Ikuo Sugimoto

KIKO FORUM
* Citizens Environmental Foundation
(* 3F Kureha Bldg, Teramachi-dori, Nijo-sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604 Japan)

Abstract

The Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change is scheduled to be held in Kyoto this December. Environmental NGOs have been significantely involved in the negotiation process of drafting a protocol, the main part of the convention. At present among various sources of CO2 emissions, a small part of the total CO2 emitted comes from waste combustion; however, considering all energy used in the production and distribution of products as well as the fact that mass dumping brings about mass production and consumption, it is essential that waste generated be drastically reduced in order to cut CO2 emissions. One of the key counter-action is green consumerism and its influence on the retail business. Green consumerism in Japan, though still small in its size, has been steadily expanding and will potentially be very influential in the near future. Nevertheless, the most important thing in waste reduction and measures for global warming is to change the values of the public and to take action on these issues.

Key words: climate change/global warming, carbon dioxide, containment of waste outputs, green consumerism, paradigm shift