Introductory Remarks

Session Facilitator Prof. Kazuo Matsushita of IGES made the opening remarks, highlighting the current developments of global climate change policy processes. In particular, Prof. Matsushita noted the significance of the Paris Agreement for the world’s long-term emissions reduction strategies. To this end, he emphasised the importance of science-based, transparent, multi-stakeholder deliberations and objective tools such as the Global Calculator which enables quantitative tools that are useful for such deliberations.

Speakers's Presentations

Global Calculator expert Pascal Vermeulen (Managing Director, CLIMACT) introduced the Global Calculator tool to the audience. He explained what the Global Calculator is, what the principles behind the tool are, who can use the tool, and how the tool works. He further introduced the four options for setting the levels and what they mean using the wind power scenario setting as an example. Through a lively presentation combined with direct demonstration of the tool, Mr. Vermueulen also shared some of the key messages that are derived from the Global Calculator. He emphasised that attaining the 2-degree target without compromising a better life at the global level is physically possible but that it requires significant transformation in the technologies and fuels used for powering our life and economic growth and also requires smarter use of the land. He also explained how the Global Calculator can be used as a handy tool to help test out options, trade-offs and associated costs towards this journey. He concluded with several myth-busting questions including whether we can just switch from coal to gas, whether we can wait until we use up the fossil fuels we have, whether we can just absorb the carbon out of the atmosphere, and whether we can just curb population growth. With negative answers to all these questions he echoed back to the conclusions that the world’s inhabitants could eat well, travel more and live in more comfortable homes while preventing dangerous climate change but to do so, we need transformative changes in the technologies and fuels we use.

Dr. Xin Zhou (IGES) introduced the Japan 2050 Low Carbon Navigator tool to the audience. Like the Global Calculator, the Low Carbon Navigator also uses a 2050 Calculator model, but it is a national-level tool for Japan. This tool was developed by IGES and NIES with technical support from UK DECC and the British Embassy Tokyo. Dr. Zhou’s presentation started with an overview of the Low Carbon Navigator, its background and what type of questions it can address. Some new features of the tool focusing on Japan’s 3E+S (Energy Security, Economic Efficiency, Environmental Protection and Energy Safety) energy policy framework were also presented. Dr. Zhou also demonstrated the Low Carbon Navigator and explained its structure and level settings. She concluded with several key messages including the many pathways existing for Japan to achieve its long-term 80% reduction by 2050, the importance of the adoption of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, the economic costs of renewable energy from long-term and short-terms views and the need for an integrated approach from both supply-side and demand-side efforts. The speakers’ presentations were followed by a lively Q&A session. There were queries and suggestions on how the calculator tool, both the global and the national level versions, could be helpful in awareness-raising among university as well as high school students. The speakers informed the audience about similar initiatives in the UK and Taiwan, and how Japan can take some ideas from these initiatives. Some of the audience suggested the development of a simpler version of the national level tool, which can be used even by elementary school students. A few companies showed interest in the tool, particularly for setting up enterprise-level targets using the tool (the national one). There were a few other questions relating to some good examples of using the tool for policymaking processes. Overall, the Global Calculator as well as the Japan 2050 Low Carbon Navigator generated quite a lot of enthusiasm among the audience, and it is expected that these tools will be helpful for a growing number of users.

(Reported by Dr. Mustafa Moinuddin, Green Economy Area, IGES)

Facilitator

	Kazuo Matsushita, Senior Fellow, IGES / Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University Profile Kazuo Matsushita Prof. Matsushita served as Professor of Global Environmental Policy at the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies of the Kyoto University, from November 2001 to March 2013. He graduated from the Tokyo University and obtained MA in political economy from the Johns Hopkins University. He joined the Environment Agency in 1972 and served as the Director of the Air Pollution Control Division and the Global Environment Policy and Cooperation Division. He also worked at the OECD, UNCED and IGES. His research focuses on green economy and environmental policy integration for sustainable society. His publication includes “A Journey to Global Environmental Studies”, “An Introduction to Environmental Policy”, “Environmental Governance”, “Introduction to Environmental Politics”, “Environment in the 21st Century and New Development Patterns” (in English). He is also a member of the Board, The Environmental Consortium for Leadership Development (EcoLeaD), as well as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Environmental Innovation and Communication Organization. Close	PDF (634KB)

Speakers

	Pascal Vermeulen, Managing Director, CLIMACT  Profile Pascal Vermeulen Pascal Vermeulen holds a Business administration degree from the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium and a degree in Financial management from the Brandeis University, USA. He is a recognized advisor for public authorities and private companies on sustainable development, energy and climate. He is the founder & managing director of CLIMACT (www.climact.com), a consultancy company in energy and climate change. He has been recently involved in the global consortium to develop the Global calculator www.globalcalculator.org, a global interactive model that helps its users understand the link between our lifestyles, the energy we use, and the consequences for the climate. He has taught Sustainable Development at several universities in Paris, France and in Belgium. He has contributed to several studies and publications on the transition to a low carbon society. Pascal speaks French, English, Dutch and German. Close	PDF (1MB)
	Xin Zhou, Leader / Principal Policy Researcher, Green Economy Area, IGES  Profile	PDF (1MB)

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