Please note that JavaScript and style sheet are used in this website,
Due to unadaptability of the style sheet with the browser used in your computer, pages may not look as original.
Even in such a case, however, the contents can be used safely.

Adaptation to Global Warming

Until now, measures to cope with global warming have focused "mitigation", i.e., reducing CO₂ emissions. However, according to preliminary calculations by the IPCC*, the average temperature of the earth is forecast to increase by more than 1.4 degrees in the next 100 years, even if all the CO₂ emissions reductions targeted by the Kyoto Protocol are achieved. Therefore, regardless of our actions, we are bound to experience some of the impacts of global warming. For this reason, many argue that in addition to attempting to mitigate global warming, we should also study measures to "adapt" to it. Seeing the truth of this argument, in FY 2006, the NEC Group launched a study on adaptation to global warming.

* IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change): Established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Environment Program (UNEP) to assess the current status of climate change, and to provide accurate climate change forecasts, implement climate change impact evaluations and formulate countermeasures.

Source: IPCC Third Assessment Report - Climate Change 2001Source: IPCC Third Assessment Report - Climate Change 2001

Steps for Studying Adaptation to Global Warming

Adaptation to global warming will be studied in four steps.

  1. Survey of global warming impacts
    Various research organizations are studying the phenomena anticipated to occur due to global warming (natural disasters and environmental changes affecting our lives). We use this information to analyze chronologically, and in terms of size and range, when and what phenomena will occur.
  2. Analysis of risks and market needs
    Based on the results of the analysis in step 1, we will identify when and what risks will occur for the NEC Group, and what the subsequent needs of the market will be. We will also study the priority order of countermeasures, based on the likelihood of risk occurrence and seriousness of impact.
  3. Study of specific adaptation
    We will study specific adaptation measures and for those risks identified in step 2 as being most likely to occur and that will have the most serious impact.
  4. Continuous review of system maintenance and adaptation
    We will create a mechanism (system and rules) to continually implement steps 1 to 3 and review measures.

Steps for Studying Adaptation to Global Warming