National warming countermeasures project canceled 11 projects Experts "small effect" December 8, 20:40

Of the global warming countermeasure projects conducted by the Ministry of the Environment, 11 projects, such as producing biofuel from sugarcane, were pointed out as “less effective” and were canceled. Experts pointed out that “There are some projects that are expensive and have little relationship, and the measures should be taken after verifying the effects properly”.

At COP25, which began on the 2nd of this month, measures against global warming were discussed under the initiative of the United Nations, and efforts are urgently needed in Japan, which is a major greenhouse gas emitter.

In 2012, the government introduced a global warming countermeasure tax that taxed fossil fuels such as gasoline to increase its financial resources and promote countermeasure business.

However, in the government's “Administrative Project Review”, which verifies whether the outside experts are unaware of the project, 11 global warming countermeasures projects should be abolished or drastically improved after FY2013. NHK interviews revealed that the Ministry of the Environment had withdrawn from the project.

Of these, businesses such as LED lighting and other energy-saving equipment were introduced into local government facilities, which required 5.2 billion yen in the next fiscal year. It was pointed out, "Is it necessary to assist the person?" Or "Is it too inefficient?"

In addition, the support project for producing and selling biofuel from sugarcane was carried out around 1 billion yen annually until 3 years ago. “The policy effect is extremely small, and the results of global warming countermeasures are extremely limited. It was pointed out.

The budget for the canceled business is about 17.4 billion yen, even if requested. According to the Ministry of the Environment, “We decided to withdraw as a result of taking seriously the indications from external experts and responding to each case individually.”

Professor Yasuhiro Ota of Keio University Graduate School, who served as an evaluator of the administrative business review, pointed out, “There are projects that are expensive and less related to global warming, so measures should be taken after verifying the effects properly.” doing.

The business that was canceled

Among other global warming countermeasures that have been withdrawn, there are other carbon dioxide reduction projects in the logistics field, such as promoting the introduction of drones that carry luggage in depopulated areas. It was demanding 100 million yen.

Regarding this project, it was pointed out, “Is it necessary to spend a huge budget?” “Other ministries should do it.”

In addition, in the subsidy project for introducing hybrid vehicles to bulldozers, forklifts, etc., the Ministry of the Environment said that “hybrid vehicles have a high carbon dioxide emission reduction effect” in FY2014, spending 190 million yen However, it was pointed out that “the policy effect is insufficiently grasped” and “there is no reduction plan for the entire Ministry of the Environment, and that it will be effective for the time being”.

What is national warming countermeasures?

The country introduced the “Global Warming Countermeasure Tax” in 2012 to strengthen global warming countermeasures. Taxed on top of the “oil-coal tax”, which is imposed on fossil fuels such as gasoline, the annual tax revenue is about 260 billion yen.

Tax revenues are used to promote energy conservation, spread renewable energy, and strengthen measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Among the special measures for energy measures financed by the warming tax, etc., the Ministry of the Environment's budget is increasing year by year, reaching a record high of about 157 billion yen last year.

Expert "Efficient and systematic measures"

Professor Yasuhiro Ota of Keio University Graduate School, who served as an evaluator for administrative business reviews, said, “We are doing business by picking up some things that are likely to be useful for reducing carbon dioxide. There is no prospect of reducing carbon dioxide according to the target when stacking one by one.Effectively and systematically with the overall concept of how much to reduce with how much budget Measures should be taken. "