How Japan residents can reduce their carbon footprint

Climate change is worsening, and we are already feeling its effects. The need to reduce carbon emissions is higher than ever and countries such as Japan are actively pursuing plans to become carbon neutral by 2050. Global warming is mainly a systemic issue that requires large-scale changes to our economies and way of life.

However, that does not mean that individual action counts for nothing, and many people want to know how to reduce their impact. Each person generates a certain amount of carbon through their activities, which is called a carbon footprint. In 2019, the average carbon footprint for Japan was estimated to be around 8.72 metric tons per capita. For most people, regardless of location, their carbon footprint is largely generated by transportation, housing and food.

Your carbon impact is also affected by where you live and other factors. There are simple lifestyle changes that can reduce a carbon footprint to varying degrees. These range from your diet choices to transportation to shopping and even exercise habits.

Reducing carbon footprint in our daily life

One of the biggest impacts for people will be transportation. A daily round trip commute by car of around 30 miles (48.2 kilometers) creates about 4.3 metric tons of carbon output annually. Airplane travel is even worse and one of the biggest generators of carbon emissions. Round trip plane travel from one end of the United States to the other generates 2.23 tons of carbon. Transportation cannot be avoided for most people, but smaller actions can help to some extent.

Eating vegetarian or vegan has long been thought to reduce carbon footprints significantly. Even changing the kind of meat you eat, such as switching from beef to chicken, can make a difference. Excessive shopping, using drying machines and electric workout equipment are all smaller actions that build up your carbon footprint.

Knowing our carbon footprint

There are sites, such as carbonfootprint.com, that let users calculate their total footprint based on various time periods and factors. It even adjusts its calculations depending on where you live.

For Japanese residents, there are advantages and disadvantages in terms of making a difference. In Japan, public transportation is widely used in bigger cities. A commute to Tokyo from outer suburbs such as Kanagawa generates a relatively small amount of carbon at 0.02 metric tons a year.

Bicycle riding is also widespread and a good alternative for those who want to reduce their impact even further, though it might not be possible for long work commutes. On the other hand, excessive packaging and plastic use can be factors in carbon and waste output. In Japan, it is also much harder to eat vegan or vegetarian diets, and there is less understanding of these lifestyle choices in general.

Using carbon offset services

Besides just reducing your carbon footprint, you can also take action to offset the carbon that you generate through your daily activities. Carbonfootprint.com offers carbon offset services in the form of funding sustainable projects worldwide. These include supporting carbon reduction and green energy projects, tree planting and reforestation. There are also donation options that help with issues other than carbon.

For Japan residents there is also J-Credit, a government initiative that allows users to donate money for reducing carbon emissions and building renewable energy sources. Various Japanese companies involved in sustainability issues serve as J-Credit providers.