The COP (Conference of the Parties) is an international conference to discuss global climate change and global warming countermeasures. With regard to keywords such as decarbonization, carbon neutrality, greenhouse gases, and global warming that we hear every day today, the policies decided at this COP play an important role in having a great impact on the policies of each country. increase.
A study group "Shibuya COP Academy" for both Generation Z and companies to have a sense of ownership and take action against such problems. We will deliver the third pattern.
"Shibuya COP Academy" has finally reached its 3rd time. The number of participants has increased each time, and many people have been participating every time since the first time.
As before, we will proceed with the three agendas of "Shibuya's current situation", "global trends", and "actions to achieve the goal" with Ms. Makina Saza, the representative director of the general incorporated association SWiTCH, as the facilitator. .
Using slides, he explained that Japan is lagging behind other countries in terms of sustainable initiatives, and that in order to establish an economy and society, the ecosystem and environment that form the foundation must first be conserved. In particular, he points out that the four indicators of climate change, biosphere integrity, land-use change, and biogeochemical cycles have already exceeded the Earth's environmental capacity (planetary boundaries). It highlights the risk of cascading losses, heat waves, wildfires, and infectious diseases.
Each time, Mr. Saza asks the participants for examples and quizzes to make environmental issues easy to understand and make them their own. This is a skillful point unique to Mr. Saza, as it allows you to feel a sense of crisis about environmental problems, which are usually unrealistic.
This time, the question was, "If global warming progresses and the sea level rises by 1 meter, XX% of Japan's sandy beaches will disappear." The answer is a shocking 90%. And what will the people who live in it and the people who own the land do? What about immigration? Mr. Saza talks when various problems occur.
And what kind of action is the world taking on environmental problems next? The topic will move to. As before, the theme is “10 New Insights” listed by “Future Earth” and “COP27” held in Egypt in November 2022.
Regarding "10 New Insights", 1 to 6 have been explained through the 1st and 2nd installments, so Mr. Saza will explain 7 to 10 this time.
[10 New Insights]
- Doubting the Myth of Infinite Adaptation
- Vulnerability hotspots are concentrated in 'at-risk areas'
- New threats emerge from the interaction of climate and health
- Climate change-driven population shifts require more forward-looking action than the current evidence base
- Climate security is essential for human security
- Sustainable land use is critical to meeting climate goals
- Sustainable finance practices in the private sector have yet to trigger a full-fledged social transformation
- Loss and damage countermeasures are now urgently needed on a global scale
- Inclusive decision-making is needed for climate resilient development
- Structural barriers and unsustainable lock-ins need to be broken
(Reference: From "Future Earth Japan Committee")
“Rather than lending and investing money focusing only on corporate profits, it will be important to take ESG into consideration when lending and investing. The financial industry, the policy maker, is reviewing the transparency of greenhouse gas emissions from investment and savings to ensure that there is a substantial impact on meeting the 1.5°C target. It is necessary to make improvements such as clarifying the capital flows that affect climate change, etc. We must strongly communicate to financial institutions, investors, and companies that the implementation and strengthening of climate change countermeasures can also be an incentive. "N" (Mr. Saza)
In recent years, not only listed companies, but also environmental conservation efforts that go beyond decarbonization and the publication of sustainability reports have become popular, and awareness of ESG has increased, but Mr. Saza still has room for improvement. Is called.
Continuing on, in 8 of "10 New Insights", regarding countermeasures for disaster areas and victims who have already suffered damage, it is necessary to recognize not only the amount of damage that can be calculated as a monetary amount, but also non-financial aspects. No. For example, if the Shibuya River disappears, how much loss will there be in terms of the natural environment, biodiversity, health, business, etc. Ecosystems have no national borders, so at the global level We need to know the cost of the climate crisis,” he said.
Furthermore, he stated the fact that ``10% of the world's wealthy people emit 49% of the world's CO2, and the poor 50% emit only about 10% of the total,'' and the importance of changing the mindset of the wealthy. also pointed out.
Next, Mr. Saza will explain the need for comprehensive and authoritative governance that does not rely solely on politicians and policymakers for "resilience and resilience."
“Until now, the main types were the exclusion type, which separates the minority from the majority group, the segregation type, which separates the majority from the minority, and the integrated type, which separates the majority from the minority in the same environment. Regardless of nationality, we have to work on a symbiotic and sustainable way of living while supporting each other.” (Mr. Saza)
On top of that, the current social system is based on a capital-intensive society, and he says that we should review the design of status consumption-oriented, mass production and mass consumption.
“Until now, the main focus was on the growth rate of GDP, and it was thought that it was enough to generate a lot of profit.However, what is true happiness? What is the value of money? The time has come.We need to break away from the resource-intensive economy and shift the social system to low-carbon development." (Mr. Saza)
The topic then shifted to the content of the agreements at COP27, which was held in November 2022, with a commentary focusing on the 30-by-30 initiative, which aims to conserve at least 30% of the country's land as a natural environment area by 2030. .
I learned a lot while being surprised by the fact that the global movement has already started and the gap that I rarely see or hear in my daily life (Mr. Saza also pointed out the low frequency of reports on sustainability). "Shibuya's current situation" and "World trends". Next, knowing the current situation, how do we take "actions to achieve the goal"? theme will change.
First, three students gave presentations on their overseas experiences, about efforts being made in Argentina, Thailand, London, Singapore, and other countries. Action plans that can be implemented in Shibuya are proposed along with examples from each country, such as cool-down methods that make use of nature in Thailand and Singapore, sustainable art in London, and the movement to eliminate plastic bags that can only be done in Shibuya where people gather. After that, there was a workshop in which we were divided into groups, and there was a lively exchange of opinions and presentations.
Finally, Mr. Saza said, "What you can do today, not tomorrow," is to first know your carbon footprint (the amount of carbon emissions generated in one's life) ("Jibungoto Planet" (https:/ /www.jibungoto-planet.jp/), increasing the greenery in the office, grasping the amount of PET bottles used and using my own bottles.
"Shibuya COP Academy" has been held three times. The content of the event was meaningful in terms of learning a lot and creating a network of participants. Please continue to pay attention to the activities of "Shibuya COP Academy".
<Report | Shibuya COP Academy>
