The article on Brink news explains why Japan’s Climate change adaptation and preparedness should be an example to Asian countries.
Japan has its share of extreme events and disasters. From tsunamis, nuclear plant accident, floods, and droughts.
The article says that natural disasters like floods and droughts that hit Japan regularly have a lot to do with their topography, such as the following features:
- Almost 75 per cent of its land is mountainous, forming steep and rivers where it limits the amount of water that they can store, which quickly flows to the sea.
- Most of its population sits in alluvial planes or low elevation areas where the level of floodwater is higher than the area itself. For instance, Tokyo is built on an alluvial plain, and its elevation is below sea-level.
- Droughts are frequent in Japan. Before its modernisation, most of its water shortage is due to droughts where it affects their electricity supply, hydropower generation, and industries.
- Japan’s battle with floods for centuries results in their innovative flood management systems that kept floodwaters at bay; however, authorities warn residents, especially those in Tokyo, to remain vigilant towards disasters.
How does Japan deal with these natural risks?
According to the article, the country prepared using infrastructure development and forested areas or green dams. There is a strong emphasis on the use of forest management to address water management.
With climate change, they are expecting that the number of heavy rains will increase up to 10 days in the next 100 years. Their climate mitigation includes the use of renewable energy, forest conservation, and drainage infrastructures to prevent leakages.
Japan’s National Plan for Adaptation to the Impacts of Climate Change
Japan’s 100-page national climate adaptation plan provides details on how the country will address the challenges of climate change. It starts by giving the context and issues from international climate trends and their local adaptation efforts, their basic adaptation strategies which include mainstreaming adaptation into their government policy.
The report also discussed its approaches to adaptation such as monitoring and observing climate change impacts, providing adaptation direction on sectors vulnerable to climate change including water resources, natural ecosystems, and coastal areas, and human health.
Click on the button below to read Japan’s National Climate Adaptation Plan:
Japanese are known for their resilience, innovation, and their ability to bounce back and build back better in the face of disasters.
Their ingenious ways of coping with setbacks and calamities are something to be admired and an excellent example for other Asian countries prone to the same risks to follow.
Source Citation:
Tortajada, C. (2018, June 6). Japan’s Climate Change Preparedness an Example for Asian Countries. Brink news. Retrieved from https://www.brinknews.com/japans-climate-change-preparedness-an-example-for-asian-countries/
National Plan for Adaptation to the Impacts of Climate Change. (2015, November 27). Retrieved from https://www.env.go.jp/en/earth/cc/nationalplan151127-2.pdf
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