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?@?@?@?@The Three ?gE?hs to Make a Better World
?@ECC Honolulu Cup Speech Contest asks us a very tough question every year. Hundreds of researchers and policy makers are discussing every day how to reduce greenhouse gas but still don't find an answer. If I knew the answer, I wouldn't be here: I would be in the rewarding ceremony of the Nobel Prize. Well, does that mean that giving my speech here is meaningless? No, I don't think so. Although the question is that tough and so big, it is essential for each of us to tackle this problem because it is so closely related to our lives and the lives of our future children. "Then how can I make a change?" you might ask. I want you to keep in mind the three "E"s that help you achieve the goal.
?@I'll take an example to explain the three "E"s. When you go to a supermarket, you might be refraining from using plastic bags to reduce CO2 emission. It is certainly a good deed, but do you know how much CO2 emission you can reduce? You reduce merely 0.6% of your whole CO2 emission. If you drive your car just 300 meters longer a day, CO2 emission for that extra drive exceeds your effort to stop using plastic bags. This fact was surprising to me. When you take an action, you have to know how much effect you are making. So the first "E" is "Effectiveness".
?@But effectiveness alone is not a perfect clue. For example, there is a magical way to reduce 13% of your CO2 emission. Do you want to try? Ladies and gentlemen, will you please raise your hand if you want to try? OK, it is to stop breathing. Yes the effect is big, but as you see it is totally unpractical. The second "E" is "Easiness", which enables us to continue an action for a long term. Using own bags and stop using plastic bags is relatively easy, and that's why it's so successful all over Japan.
?@The third "E" is "Efficiency". An example of a well-efficient measure is to get on a train instead of driving a car. CO2 emission would be just one ninth by only changing the transportation system. It isn't easy or practical for people who can move around only by car, but for others it's an efficient way to reduce their CO2 emission.
?@So the three "E"s are, "Effectiveness", "Easiness" and 'Efficiency". Now, based on these points, let us think concrete measures that we can take. I'd like to propose one thing that the world can do and another thing that you can do.
?@Firstly, I believe the world should foster technology transfer from developed countries to developing countries. If China adopts the technology used in the United States, for example, it is "effective" because now China emits 21% of the world CO2 emission. It is "efficient" because now China produces only one third of the GDP of the United States with almost the same CO2 emission. And it is "easy" for developed countries to dramatically reduce CO2 emission of those countries than to reduce their homeland's CO2 emission, which they already tried hard to decrease. This is the measure I believe the world can do.
?@Next is what you can do. I suggest you set a solar panel on the roof of your house or apartment building. It is "effective" because CO2 emission from households and offices has increased by 30% in these two decades. It is "efficient" because you can reduce as much as half of your CO2 emission. And it is "easy" to do if the panel is cheap, because then what you have to do after purchase is simply put a solar panel on the roof. The government should provide a larger amount of subsidy for solar panel application, which definitely makes it easier for us to set one.
?@These are just two example measures. In fact, there are lots of ways to contribute to lessen greenhouse effect gas. But we have to be careful how effective, easy and efficient it is in order to make a change. Then you know it is meaningless to stop using plastic bags and ride a car longer than before. The three "E"s definitely help your efforts count.
?@These are just two example measures. In fact, there are lots of ways to contribute to lessen greenhouse effect gas. But we have to be careful how effective, easy and efficient it is in order to make a change. Then you know it is meaningless to stop using plastic bags and ride a car longer than before. The three "E"s definitely help your efforts count.
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