China News Service, March 22. According to a report by Kyodo News on the 22nd, almost half of the universities in Tokyo that responded to a survey of environmental groups on global warming countermeasures have not established targets or plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A survey of universities in the Kansai region also yielded the same results, reflecting that Japan’s urban region-centered universities have not taken adequate countermeasures.
Environmental groups pointed out: "University is one of the sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and also shoulders the education of the next generation. I hope to take the lead in advancing countermeasures."
The "Decarbonization Investment Research Association", an organization centered on graduate students of Kyoto University, and other organizations targeted at 139 four-year universities in Tokyo, conducted a questionnaire survey on countermeasures against global warming from June to September 2020.
Of these, 49 universities responded, and 23 (47%) stated that they "have no" emission reduction targets or plans.
25 (51%) universities replied that they "have" targets, etc., but most of them directly cited the emission reduction rate based on the Tokyo Metropolitan System.
Only a few have set separate targets, such as the University of Tokyo, which strives to reduce emissions in 2030 to half in 2006.
Regarding the issues in the promotion of countermeasures (multiple choices), the most frequent is "secure budget", followed by "shortage of manpower".
In addition, Sophia University, Musashino University, etc. respectively replied that “there is no platform to explain energy-saving measures to students, and it is difficult to obtain assistance” and “as global warming makes it necessary to use air conditioners for a longer period of time”.
The research group conducted the same survey in 2019 with 151 universities in 6 prefectures in Kansai, including Kyoto and Osaka.
Answers were received from 28 universities. Only 9 (32%) have set targets for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, 2 (7%) indicated that they are "being or planning to develop", and 15 (54%) indicated that " No plans to make".