The following is from an article by Taishi Sugiyama, Research Director of the Canon Institute for Global Studies, which appeared in the Sound Argument section of today's Sankei Shimbun.
He has been writing a series of articles exposing the lies of the Chinese trap of decarbonization and E.V.s.
He is one of the real intellectuals, a treasure for Japan and the world.
This paper is a must-read for the people of Japan and the people of the world.
China, the land of "abysmal evil" and "plausible lies," has set a trap for the developed world: decarbonization and E.V.s.
As I have already mentioned, they are now suffering from incredibly severe power shortages, as if God is punishing them.
(Emphasis in the text, except for the headline, is mine.
We must correct the policy of overemphasis on renewable energy.
Taro Kono lost the LDP presidential election, while Sanae Takaichi put up a good fight.
One of the factors was that the energy policy of "prioritizing renewable energy" promoted under the administration of Yoshihide Suga was seen as problematic.
The current draft of the Basic Energy Plan should not be approved by the Cabinet and should be overhauled.
Let's look at some key points.
What are the lessons of the gas crisis in Europe?
The hasty decarbonization policy has failed.
In Europe, electricity and gas prices have soared and are at record highs.
Europe has introduced a large amount of wind power while reducing coal-fired power generation.
In addition, despite the discovery of shale gas in the U.K. and Germany, mining this gas has been effectively banned as an environmental disaster.
As a result, they have become dependent on imported natural gas.
However, this summer, the wind was weak, and wind power generation was sluggish.
Natural gas was used for power generation to cover this, and inventories dropped drastically.
At the same time, a hurricane struck the U.S. Gulf Coast, causing a delay in gas imports.
As a result, gas prices soared, and electricity prices jumped.
Ten energy companies went bankrupt in August and September alone, forcing many customers to seek new suppliers.
In addition, two fertilizer plants that use natural gas as a raw material were forced to shut down due to unprofitability.
Now, European households are threatened by massive increases in utility bills of 20-40%.
Governments are scrambling to provide relief measures such as temporary tax exemptions and benefits.
It is the result of giving priority to renewable energy and neglecting stable supply.
Japan must not make the same mistake.
Is Southern Mongolia "Green"?
The current draft of the Basic Energy Plan calls for the mass introduction of "green" technologies, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy, to decarbonize.
But instead of consuming fossil fuels, it will require large amounts of mineral resources. And this will increase dependence on China.
As for solar panels, in the Xinxi Uyghur Autonomous Region, which accounts for half of the world's manufacturing, the relationship with genocide has come to be seen as a problem.
What about electric vehicles and wind power?
Magnets made of neodymium, rare earth, are used in large quantities.
However, most of the world's rare piles of the earth are produced in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Southern Mongolia).
There, human rights oppression against Mongolian residents is occurring. It includes cultural genocide, such as banning education in the Mongolian language and suppressing those who protest against it.
Health problems are also occurring due to pollution caused by rare earth production.
In Japan, the Southern Mongolian Parliamentary Union, chaired by Sanae Takaichi, was launched in April to deal with the problem.
Suppose electric vehicles and wind power generators are to be introduced in large numbers in the coming years. In that case, the rare piles of earth used in them will have to be supplied mainly from China, even from Southern Mongolia, which has human rights problems.
The United States has already begun to study the security implications of dependence on China for rare piles of earth.
Japan, too, needs to conduct a comprehensive review of its supply chain from human rights and security.
People who buy electric cars must think that they are doing the environment a favor.
If they find out that they are contributing to the cultural genocide in Southern Mongolia, they will not be at peace.
It should avoid the hasty mass adoption of green technology.
First of all, we should rebuild the rare earth supply system that has been concentrated in Southern Mongolia.
Pledge not to impose an economic burden
Major countries such as the United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China are making great use of nuclear power.
Only a few countries, such as Germany, are moving forward to eliminate nuclear power.
However, despite its high level of technology, Japan has not even been able to restart existing nuclear power plants.
It is nothing but the low governing ability of Japan.
Now is the time for political leadership.
Japan must declare its intention to promote nuclear energy and clearly show its determination.
Nuclear power is the world's trend. Renewable energy is not a global trend.
In the U.S., large-scale regulation of CO₂ is not possible because of opposition from the Republican Party and oil- and gas-producing states.
Both China and India continue to increase their consumption of fossil fuels.
As mentioned, Europe's decarbonization policy has failed, and there will inevitably be a shake-up.
In addition, numerical targets such as "zero C0₂ in 2050" and "halving C0₂ in 2030" have a very little scientific basis.
There is no such thing as a catastrophic disaster, and future projections are uncertain. We need to analyze what is a fact calmly.
While setting reckless numerical targets, the current draft of the Basic Energy Plan says that it will be achieved through a "virtuous cycle between the environment and the economy.
It is possible to the extent that nuclear energy is used.
However, if we try to reduce C0₂ using renewable energy significantly, we will be forced to bear a substantial economic burden.
It is an act of deceiving the public.
In the upcoming general election, politicians should pledge not to impose new economic burdens on the people through the decarbonization policy.
The Basic Energy Plan should include a mechanism to curb the economic burden.
