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In this research, we will examine theories for developing value judgment and decision-making skills in Japan and clarify their characteristics and inherent challenges. In addition, we will address controversial issues that have arisen across the globe and, through the development of specific learning modules, propose some principles for composing classes to encourage decision-making aimed at solutions to these issues. Specifically, we will address the issue of carbon neutrality. At the end of the 20th century, the theory of fostering value judgment and decision-making skills became a hot topic in social studies education research in Japan. In the 21st century, the position of theories for developing value judgment and decision-making skills in civic education has been much discussed. Based on the above developments in social studies education research, this paper describes what kind of value judgment and decision-making skills are needed in social studies lessons in a post-COVID society. Additionally, it proposes a type of decision-making study that deals with controversial issues that have arisen globally--in the form of the subject of carbon neutrality--by developing learning modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because transport in the port hinterlands heavily depends on roads with negative externalities, much social interest has been in modal shifts (MSs) to rail and shipping with lower environmental impact. Currently, leading industry sectors to ambitiously embrace technological innovations to decarbonize—consequently, in line with these changes, the significance of MSs should change; however, no previous studies have comprehensively presented the overall CO 2 emissions and transport mode shares for future regional cargo transport. This paper presents a scenario analysis of CO 2 emission reductions in the Japanese domestic hinterland of international maritime container transport based on future scenarios of technological innovation and change in shipper behavior. The simulation results using the global logistics intermodal network simulation model showed that up to 87% CO 2 reduction is possible, and the primary driver for this is technological innovation. Moreover, the significance of MSs fluctuates depending on the advancement of technological innovation, suggesting that MSs hold a degree of import as a decarbonization measure during the transitional phase toward carbon neutrality (CN) as technological innovation advances. The results of this study, which fluctuated considerably by scenario and timing, have policy implications with respect to the path to be followed toward CN, including whether to promote MSs. • Scenario analysis of CO 2 emission reductions in Japanese maritime transportation. • Up to 87% CO 2 reduction possible using technological innovation. • Significance of modal shifts fluctuated with the degree of technological innovation. • Policy implications suggesting that the path toward carbon neutrality is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study answers four research questions by contextualising the background to Japan's "carbon neutrality and net-zero" (CNN) policy, which was announced in October 2020, and identifying important changes in Japanese climate policy between 1990 and 2020. What is the link between the problem of fairness under the Kyoto targets and the Japanese government's initial reluctance towards ambitious carbon emission reductions? Why did the Japanese business sector initially resist the possibility of ambitious carbon emission reductions? How has the term "climate crisis" contributed to the need for CNN policy? Why did the Japanese government change its reluctant stance and announce the CNN policy in October 2020? Four main findings were extracted from a narrative technique-based analysis of Japan's policy documents related to CNN. The following are the findings: [i] the framing of climate change as a "climate crisis" by influential Japanese climate stakeholders was a key motivation for Japan to formally announce its CNN policy in October 2020; [ii] pressure from the international community and the political leadership of the Yoshihide Suga administration are essential factors that led the Japanese government to change its stance and announced this policy; [iii] it is possible that the policy could have been announced sooner, but concern among Japanese climate stakeholders about the problem of fairness in the Kyoto Protocol's emission reduction targets likely impeded such an announcement; and [iv] this concern underpinned Keidanren's (or the business sector's) consistent opposition to the introduction of regulatory schemes. These results emerge for the first time in a study of Japan's carbon neutrality, particularly in terms of the broader context of climate politics. Finally, we offer a possible explanation for Suga's deliberate announcement of the CNN policy. This opens up space for future research to complement our study by providing important indicators on the trajectory of this important policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates optimal carbon‐neutral power supply strategy in China up to 2060 with a multi‐region high spatial and temporal dynamic optimal power expansion planning model. Furthermore, this study explores installable potential of hydrogen and fuel cell system and analyzes the influences of its capital cost reduction at different levels. The results show that the national installed capacity would rise to be over 9000 GW in 2060, in which wind and solar PV will take up around 61%; the intermittency of renewable power generation is mainly managed with hydrogen production, power output curtailment and charge and discharge of energy storage; hydrogen and fuel cell system would improve the capacity factor and reduce the curtailment rate of renewable power generation. © 2023 The Authors. IEEJ Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Engineering published by Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paris Agreement was adopted as the international framework against global warming, and the global movement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is progressing. On the other hand, the final disposal amount will be reduced to 13 million tons in 2025 with considering the situation of waste disposal in Japan. Concrete, which is a typical recycled civil engineering material, is a very useful material for drastically reducing waste, while its constituent material, cement, emits a large amount of CO2 in its manufacturing process. Additionally, due to the Japanese eating habits, a large amount of fishery waste including fish residues and shellfish are discharged. Although these are recycled, only about 30% of them are recycled. In this study, because the hydroxyapatite can contribute to reduction of the amount of cement and the plant growth promoted by phosphorus content, the hydroxyapatite produced from fish bones (Fishbone Powder: FbP), which is a fishery waste, is adopted as an alternative material to cement of planting base porous concrete. In addition, from the viewpoints of various physical properties (porosity, permeability and compressive strength), plant growth conditions and CO2 emission reduction, the potential of recycling FbP as a binder for planting base porous concrete is also examined. As the result, CO2 emission of about 2.6 kg per 1 m3 of porous concrete can be reduced by using FbP as a binder for planting base porous concrete. Additionally, the plant growth ability is also improved while the compressive strength is maintained above 10 N/mm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of gas stations (GS) in Japan has halved in the last quarter-century, as price competition has made selling gasoline unprofitable. Further, the Japanese government has formulated a policy to end the sale of gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles by 2035. Under these circumstances, Yamahiro, a GS company, (A) according to non-oil services, divided its GSs into three groups, namely, car inspection/testing, car washing/coating, and car rental, and further increased the specialization of each station by focusing on the services it offers; (B) not reduced the number of employees at the station despite operating self-service GSs and introduced the vehicle identification system and vehicle information management system to improve the profitability of its non-oil services by linking these systems; (C) utilized the vehicle data to create synergies between the car-rental business and used car sales business; and (D) increased the number of GSs by taking over unprofitable stations from wholesale dealers of oil products and retraining their entire workforces. As a result, the company expanded its business in Tokyo area, presently earning 40% of its profits from non-oil services, and won the Japan Quality Award (JQA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Korea and Japan are two large contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. In October 2020, President Moon Jae-in and Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide declared that their countries would aim for carbon neutrality by 2050. The Moon administration presented the Korean version of the New Deal that includes its Green New Deal, whereas the Suga administration completed its strategy aiming for green growth. Both countries emphasize the importance of energy transition through the expansion of green energy in power generation. However, they show some significant differences in dealing with nuclear energy. The purpose of this article is to compare the two countries' energy policies and analyze the rationales and political dynamics behind their different approaches to nuclear energy. The study reveals that the contrast between the two political systems has resulted in differences between their policies. This study depends on comparative methods that use primary sources, such as governmental documents and reports by local news media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]