Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
Open Access

Abstract

Since the Paris Agreement of 4 November 2016 for the first time brought all nations together to share the responsibility of combating climate change and adapting to its effects, there has been wide discussion about CCS considered as one of the significant approaches to greatly reduce CO2 from the global atmosphere. The Japanese government has set the mid-term target of 26% by 2030 below 2013 level. The government also targets an 80% reduction of GHG emissions by 2050 and has acknowledged CCS can potentially contribute to reduce 7.1 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2050, resulting in approximately 21% of potential contribution to reduce CO2. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and provides an opportunity for a country to assess environmental impacts at the planning stage. Both assessments play the significant roles in assisting an efficient process and information transparency for climate and energy policies. The future CCS deployment associated with an appropriate legislative framework will allow potential benefits and meet Japan�s climate policy goals. In this regard, this article identifies the key roles of SEA and EIA for the future CCS deployment in Japan. Throughout this study, it addresses there are a number of key issues of SEA/EIA for the existing legislative framework applicable to commercializing CCS in Japan. It clearly addresses the key roles for SEA/EIA in terms of developing CCS deployment in Japan (See Table 1). Accessing relevant literature, we have proposed a potential framework for addressing roles of the SEA/EIA for the future CCS operation in Japan.

Biography

Nakamura Akihiro is a Research Fellow at Centre for Environmental Law, Meiji University, Japan and Adjunct Researcher working with Associate Professor Kate Crowley, School of Social Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia. He completed his Graduation with PhD in Public Policy from the University of Tasmania, and has also considerable experience in these fields both in Australia and Japan. His research expertise is in the field of policy instrument analysis in relation to climate change policy.