中国ＣＯ２削減 最大排出国の責任はどこに

The Yomiuri Shimbun
China needs to fulfill its obligation in combating global warming
中国ＣＯ２削減　最大排出国の責任はどこに

China should fulfill its responsibility in fighting global warming as the world’s largest carbon dioxide emitter.
　地球温暖化を食い止めるため、中国は、世界最大の二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）排出国として、応分の責任を果たすべきだ。

The country has submitted to the United Nations its target for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Its main goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by 60 percent to 65 percent per unit of gross domestic product by the end of 2030, compared with 2005 levels.
　中国が、温室効果ガスの排出削減目標を国連に提出した。国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）当たりのＣＯ２排出量を、２０３０年までに０５年比で６０～６５％削減することが柱だ。

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang emphasized his country’s determination in this respect, saying, “[China] will do its utmost to combat climate change.” Given its numerical target, however, China’s CO2 emissions are bound to increase if its GDP continues to grow.
　李克強首相は「気候変動との戦いで最大限の努力をする」と強調した。だが、この目標では、ＧＤＰの拡大が続けば、排出量を増やせることになる。

China has said it will ensure the total amount of domestic CO2 emissions decreases after reaching a peak around 2030.
　国内で排出するＣＯ２の総量については、３０年ごろをピークに減少させるという。

China’s reduction target is far from plausible. Its stance seems to reflect its government’s determination to place priority on achieving economic growth rather than adopting environmental protection measures.
　真っ当な目標には、ほど遠い。環境対策より経済成長を優先する中国政府の姿勢の表れだろう。

A new framework to replace the Kyoto Protocol on global warming will be worked out at a U.N. climate change conference in Paris — officially titled 21st Session of the Conference of Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) — toward the end of the year. The new framework is expected to take effect in 2020.
　年末にパリで開かれる国連気候変動枠組み条約の第２１回締約国会議（ＣＯＰ２１）では、京都議定書に代わり、２０年に発効予定の新たな枠組みが策定される。

In preparation for the COP21 meeting, developed nations have unveiled their respective objectives for reductions in total emissions.
　それに向け、先進国は、自国内の総排出量の削減目標を国際的に表明している。

China’s per-GDP reduction target can be viewed as an attempt to emphasize its difference from more industrialized countries in its efforts to fight global warming. The country’s posture is based on its belief that developed nations should do more to address the problem, given that their industrial activities led to global warming.
　中国がＧＤＰ当たりの削減目標を示したのは、先進国との違いを強調する狙いがあろう。産業活動により温暖化を招いた先進国は、途上国よりも重い責任を負うべきだとの考え方に基づいている。

Large rise in emissions

However, it should be noted that in recent years there has been a remarkable increase in CO2 emissions from newly emerging and developing countries, which are not obliged to curtail their emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. China accounts for about one-fourth of the world’s total CO2 emissions. Its per-capita emissions compare with European Union levels.
　しかし、京都議定書で削減義務を負っていない新興国・途上国からの排出量は近年、著しく増えている。特に、中国は世界の４分の１のＣＯ２を排出している。国民１人当たりの排出量も、欧州連合（ＥＵ）と並ぶレベルにある。

It is essential for China to adopt an even more proactive approach toward the problem, a task necessary for reducing CO2 emissions worldwide. Therefore, China needs to improve its energy efficiency while also curbing its thermal power generation, which results in a large amount of CO2 emissions. We believe Japan’s energy-saving technology would help China’s efforts to reduce its emissions.
　世界全体の排出量を減らすには、中国のより積極的な取り組みが欠かせない。エネルギー効率の改善や、ＣＯ２排出量が多い石炭火力発電の抑制が必要だ。日本が培ってきた省エネ技術は、中国の排出削減にも役立つだろう。

The list of nations yet to unveil emission reduction targets includes India, the world’s third-largest emitter, as well as Southeast Asian nations, whose emissions are sharply increasing. We are concerned that they may choose to set insufficient reduction goals as a result of China’s influence.
　世界３位の排出国であるインドや、排出量が急増する東南アジア諸国などの目標提出は、これからだ。中国の影響を受け、不十分な削減目標を設定する恐れもあるのではないか。

A lesson must be learned from the Kyoto Protocol in making sure the envisaged framework fulfills its purposes. It is important for all nations to steadily carry out emission-reduction measures that are commensurate with their respective amounts of CO2 emissions.
　新たな枠組みを実効性あるものにするためには、京都議定書を教訓に、すべての国が排出量に見合った削減策を着実に実行することが重要である。

The Japanese government will soon finalize a numerical target requiring this country to reduce its emissions by 26 percent by the end of fiscal 2030 from fiscal 2013 levels. The figure can be regarded as a target that favorably compares with EU and U.S. objectives.
　日本政府は近く、３０年度に１３年度比で２６％削減するという目標を決定する。ＥＵや米国と比べても、遜色のない内容だと言える。

An important task for Japan is to play a leadership role in trying to create a fair framework for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
　日本には、公平な枠組み作りのため、主導的な役割を果たすことが求められる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 8, 2015)