Page - 25 - in options, Volume summer 2015

asia & oceania 25summer 2015 + optionswww.iiasa.ac.at regional focus Bioenergy offers Japan energy‑resilient solutions Renewable sources currently account for only 1% of Japan’s energy supply. Continuous and effective policy support, including an economically viable and well-designed energy policy, is needed to increase the share of renewable energy use in Japan. Bioenergy in combination with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) offers one possible route forward, says IIASA’s Florian Kraxner. In a joint IIASA project, researchers analyzed Japan’s BECCS potential and its suitability as a climate change mitigation tool. The research team investigated the available biomass potential from forests and, using IIASA’s BeWhere model, examined the technical potential of bioenergy, including the optimal locations and capacities for biomass plants. Kraxner says, “Our findings show that there is substantial potential for bioenergy growth in Japan, particularly given the present policies and targets of the Japanese National Energy Plan. This aims to increase the bioenergy share in total energy production and decrease total greenhouse gas emissions by 3.8% on 2005 levels in 2020 and 80% in 2050.” Results further indicate that even under conservative assumptions, Japan could double the bioenergy it presently produces. And,  although earthquake and volcanic activity limit the area suitable for carbon storage sites to less than 10% of the country area (mainly  concentrating on the Kanto Basin), researchers say that some of Japan’s coastal regions offer considerable potential for carbon storage. Cross-border collaboration such as the joint use of off-shore carbon storage with, for example, South Korea would also substantially increase Japan’s BECCS capacity. By further developing the renewable energy pathway, Japan could substantially add to a more resilient and domestic resources-based energy sector, Kraxner  says. JO Further info Kraxner F, Leduc S, Fuss S, Aoki K, Kindermann G, Yamagata Y (2014). Energy resilient solutions for Japan—a BECCS case study. Energy  Procedia 61:2791–2796 [doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2014.12.316]. Florian Kraxner kraxner@iiasa.ac.at Higher ocean acidity poses danger for coral life Up to one-third of the world’s marine fauna, many of which live in the oceans and reefs around Australia, could be under threat from climate change, according to a new global study of climate impacts on the world’s oceans. Many marine organisms—such as coral, clams, mussels, sea  urchins, barnacles, and certain microscopic plankton—rely on specific chemical conditions and pH levels in the ocean to build their calcium-based shells and other structures. Higher levels of carbon dioxide in the air, triggered by increased fossil fuel emissions, can  cause the oceans to become more acidic. “High acidity makes it more difficult for calcifying species to maintain their body parts made of calcium carbonate, says IIASA’s Ligia Azevedo. In a recent study Azevedo and colleagues examined the impact of increased ocean acidity on marine species growth, reproduction, and survival under two climate change scenarios: a  low emissions scenario with pH projected to fall from 8.1 to 7.95, and a high emissions scenario, with median ocean pH expected to decrease  to  7.80. (Lower pH indicates higher acidity.) “In a high emissions scenario, between 21 and 32% of calcifying species could be significantly affected,” Azevedo states. “In a low emissions scenario, 7–12% of species would be affected.” However, Azevedo says, “It’s hard at present to say what the level of impact would mean for different organisms. A  10%  rate could be no problem for some species, but for other more sensitive species it could mean one step closer to local extinction. Nevertheless, this analysis is an important step forward in providing policymakers with a quantitative assessment of climate impacts on the ocean.” JO Further info Azevedo LB, De Schryver AM, Hendriks AJ, Huijbregts MAJ (2015). Calcifying species sensitivity distributions for ocean acidification. Environmental Science & Technology 49(3):1495–1500 [doi:10.1021/es505485m]. Ligia Azevedo azevedol@iiasa.ac.at