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Record-breaking heat scorches Japan and China this summer
Japan experienced its hottest summer on record, while parts of China logged their warmest August ever, as both nations faced extreme heatwaves driven by climate change.
In short:
- Japan recorded its highest average summer temperature since records began in 1898, with more than 8,800 instances of extreme heat.
- China's August temperatures were the highest ever recorded in several regions, leading to school delays and extended holidays in some provinces.
- Climate scientists warn that 2024 may become the hottest year ever recorded due to ongoing global warming.
Why this matters:
The persistent and intensifying heatwaves in Asia highlight the growing impact of climate change, stressing the need for urgent action to mitigate its effects and protect vulnerable populations.
Related coverage:
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Engineers seek community consent for nuclear waste site
The world's first permanent repository for nuclear fuel waste will open this year on Olkiluoto Island, Finland, but convincing people to live nearby remains a challenge.
In short:
- The Onkalo repository, built 1,500 feet underground in Finland, will store spent nuclear fuel rods in copper and cast iron casks designed to last 100,000 years.
- The U.S. aims to triple its nuclear energy capacity by 2050 but lacks a long-term plan for nuclear waste, which is mostly stored in temporary facilities.
- Consent-based siting, which involves gaining community approval, is seen as essential for future waste storage projects in both the U.S. and Canada.
Key quote:
"The plan is that there will be no sign [of the facility]."
— Pasi Tuohimaa, communications manager for Posiva, the agency managing Finland’s nuclear waste
Why this matters:
Safely disposing of nuclear waste is crucial as nuclear power expands. Without effective long-term storage solutions, communities remain at risk, and the expansion of nuclear energy may face significant obstacles.
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Credit: Songquan Deng/Big Stock Photo
Japan innovates with climate bonds to fund green technology
Japan, leveraging its technological prowess, has become the first country to issue sovereign bonds specifically for funding climate change initiatives and green technology.
In short:
- Japan has initiated the sale of climate bonds, aiming to raise 20 trillion yen to support its green transition, referred to as GX.
- The bonds are designed to attract private investment into projects like low-cost wind power, carbon recycling, and advanced batteries.
- This move is part of Japan's broader goal to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade and achieve zero emissions by 2050.
Key quote:
"This bond shows clearly how governments, and others, can raise funds to invest in that transition. It marks a significant milestone in transition finance."
— Sean Kidney, head of the Climate Bonds Initiative.
Why this matters:
Japan's innovative approach to financing its green transition through climate bonds represents a significant step in global efforts to combat climate change. It sets an example for how countries can mobilize private capital for sustainable development and technological advancements in clean energy.
Be sure to read Douglas Fischer’s 2019 article: Financial markets push for sustainability, climate accountability.
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Photo by Thomas Marban on Unsplash
Mottainai: In Japan, creativity is key to a no-waste ideal
Japan's celebrated principles of thrift and conservation further sustainability in the culinary world, brilliantly embracing scraps, leftovers and the whole animal.
Credit: Johannes Plenio/Unsplash
Regulators clear Japan's largest nuclear plant for operation, navigating past safety concerns and local hesitations
Japan's nuclear watchdog has lifted the operational ban on Tokyo Electric Power's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, marking a cautious move towards nuclear energy amidst historical safety issues and local apprehensions.
Mari Yamaguchi reports for the Associated Press.
In short:
- Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has ended the decade-long suspension of TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, the world's largest, due to previous safety violations.
- TEPCO's next step is to gain approval from local governments, reflecting the lingering community distrust post-Fukushima disaster.
- The Japanese government's strategy to rely on nuclear power for reducing fossil fuel imports faces hurdles of safety concerns and public confidence.
Key quote:
"TEPCO is a unique company; in a way it had caused the accident. It is the operator's responsibility to keep improving, and our task is to watch if improvement is adequately carried out."
— Shinsuke Yamanaka, Chair of the Nuclear Regulation Authority
Visit EHN's energy section for more top news about energy, climate, and health.
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Photo by Jason Rost on Unsplash
Japanese regulator lifts ban on TEPCO-owned Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, citing safety improvements
Japan's nuclear power regulator has lifted an operational ban on Tokyo Electric Power's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, as the company turns its attention to getting local permission to restart.
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Ambitious Tokyo flood tunnels tested by worsening natural disasters
Japan has financed enormously expensive infrastructure projects to protect cities from catastrophe, but old adaptation plans may not be enough against increasingly heavy rains.
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