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1 TRENDS RELATED TO GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
In recent years, more and more people are aware that global-scale environmental
problems such as global warming, etc. are extremely serious problems in the
survival and development of mankind, and measures are being taken world-wide
to solve these problems.
Examining global environmental problems include global warming, ozone depletion,
acid rain, marine pollution, etc. It can be discerned that one feature they
share is that unlike the environmental problems faced in the past, it takes
quite some time for them to cause real damage, and when they do, it is strongly
anticipated that the damage will be globally devastating and extremely difficult
to recover. Today, as one of the most important tasks the whole human race must
undertake, environmental problems are becoming a growing point of interest to
the people of Japan (Fig. 39).
In this situation, the UNCED (United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development) earth summit was held in Rio De Genero, Brazil, in June 1992. In
the summit, the "Rio Declaration on Environment and Development" (Rio declaration)
serving as the basic ideology on the preservation of the global environment
in the future etc and the "Agenda 21" which outlines actions plans that various
countries must deal with to ensure the preservation of the global environment
in the future were adopted. The "Framework Convention of Climate Change" also
started receiving signatures of approval.
2 AIMlNG AT ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY TRANSPORT
(1) Global Environment Problems and Transport
Global warning is caused by the rise in the density of greenhouse effect
gases such as the C02 in the atmosphere, methane, etc. The percentage of C02
emitted from the transport sector by the burning of oil, etc. is rising due
to increase in number of vehicles, volume of passenger and freight traffic,
etc. Specifically, this percentage makes up about 19% of the C02 emitted in
the whole of Japan (1990) and has been showing a sharp increase recently. (Fig.
40). For this reason, the important task is to take measures to resolve
the global warming problem such as controlling the C02 emitted from the transport
sector. NOx and SOx are the causes of acid rain which is thought to affect the
ecological system, etc. by melting into the rain in the atmosphere. Those gases
also have adverse effects on our respiratory organs. Therefore, controlling
NOx and SOx emissions from the transport sector such as the NOx emitted by vehicles
mainly diesel cars, is a major task.
It was just recently that the world saw the enormous damages done to animals,
plants and fishing resources by the petroleum spill in the Persian Gulf, etc.
during the Gulf war. It symbolized the importance of measures for preventing
marine pollution.
The transport sector also observes, monitors and measures greenhouse effect
gases, the ozone layer, the E1 Nino phenomenon. Because it is closely related
to global environment problems, in the future, measures devised by the transport
sector will be essential to realize a truly affluent society as well as the
continuing prosperity of mankind.
(2) Dealing with Environmental Problems in Transport
(a) Constructing Transport Systems with Little Environmental Load
To control the amount of C02 and NOx, etc. emitted from the whole transport
system, the transport structure must be improved, and shifted to center around
transport facilities that have high energy efficiency for every volume of traffic
and low C02 emissions, etc. For instance, when the amounts of C02 emitted per
unit of traffic volume by various transport facilities are compared, the ratio
of railway to private cars in the passenger transport field was 1 to 8, the
ratio of railway to sea in the freight traffic field is 1 to 1.7 and the ratio
of railway to private cars 1 to 36, Therefore the larger the transport facility
the less polluting it is. (Figs. 41and
Figs. 42)
First, for passenger traffic, it is necessary to lead passengers from using
private cars to public transport facilities such as railways, etc. To achieve
this, it is essential to improve public transport facilities so that they appeal
to the public. On the other hand, for freight traffic, the so called modal shift
must be promoted. Modal shift is the shifting of transportation from trucks
to large-scale cargo transport facilities such as railway and shipping in truck
line transportation.
But because truck transport has to be depended on in cities and districts,
etc., efforts are being made to raise performance by promoting mixed freight
transport, joint transport, improving strategic bases for physical distribution,
etc. In the future, efforts must also be made to strengthen incentives for improving
and utilizing transport facilities which place little load on the environment
such as railways, etc.
(b) Reducing Burden on the Environment By Each Transport System
In addition to the improvements of transport structures described above,
it is also necessary to reduce each transport system's load on the environment
by controlling C02, NOx, etc. emissions.
First, it is essential to control C02, emissions etc. from automobiles through
improving fuel efficiency because their energy consumption amount makes up about
85% of that of the whole transport sector. For this reason, in June 1992, the
strictest energy standards ever set were set for gasoline passenger cars. Examinations
will be also made in the future concerning efficiency on standards of gasoline
trucks. And according to the "Special Measures Law for reducing the total amount
of NOx emitted by automobiles in designated regions" approved in May 1992, plans
are being made to take up measures systematically to reduce NOx in large city
areas.
Other than these measures, automobiles which have little effect and damage
on the environment such as methanol vehicles and hybrid vehicles (vehicles which
recycle and generate the energy generated during braking, starting and running
and uses to supplement the driving force of the diesel engine when speeding,
expected to have a fuel efficiency that is 5 to 20% improved as compared to
diesel vehicles) are being developed and spread. Especially in the case of methanol
fueled vehicles, as of May 1992, 143 trial cars were used as mainly transport
trucks mainly in the city area. In June 1992, 38 methanol stands were established;
greatly advancing the realization of their practical use.
Concerning trains, efforts are being made to reduce their weight, decrease
air resistance, develop energy recycling coaches, introduce energy saving coaches,
etc.
As for ships, the Investigatory Council by the ship of "Atmospheric Pollution
Problems" was installed in May 1992, aiming to systematically examine the effects
that ships have on atmospheric pollution, and the techniques to prevent atmospheric
pollution and to make double hull structure tankers.
(c) Enhancing Observatory and Monitor Systems, Etc.
The meteorological Agency and Maritime Safety Agency observe and monitor
greenhouse effect gases, the ozone layer, the sea environment, etc. And to support
the global environemtnal measure of other countries, it is promoting international
cooperation on improving international prevention and control systems for large-scale
sea pollution accidents in the vicinity of the ASEAN countries.
(d) Raising Public Awareness
Although it is necessary to implement the measures mentioned above for the
global environment problems in the transport sector, it is also important for
each user to increase his awareness on global environment problems by understanding
that the Earth is finite and that its destruction will, bring about irreparable
results, by rethinking his lifestyle, making efforts to use mass transport facilities
like railways, etc., which have little load on the environment when he makes
use of transport services.
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