the one hand climate policy becomes pervasive and affects all dimensions of international policy. On the other hand, climate policy cannot be too ambitious: a balanced approach between mitigation and adaptation, between economic growth and resource management, between short term development efforts and long term innovation investments, should be adopted. I recommend its reading.”

-Carlo Carraro, President, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice

“For 20 years, diplomats have struggled to make progress on the problem of global climate change. Some of their difficulties stem from the fact that global diplomacy is not well-enough linked to the realities of how real nations and firms actually control emissions and adapt to the likely impacts of a changing climate. A crucial test is Japan—one of the few nations that has undertaken massive efforts to control warming pollution. In this excellent volume Mitsutsune Yamaguchi has assembled an all-star team of Japan's leading experts to guide the redesign of global policy in this area. Among the many themes in this important book is the need for policies that promote long-term technological innovation in low-emission technologies. The authors also underscore how global warming efforts must resonate with other policy goals, such as energy security. The book also includes a timely, important look at the future of nuclear power in the wake of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi complex.”

-David G. Victor, Director or Laboratory on International Law and Regulation and Professor, University of California San Diego

“The International Energy Agency estimates for every $1 of investment today toward sustainable energy can avoid $4 future spending. There is a business case for companies to reduce their energy use and convert to renewable energy now. The authors of this book provide a framework for evaluating business strategy and setting policy. Companies in the energy and resource intensive industries must lead the way. The Prius hybrid electric vehicle described in this book is a seminal example of leadership. Toyota, through vision and determination found a way to create it in time to announce for maximum impact at the Conferences of the Parties (COP) 3 in Kyoto. In this book, other advanced actions of technology transfer/development in iron and steel sector are introduced. Other leading companies must find a way to follow them.”

-Chad Holliday, Chairman World Business Council for Sustainable Development and former Chair and CEO of DuPont