Climate Change Adaptation in Japan – An example to Asian countries

The article on Brink News explains why Japan’s climate change adaptation and preparedness should be an example for Asian countries.

Japan has its share of extreme events and disasters, from tsunamis to nuclear plant accidents, 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 rivers that limit the amount of water it can store, which quickly flows to the sea.  
• Most of its population sits in alluvial planes or low-elevation areas where the floodwater level is higher than the area itself. For instance, Tokyo is built on an alluvial plain with an elevation below sea level.
• Droughts are frequent in Japan. Before its modernisation, most of its water shortage was due to droughts, which affected its electricity supply, hydropower generation, and industries.
• Japan’s battle with floods for centuries resulted 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, forested areas, or green dams. There is a strong emphasis on using forest management to address water management.

With climate change, they expect the number of heavy rains to increase to 10 days in the next 100 years.  Their climate mitigation includes using 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, their local adaptation efforts, and 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 and providing adaptation direction on sectors vulnerable to climate change, including water resources, natural ecosystems, 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 ability to bounce back and build back better in disasters.

Their ingenious ways of coping with setbacks and calamities are admired and an excellent example for other Asian countries prone to the same risks.