Fossil fuels refer to those sources of energies which are underneath the earth surface as a result of the decomposition of the dead plant and animal remains. They include coal, oil, natural gas and others. The excessive use of these fuels led to diverse impacts on the natural environment, which can be seen through increasing rate of global warming. For that reason, the paper, therefore, aims at coming up with different alternatives which will help in stopping the use of fossil fuels in Japan. The plan has been developed to assist the islands which are commonly affected by the use of fossil fuels by 2026, without affecting their economy (Höök, 2013).
Once the Japanese government has finally decided to walk away from the use of fossil fuels, the government has to start by planning strategically for the alternative source of energy. The planning will involve, coming up with a more suitable form of energy, that will be more reliable and a renewable source. All this must be availed so that any failure may not come up because of poor planning. Setting up an alternative is a very crucial issue which if not handled well, the Japanese government may experience a collapse in its economy.
Solar energy can be used as the alternative source of energy. The reason behind this is because; solar energy is an environmentally friendly source of energy, which can also be easy, acquired for use. To be able to convert solar into an energy form that is suitable for use, the government of Japan has to invest in buying the solar panels. Solar panels which are vast can store a lot of energy will be required to substitute the broad range of areas where the fossil fuel acts as the prime source of energy, the government can set up its industry which specialises in the manufacture of the solar panels. The same should also apply in the cases of companies where a significant amount of power is to run the machines. Through this, the government will be able to channel the money set aside in buying the solar panels. By creating an industry, they will be able to design the right standard of the solar panel required in any facility within the country. Besides reducing the expenses incurred in purchasing the solar panels. It is also going to form an income generating plant to the government. The government will levy taxes on the salaries paid to the workers; the company will also remit its tax returns to the state. (Höök, 2013).
Another source of energy to replace the fossil energy is the hydroelectric power. The power is tapped from fast flowing water, which in turn rotates gigantic turbines. The electric power is a very stable source of energy which can run large machines for a very long time. It is a cheaper source of energy, as it utilises the resources which are naturally occurring on the earth surface. The hydroelectric power has got small side effects to the surrounding environment. Hydropower is, therefore, a suitable replacement for the fossil fuels. In spite of hydroelectricity being environment-friendly, it requires substantial funds in establishing hydropower generating plant. Alternatively, Japan can also decide to import electricity from his neighbouring countries, even though this might be a bit more expensive.
Wind energy is also another suitable alternative. It is harvested by the use of windmills, which are laid out in the direction of the wind. The wind then rotates the turbines. The mechanical energy from the rotating turbines is converted that into electricity through other processes. Wind power is a clean source, which brings about very little effects in nature. It is cheaper to manufacture and its transportation is also easier, even though it needs to be used alongside other sources of energy since it is not very reliable and only depends on the availability of wind. But because of its environment friendliness, it can serve as a suitable replacement for the fossil fuels.
Once this alternative source of fuels has is designed, the government will then quit from all deals and business agreements with its major suppliers of oil such as the United Nations Emirates, Kuwait and others. The domestic companies which are responsible for the extractions of fossil fuels can then be stopped and much concentration shifted into the production of the environmentally friendly energy sources.
Despite the process of stopping the use of fossil fuels being such an excellent idea aimed at reducing the impacts of pollution on the natural environment caused by the fossil fuels. This action will translate into both positive and negative influence on the economy of Japan. The main aim of the government is to ensure that the level of the economy has to rise or is maintained so that it can be sustainable to all the citizens.
Solar energy is a relatively cheaper source of power than the fossils sources. In opting for solar energy, the government of Japan will save a lot of its resources which is spent in purchasing fossil fuels. Japan heavily relies on its large number of industries as the primary drivers of its economy. Because of this, it imports a significant amount of oil from the Arab nations which are used in running the machines in its vast industries. Oil being a very costly commodity, it means that Japan spends much of its resources in purchasing oil for use in its industries. Therefore developing a cheaper alternative means Japan can now divert this resources its other sectors of its economy which will thus result in an increase in its economy.
Hydroelectric energy is another cheap and clean source of energy. The cost of transporting this energy is tiny as compared to the fossil fuels. It is, therefore, easier for the government to supply this power to various homesteads throughout the country for domestic use. This energy source is very cheap and can be afforded by many families in Japan and thus raising the living conditions of every citizen in Japan.
Eliminating the use of fossil fuels in Japan will create an impact on the economy of Japan. By stopping the importation of oil, the Arab countries which are also major consumers of Japans products will Despite Japan offering a major market to the oil producing nations; it also depends on this country as the primary consumers of its manufactured goods. Absconding to import oil from this countries means Japan will also have to seek a market for its products elsewhere. Withdrawing from the business agreements with these countries will result in a decline in its economy, in case it fails to find a new destination for its goods.
If the government accepts to adopt this plan, it must be prepared to forego the income which it was extracting from those companies which were dealing with the fossil fuels. The company which deals with extraction and refining of fossil fuels also offers varieties of employment to many people in Japan. By closing down the companies, the people employed in the business will automatically become jobless. Closing the companies will create a significant rate of unemployment within the country, which then transforms into high crime rate and poor living standards of the citizens of Japan.
Automobiles such as vehicles, aeroplanes, trains and many others consume fossil fuels mainly the oil as the source of energy. Crude oil is processed to give out various products such as petrol, diesel, gas, etc. diesel is burnt in the large trucks and trains to produce energy which is then used to run the engine. The fossil fuels are also used to generate voltages which are used in operating most machines in the Japans industries. Coal is also heated in the process of generating electricity in Japan. In the steel making industries in Japan, coal is used to produce coke which is utilised in the manufacture of steel. The steels which are made from are majorly used in Japan in the constructions of buildings within the country.
The primary mode of transportation into Japan is through the use of large ships. The main reason is that Japan is an island, and therefore, it is only connected to other countries through the ocean. The fossil fuels which imported into Japan are parked in large cargo ships which then bring it to its well-developed ports. The fossils are then taken from the harbour to the industries using the rail transport which has a broad network within the country (Krahl, 2015).
For this transition to completely take place, the country needs an approximate amount of money ranging from $2021/kWe to $6215/kWe. The cost above is the estimated sum of money required to cater for all the expenses. The cost should be covered by the government of Japan as it should form part of the national budget on energy consumption. This money can then be recovered later from the local consumers through the monthly electricity bills over a given period of time. The companies should also be charged an extra cost on their bills so as to help in payment of the part of this amount used for the transition in the energy system.
Japan is a major tourist destination which harbours millions of tourist annually. Some of these are; Jigokudani Monkey Park, Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Kiyomizu-Dera and many others, world class hotels. Tourism, therefore, forms a major income generating activity to both the government and the locals. Transition in energy system can, therefore, has a lot of impact on tourism in Japan. The use of fossil fuels in Japan's industries has caused adverse changes the climate which has discouraged them from going into the country. Exiting from the utilisation of these fuels will reduce the rate of emission of gases into the air, hence regulating climatic change in the country. Exiting from the use of fossil fuels will reduce environmental pollution and thus encourage more tourists in visiting the country for recreation and during vacations.
The fossil fuels release certain gases such as carbon, methane and others which pose health risks and can transmit diseases such as asthma. The unfriendliness of this nature is discouraging many tourists from visiting Japan and therefore stopping this will boost tourism in the country. The toxic emissions from the fossil fuel have also affected the lives of individual wild animals that attracted tourist to Japan. The animals, in turn, are forced to migrate to other secure places, and some of them have also succumbed due to the same, leading to a decrease in their number. Stopping the use of fossil fuel can result in conservation of this animal species.
Japan had already established a plan to deviate from the use of fuels; this began by building more nuclear energy generating plants within the country. These plans were put into shambles by the accident at Fukushima nuclear which left so many people dead, a situation that intensified the oppositions of the project from all over including world agencies. It adopted a goal of putting an end to the nuclear energy and establishing other renewable sources of energy that are also environmentally friendly (Krahl, 2015).
The government of Japan together with other G7 nations signed a pact that aims at reducing the effects of global warming caused by excessive use of fossil fuels. During this summit, these countries agreed to annually raise100$ billions to be utilised in this remedy.
The urge to exit from the use of fossil fuels is an exploration which Japan should not wait to actualise but initiate immediately. Japan has vigorous and stable economic background which can easily finance this phase of energy transition without much trouble. Despite the fact that it can force challenges such as being opposed and its economic impacts to the country. Initiating the move to exit the use of fossil fuels is the best cause of action that should be carried in Japan to its success, so as to save the nature from degradation and to restore it back to its original state. Japan, therefore, being among the G7 nations should, therefore, take the lead and serve as an example to the rest of the world. Actualizing this process may also be accompanied by certain challenges but Japan good tries and find the best ways of addressing this shortcoming.
References
Höök, M., & Tang, X. (2013). Depletion of fossil fuels and anthropogenic climate change. A review. Energy Policy, 52, 797-809.
Knothe, G.Krahl, J.& Van Gerpen, J. (Eds.). (2015). The biodiesel handbook. Elsevier.
