<Date and time> Tuesday, December 12, 2023 15:00-17:30
<Location> Hybrid event (Inochi Plaza in Osaka University Nakanoshima Center and Zoom)
<Participants> 39 people (18 face-to-face, 21 via Zoom)
<Program>
– Opening Remarks
Takuo Dome/Director of Osaka University SSI, Professor, Graduate School of Economics

– Topic Presentation 1
Takanobu Kosugi/Professor, Faculty of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University
“Decarbonization and SDGs”

– Topic Presentation 2
Kazuya Nishi/Nomura Research Senior consultant
“Trends in carbon neutrality in Japan and abroad”

– Topic Presentation 3
Kaoru Asakura / Manager of the Sustainability Promotion Office, Corporate Planning Department, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
“NTT Group’s efforts towards carbon neutrality”

– Topic Presentation 4
Kazuya Yamaguchi/ Odawara City Environment Department Zero Carbon Promotion Division Manager
“Odawara City’s efforts towards carbon neutrality”

– Discussion
(Moderator: Kazuhiko Shindo / Specially Appointed Professor at Osaka University Co-Creation Organization, Deputy Director of Expo Promotion Office)

Salon themed “Carbon Neutral”
On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, the 18th SSI Salon “Thinking Together about “Future Society with Shining Life” and “Carbon Neutrality” Now is the Time” was held. This salon was held as a forum for discussion of “carbon neutrality,” an important issue when considering climate change, which is also a major issue in the SDGs, on the occasion of the launch of the “Green Innovation Project for Carbon Neutrality,” an SSI cooperative project.
This was the first time for the salon to be held at the Inochi Plaza, and a very heated discussion was held using a hybrid format that also included Zoom.

Introducing the latest trends in “carbon neutrality” and good practices in Japan
First, Mr. Dome, Director of SSI, gave opening remarks on the purpose of today’s Salon and the relationship between today’s Salon and the “Inochi Forum and Inochi Declaration,” in which SSI is playing a central role. He stated that energy and climate change issues are unavoidable in envisioning a sustainable future society, and he hoped that the Salon would provide an opportunity for useful discussions.

First, Professor Takanobu Kosugi, Faculty of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University, gave a presentation on the theme of “Decarbonization and SDGs,” introducing important issues in considering the issue of decarbonization/carbon neutrality. As many studies have revealed a close relationship between CO2 emissions and global warming, it is essential to go beyond “low” carbonization to a “de” carbonized society, and to increase the ratio of energy not derived from chemical fuels, as well as to rapidly develop technologies to remove and retrofit the inevitable remaining CO2 emissions. He also said that it is essential to increase the ratio of energy that is not derived from chemical fuels and to rapidly develop technologies to remove and renovate the remaining CO2. He also said that it is essential to increase the ratio of energy not derived from chemical fuels, and to develop technologies to remove and retrofit the remaining CO2 at an accelerated pace. To achieve this, it is necessary to make a “transition” not only in science and technology but also in society, economy, and institutions, This was the basis for the discussion in today’s salon.

The second topic presenter, Kazuya Nishi, Senior Consultant at Nomura Research Institute, gave a report titled “Carbon Neutrality Trends in Japan and Abroad”. After explaining the history of terms such as the difference between decarbonization (reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero) and carbon neutrality (equilibrium between emissions and absorption), he introduced the Japanese government’s priority policies in the supply (such as private solar power generation) and use (such as energy-saving buildings and decarbonized urban development) phases of its efforts toward a decarbonized society. He also introduced the challenge to shift 74% of power sources to non-petroleum by 2050. He also introduced the initiatives of other countries, pointing out that the treatment of nuclear power is different from that of Japan and that the hydrogen strategy centered on the EU is having a great impact, providing information that will make the future outlook very clear.

The third speaker, Mr. Kaoru Asakura, General Manager of Sustainability Promotion Office, Corporate Planning Department, NTT, introduced “NTT Group’s efforts to become carbon neutral”. He also mentioned that NTT Group is also making efforts for sustainability. Specifically, NTT Group has set the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, while the amount of electric power consumption increases with the growth of data volume. In addition to increasing the use of renewable energy and improving infrastructure, the company is also promoting smart primary industry and waste disposal, and is developing businesses to realize a recycling-oriented society. I believe that the presentation demonstrated good practices where companies are not only carbon neutral in their own activities, but are also working together with local communities and other companies.

Lastly, Mr. Kazuya Yamaguchi, Director of Zero Carbon Promotion Section, Environment Department, Odawara City, reported on “Odawara City’s Efforts to Go Carbon Neutral”. He introduced that Odawara City has set ambitious renewable energy targets for 2022 (e.g., 50% reduction in emissions and 5-fold increase in renewable energy use), and in addition to the supply side, such as small-scale distributed renewable energy generation (using building roofs), the city is taking advanced measures on the utilization side, mainly through the development of storage batteries, EVs, and power generation networks. Specifically, they are aiming to build a self-reliant and self-supporting model with overall optimization that will lead to a virtuous circle in the local economy through advanced efforts in the utilization phase, such as the development of a decarbonized regional transportation model using EVs and a microgrid that can be operated independently within an area using existing power lines in the event of a disaster or power outage. This was introduced as a good practice of the local government and attracted a great deal of attention from the participants.

During the general discussion on whether aiming for carbon neutrality will help us realize a “future society where inochi shines”,
the moderator, Mr. Shindo, a specially appointed professor at the Osaka University Co-Creation Institute and a member of the “Green Innovation Project for Carbon Neutrality,” presented the points at issue. A lively discussion ensued.

In the first half of the discussion, we discussed how carbon neutrality has changed from the era of the Kyoto Protocol at the end of the 20th century to the era of the Paris Agreement in the 21st century, and how it will change further in the future. As mentioned in Professor Kosugi’s report, in the transition from “low” carbon to “decarbonized” carbon, not only will governments and companies be required to set stricter targets and create policies, but also Activities that involve a wide range of stakeholders, including the general public, are gradually becoming more widespread.In addition to the direct impact of decarbonization and carbon neutrality, we are also seeing positive impacts on the economy and social systems. It was once again shared that it is becoming important to clearly present a vision regarding impacts and negative impacts.

Regarding the issue of whether it is really possible to achieve carbon neutrality, while there are strict targets that are extremely unlikely to be achieved, there are There was an opinion that it is necessary to think from a broader perspective, such as policy and how to make it a driving force for promoting a recycling-oriented society in terms of energy and economy in the region. These efforts, awareness, and visions are essential for aiming for a “future society where inochi shines brightly,” and the project emphasizes the involvement of students. It was essential to move forward with projects and projects that all stakeholders can think about and work on together, and there was discussion that the Expo could be used as an opportunity to do so.

A variety of other opinions and thoughts were shared, and the salon time came to an end in the blink of an eye. The issue of carbon neutrality is a very important issue that affects all life, and at the same time it is a difficult issue to solve, but we need to discuss it through forums like SSI Salon and think about how we need to change. The participants seemed to confirm that the foundation for resolving issues is the attitude of sharing how things are changing and continuing to move forward with efforts while confirming one’s own whereabouts. I thought. The significance of the “Green Innovation Project for Carbon Neutrality” lies in the fact that, with the theme of carbon neutrality, we involve a wide range of stakeholders in society, share an awareness of the issues, and continue to think about what kind of future society we aim for through discussion. I think there is.