(Jun. 30, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun
Cooperation vital for cutting emissions
都CO2条例 削減率を公平に課せるか(6月30日付・読売社説)
A newly revised ordinance by the Tokyo metropolitan government calls for penalizing owners of buildings failing to meet carbon dioxide emission reduction targets. The ordinance, however, faces many challenges, including whether it can impose a CO2 emissions reduction target on each building in a fair manner.
二酸化炭素(CO2)の排出削減目標を達成できなければ、ビルごとに罰則を科す。しかし、公平に削減率を課すことができるかどうかなど、難題は多い。
The revised environment preservation ordinance was unanimously approved Wednesday by the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. It is a landmark ordinance that obliges large business establishments to reduce CO2 emissions--the first of its kind in this nation.
The Tokyo metropolitan government plans to enforce the ordinance from fiscal 2010.
東京都の改正環境確保条例が、都議会で全会一致により可決、成立した。大規模事業所にCO2の排出削減を義務付ける全国初の条例である。都は2010年度から実施する方針だ。
By fiscal 2005, CO2 emissions from the non-industrial and institutional sector in Tokyo, including office buildings, had increased by 33 percent from the fiscal 1990 level. The Tokyo metropolitan government apparently decided to make CO2 emissions reductions obligatory as there is a limit to what can be achieved through voluntary reduction efforts by the business community.
東京では、オフィスビルなど業務部門の05年度の排出量が、1990年度比で33%増えている。事業所の自主的取り組みでは限界がある。削減の義務付けは、都がそう判断した結果だろう。
(obligatory=義務的な、強制的な)
About 1,300 business establishments consuming more than a given volume of electricity and gas in Tokyo will be required to reduce their CO2 emissions under the ordinance. Included are most of the major office and commercial buildings and hotels, which all together make up 40 percent of the total CO2 emissions in Tokyo.
一定量以上の電力やガスなどを消費する都内の約1300の事業所が対象となる。主だったオフィスビルや商業ビル、ホテルは、ほとんど含まれる。これらの建物だけで、都内全体の排出量の4割を占めている。
===
Setting targets
(目標設定)
The metropolitan government will set an emissions reduction target for each business establishment and issue an order to make further efforts if those establishments fail to meet their targets. If they are deemed not to be making sufficient effort to achieve the reductions, they will be subject to a fine of up to 500,000 yen.
都が、事業所ごとに排出削減量を設定する。目標に達しなければ、措置命令を出す。それでも削減に努めない場合などには、最高50万円の罰金を科す。
There has been both opposition to and doubts about Tokyo's move to oblige establishments to cut CO2 emissions when no such measure has been introduced by the central government. The ordinance may require buildings to introduce energy-efficient office machinery, including computers and air conditioners. Cooperation of tenants occupying those buildings will be essential for meeting reduction targets.
国が導入していない削減義務付けを、東京都が先んじて実施することに、反発や疑問の声がある。OAや冷暖房などの機器を省エネルギー型に更新しなければならないビルもあるだろう。入居するテナントの協力も欠かせない。
The metropolitan government aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 15 percent to 20 percent by the end of fiscal 2020. This will certainly force business establishments to shoulder a heavy share of the burden to achieve the goal.
都は20年度までに15~20%の排出削減を目指すが、事業所に大きな負担を強いるのも事実だ。
In setting a reduction target for each establishment, it will be necessary to consider whether it has already made efforts to conserve energy. There will be an inevitable gap in the scope of possible CO2 emissions reduction in the future between those establishments that have already taken steps to conserve energy and those that have not done so.
削減率の設定にあたっては、省エネに努力してきた事業所とそうでない事業所では、削減の余地が自ずと異なることを考慮する必要がある。
===
Trading scheme
(排出量取引)
The ordinance also allows emissions trading. Those establishments failing to meet their reduction targets can buy surplus emissions quotas from those having achieved their targets and use the credits toward meeting their reduction targets.
条例は、排出量取引も認めている。目標を達成できない事業所は達成した事業所から余った排出枠を購入して、自らの削減分に加算できるようにする。
(quotas=割り当て)
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has announced a pilot project for an emissions trading system to start in the autumn as part of efforts to tackle global warming. Tokyo's global warming countermeasures will serve as a guide for the central government.
福田首相は、温暖化対策の一環として、今秋から排出量取引制度を試行することを表明した。東京都の取り組みは、国にとっても一つの参考にはなるだろう。
It may be necessary, however, to deal with possible discrepancies with Tokyo's emissions trading system should the central government decide to introduce its own emissions trading system for the nation in earnest.
一方で、国が将来、取引制度を本格導入する際は、整合性の問題が生じる可能性がある。
(in earnest=本気で)
(should the central government decide to introduce its own emissions trading system for the nation in earnest=国が将来、取引制度を本格導入する際は 文法:仮定法過去倒置の用法 もしも~の場合には…)
An increasing number of local governments are considering their own energy-conservation measures, including cuts in the late-night and early-morning operating hours of convenience stores. While it is certainly not a bad idea for local governments to carry out policies appropriate to their areas--particularly when the nation's overall emissions reduction is not progressing as desired--such measures should be implemented only after winning the understanding of local businesses and residents.
コンビニエンスストアの深夜営業の規制を検討するなど、独自の省エネ対策に乗り出す自治体が増えている。国全体の排出削減が思うように進まない中、自治体が実情に応じた政策を実施するのは、悪いことではない。
だが、地域の理解を得たうえでの施策であることが大前提だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 30, 2008)
(2008年6月30日02時30分 読売新聞)
Cooperation vital for cutting emissions
都CO2条例 削減率を公平に課せるか(6月30日付・読売社説)
A newly revised ordinance by the Tokyo metropolitan government calls for penalizing owners of buildings failing to meet carbon dioxide emission reduction targets. The ordinance, however, faces many challenges, including whether it can impose a CO2 emissions reduction target on each building in a fair manner.
二酸化炭素(CO2)の排出削減目標を達成できなければ、ビルごとに罰則を科す。しかし、公平に削減率を課すことができるかどうかなど、難題は多い。
The revised environment preservation ordinance was unanimously approved Wednesday by the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. It is a landmark ordinance that obliges large business establishments to reduce CO2 emissions--the first of its kind in this nation.
The Tokyo metropolitan government plans to enforce the ordinance from fiscal 2010.
東京都の改正環境確保条例が、都議会で全会一致により可決、成立した。大規模事業所にCO2の排出削減を義務付ける全国初の条例である。都は2010年度から実施する方針だ。
By fiscal 2005, CO2 emissions from the non-industrial and institutional sector in Tokyo, including office buildings, had increased by 33 percent from the fiscal 1990 level. The Tokyo metropolitan government apparently decided to make CO2 emissions reductions obligatory as there is a limit to what can be achieved through voluntary reduction efforts by the business community.
東京では、オフィスビルなど業務部門の05年度の排出量が、1990年度比で33%増えている。事業所の自主的取り組みでは限界がある。削減の義務付けは、都がそう判断した結果だろう。
(obligatory=義務的な、強制的な)
About 1,300 business establishments consuming more than a given volume of electricity and gas in Tokyo will be required to reduce their CO2 emissions under the ordinance. Included are most of the major office and commercial buildings and hotels, which all together make up 40 percent of the total CO2 emissions in Tokyo.
一定量以上の電力やガスなどを消費する都内の約1300の事業所が対象となる。主だったオフィスビルや商業ビル、ホテルは、ほとんど含まれる。これらの建物だけで、都内全体の排出量の4割を占めている。
===
Setting targets
(目標設定)
The metropolitan government will set an emissions reduction target for each business establishment and issue an order to make further efforts if those establishments fail to meet their targets. If they are deemed not to be making sufficient effort to achieve the reductions, they will be subject to a fine of up to 500,000 yen.
都が、事業所ごとに排出削減量を設定する。目標に達しなければ、措置命令を出す。それでも削減に努めない場合などには、最高50万円の罰金を科す。
There has been both opposition to and doubts about Tokyo's move to oblige establishments to cut CO2 emissions when no such measure has been introduced by the central government. The ordinance may require buildings to introduce energy-efficient office machinery, including computers and air conditioners. Cooperation of tenants occupying those buildings will be essential for meeting reduction targets.
国が導入していない削減義務付けを、東京都が先んじて実施することに、反発や疑問の声がある。OAや冷暖房などの機器を省エネルギー型に更新しなければならないビルもあるだろう。入居するテナントの協力も欠かせない。
The metropolitan government aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 15 percent to 20 percent by the end of fiscal 2020. This will certainly force business establishments to shoulder a heavy share of the burden to achieve the goal.
都は20年度までに15~20%の排出削減を目指すが、事業所に大きな負担を強いるのも事実だ。
In setting a reduction target for each establishment, it will be necessary to consider whether it has already made efforts to conserve energy. There will be an inevitable gap in the scope of possible CO2 emissions reduction in the future between those establishments that have already taken steps to conserve energy and those that have not done so.
削減率の設定にあたっては、省エネに努力してきた事業所とそうでない事業所では、削減の余地が自ずと異なることを考慮する必要がある。
===
Trading scheme
(排出量取引)
The ordinance also allows emissions trading. Those establishments failing to meet their reduction targets can buy surplus emissions quotas from those having achieved their targets and use the credits toward meeting their reduction targets.
条例は、排出量取引も認めている。目標を達成できない事業所は達成した事業所から余った排出枠を購入して、自らの削減分に加算できるようにする。
(quotas=割り当て)
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has announced a pilot project for an emissions trading system to start in the autumn as part of efforts to tackle global warming. Tokyo's global warming countermeasures will serve as a guide for the central government.
福田首相は、温暖化対策の一環として、今秋から排出量取引制度を試行することを表明した。東京都の取り組みは、国にとっても一つの参考にはなるだろう。
It may be necessary, however, to deal with possible discrepancies with Tokyo's emissions trading system should the central government decide to introduce its own emissions trading system for the nation in earnest.
一方で、国が将来、取引制度を本格導入する際は、整合性の問題が生じる可能性がある。
(in earnest=本気で)
(should the central government decide to introduce its own emissions trading system for the nation in earnest=国が将来、取引制度を本格導入する際は 文法:仮定法過去倒置の用法 もしも~の場合には…)
An increasing number of local governments are considering their own energy-conservation measures, including cuts in the late-night and early-morning operating hours of convenience stores. While it is certainly not a bad idea for local governments to carry out policies appropriate to their areas--particularly when the nation's overall emissions reduction is not progressing as desired--such measures should be implemented only after winning the understanding of local businesses and residents.
コンビニエンスストアの深夜営業の規制を検討するなど、独自の省エネ対策に乗り出す自治体が増えている。国全体の排出削減が思うように進まない中、自治体が実情に応じた政策を実施するのは、悪いことではない。
だが、地域の理解を得たうえでの施策であることが大前提だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 30, 2008)
(2008年6月30日02時30分 読売新聞)