departmental bulletin paper

Departmental Bulletin Paper

Text

Osaka Human Sciences. 2019, 5, p. 87-109

The dynamics of regions moving toward energy self-sufficiency : Examples of 100% renewable energy initiatives from different regions around the world

Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

English

Text

2019-03

Aiming to resolve global warming, renewable energy is developing rapidly at the global level. Renewable energy has many contacts with local regions based on its decentralized and low energy density characteristics. Thus, the attitudes of local citizens and local acceptance are significantly affected by the sustainability of renewable energy projects. As another new movement, international frameworks including the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals differ from the previous approach, which did not set numerous indicators, but required that each government drew their visions and goals. Each national/regional government had to establish and achieve targets autonomously. This research focused on the 100% renewable energy initiatives to consider the sustainable energy society. The purpose of the paper is to 1) grasp the holistic trend of the 100% renewable energy initiatives worldwide and 2) dissect case studies and details of the targets, its motivation, civic involvement, and local/social background. A series of data related to the 100% renewable energy targets was collected through the research network of the 100% renewable campaign. Moreover, interviews and questionnaires in Osnabrück, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Frederikshavn were conducted at the international conference in Kassel, Germany. Interviews and field visits to Fukushima prefecture were conducted to compare the international situation with the domestic situation in Japan. The results indicated that 78 countries, regions, islands, and cities had set 100% renewable goals by the beginning of December 2015. The main sectors of the targets are electricity, transport, and heating/cooling; however, the combination of targets is diverse. The results also imply that dozens of communities had formulated a 100% renewable energy target by comprehensively reevaluating the energy system while respecting their historical backgrounds and local conditions. Even in metropolitan areas, the possibility of setting a 100% renewable energy policy target by combining climate change countermeasures, regional development, and urban planning was demonstrated. Furthermore, it is important to understand that setting the target is the first step, and municipalities must implement the project in medium to long-term strategies. Therefore, observing and monitoring the project through public participation from diverse sectors, evaluating projects from different angles, and efforts to cooperate with citizens should be emphasized in the implementation stage. In conclusion, the regional cases discussed in this research suggest the possibility of setting and achieving 100% renewable energy targets by combining resources and projects. In addition, many options as solutions to improve energy self-sufficiency exist. For the prospects of a Japanese energy strategy, it is expected that a high commitment to renewable energy will be set through national decision in addition to the initiatives of citizens, as well as regional and private sector initiatives.

10.18910/71748

71748

The dynamics of regions moving toward energy self-sufficiency : Examples of 100% renewable energy initiatives from different regions around the world

Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

English

2019-03

Osaka Human Sciences

5

87

109

https://hdl.handle.net/11094/71748

10.18910/71748

https://doi.org/10.18910/71748