Aki Suwa

Policy innovation for technology diffusion: a case-study of Japanese renewable energy public support programs

Due to local scarcity of fossil fuel reserves, deployment of renewable energy has been on the Japanese government energy policy agenda for decades. While a significant amount of government budget was being allocated to renewables Research and Development, in contrast very little attention was paid to public support for renewable energy deployment. Against this background, in 2003, the Japanese government enacted legislation based on the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) scheme, which requires electricity retailers to supply a certain amount of electricity from renewable sources to grid consumers. The RPS legislation had been expected to ensure market efficiency, as well as bringing a steady increase in renewable capacity. Later, in 2009, the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme was introduced to let electricity utilities purchase electricity generated from renewable energy sources with regulated prices. This paper aims to use the choice of renewable policy as a case-study to understand barriers for policy transfer and innovation, mainly through comparative studies between RPS and FIT in Japan. The result of this study shows that, in Japan, most policy-makers face the ‘lock-in’ of existing technology, which frustrates the deployment of renewable energy. For this reason, there is reluctance to allow experimentation that could promote a shift to other energy sources. In order to achieve the rapid change towards green industry, innovation policy needs to be implemented through effective and efficient methods, such as a carbon tax for fossil fuels; enlargement of renewable energy deployment to sources such as wind, geothermal and solar; and conducting further studies toward public preference and willingness to pay for the new clean energy sources.

Innovating in sub-national climate policy: the mandatory emissions reduction scheme in Tokyo

This study analyses the drivers behind the policy-making and implementation of the recently developed climate policies in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG). In 2010, the TMG introduced a mandatory CO2 emission reduction and a cap-and-trade scheme; the worlds first such scheme that sets binding targets for buildings. The research was carried out through reviews of the published and unpublished literature, surveys and face-to-face interviews with various stakeholders involved in the policy process. The essential components that enabled successful policy-making and implementation of the scheme in Tokyo are revealed, such as the administrative leadership and the capacity of the TMG administration, the availability of historical data supporting the policy discussions and the gradual and flexible implementation mechanisms. The article concludes with recommendations for future improvements in the TMG and beyond. Policy relevance This article presents the lessons from the recent advancements in climate policy in Tokyo, particularly the worlds first mandatory city-scale emission reduction and cap-and-trade scheme that includes buildings. The scheme was relatively effective as the total GHG emissions were reduced by 23% on average from the base years and 10% below the average of other parts of the country before the end of the first compliance period of five years (2010–2014). The policy innovations from the worlds largest city and the capital of Japan can inform sub-national governments about the potential barriers and opportunities for introducing mandatory GHG emissions reductions.

Stakeholder Perceptions of the Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being Impacts of Palm Oil Biofuels in Indonesia and Malaysia

While the rapid expansion of palm oil cultivation in Indonesia and Malaysia over the last decades has contributed to rural development, serious negative impacts have occurred. As a response, sustainability certification schemes such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) have been established. Yet the connections of the oil palm industry with regard to biofuels are complex, and the capacity of certification to truly reduce social and environmental impacts remains questioned. The aim of the chapter is to assess how oil palm production affects the local environment and human well-being, so as to contribute to the ongoing debate regarding the potential role of palm oil biofuel to clean energy provision and local development. We first provide an in-depth literature review about the impacts of oil palm cultivation and palm oil biodiesel production/use for ecosystem services, biodiversity, and human well-being. We then draw on empirical data from RSPO stakeholders regarding their perceptions about the extent/severity of those impacts and the potential of the industry to mitigate them. Our study shows how palm oil biodiesel production/use impacts biodiversity and several ecosystem services in Malaysia and Indonesia, which in turn can compromise the well-being of the local communities that rely upon them. Findings suggest that, far from being homogeneous, RSPO’s stakeholders’ perceptions are very divergent, particularly regarding the industry’s impact on climate and biodiversity. Reconciling these different perceptions is the first step for coming up with mutually acceptable standards and will be the great bet for certification schemes in the future.