Submitted by: Anung, Anawim Malaya
AB Political Science
October 10 2018
MEGA TRENDS
OBJECTIVE
A. EXTENSIVELY EXPLAIN THE CONTENT OF THE DIFFERENT MEGA
TRENDS THAT ARE SHAPING THE WORLD
B. DISCUSS THE SITUATION OF YOUR SELECTED COUNTRY AND
C. GIVE AN ANALYSIS ON HOW WILL MACROECONOMIC AND
GEOSTRATEGIC FORCES AFFECTS ITS FUTURE THROUGH THE
EXPLORATION OF ITS CURRENT TRENDS
1. Select one mega trend presented by the PcW
2. Find a country in which you think is mostly affected by your selected mega trend
3. Present sufficient data for analysis
CONTENT OF THE PAPER
1. Summary of the mega trends presented by pwc.
2. Extensively discuss your selected mega trend
3. Give a discussion about your selected country relating it to your selected mega trend
– You may include graphs or charts with proper description
4. Provide your extensive analysis
Japan
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together”
Japan is a country with very scarce resources and yet they are one of the pioneers of both
economic and technological development. With a rush towards development, Japan created its
energy policy which is also called as the “3 E’s”. These are economic growth, energy security
and environmental protection.
Energy security refers to a country’s available natural resources for energy in relation to
its strategy to ensure security of energy supply for its growing population. Connected to this is
environmental protection which is the practice of protecting the natural environment, including
natural energy. This is also the response to the ever looming problem of global warming.
Because the price of oil was cheap during the middle of 1980’s to early 2000’s the
urgency of researching other sources of energy was not present. But in this day and age, when oil
prices are high and with the rapid decline of our ozone layers and the continued emission of
greenhouse gases, the challenge of harmonizing these three E’s has become formidable. it is no
longer a matter of national budget expenditure but rather a matter of creating a healthy and clean
energy solution for the generation of today and tomorrow.
In the year 2000, Japan’s use of oil accounted for 50% of its total energy supply, thus a
major target for the government back then was to decrease the consumption of oil through
researching and investing in other potential, less harmful ways like hydro, geothermal and
renewable energy. They delved into the realm of natural gas and nuclear power. By early 2011,
nuclear energy had become a national strategic priority in Japan. In 2018, the Japanese
government revised its energy plan to update the 2030 target for nuclear energy to 20%-22% of
power generation by restarting reactors, compared to coal 25%, renewables 23% and oil 3%. As
of May 2018, there are 42 operable reactors in Japan. Of these, 8 reactors in 5 power plants are
operating. This would reduce Japan’s carbon dioxide emissions by 26% compared to 2013, and
increase self-sufficiency to about 24% by 2030, compared to 8% in 2016.
The global threat of climate change also affects Japan mostly because of its vulnerability
to tsunamis and earthquakes. The Japan Median Tectonic Line (MTL) is Japan’s longest fault
system. The MTL is and active fault zone and is considered hazardous. Japan is mainly
surrounded by seas and oceans which compels the country not to be complacent, especially
residing under a major fault line, With climate change and global warming, there will be a
change in sea levels, drinkable water scarcity, and less farmable lands; also there will be an
increase in the occurrence of natural disasters. Japan’s already scare resources will be dispersed
in the investment of sustainable infrastructure to prevent further loss and devastation to the
country.
It is the assigned defense organization that is usually called upon to facilitate and
organize such drives to combat unwarranted loss of life and property every time a natural
disaster is about to happen or is happening. These organizations, though effective in the case of
Japan, will face daunting challenges to secure the entire country particularly when such natural
disasters or calamities happen more often. Thus it is only natural to call upon other allies and
neighbouring countries for help especially in times of natural calamities. In the case of Japan’s
great tsunami of 2011, 43 countries came to their aid. These are
– Afghanistan
– Albania
– Armenia
– Australia
– Azerbaijan
– Bangladesh
– Bulgaria
– Canada
– China
– Croatia
– East Timor
– Estonia
– France
– Georgia
– Germany
– Hungary
– India
– Israel
– Italy
– Kuwait
– Laos
– Macedonian
– Malaysia
– Maldives
– Mexico
– Monaco
– Mongolia
– Netherlands
– New
Zealand
– North Korea
– Pakistan
– Philippines
– Poland
– Russia
– Saudi Arabia
– Serbia
– Singapore
– South Africa
– South Korea
– Sri Lanka
– Switzerland
– Taiwan
– Thailand
– Turkey
– Ukraine
– United
Kingdom
– United
States
– Uzbekistan
– Vietnam
It cannot be presumed, however, that all these countries, if needed will always be there to
aid Japan. Being a first world country Japan has an adequate military and defense force in place
but this does not mean that they will consistently be efficient. With due credit to Japan, they are
always on top of repair and recovery every after a major disaster but this is because it happens
once every few years. If things are to take a turn for the worse, eventually the military and
defense organization in place will be strained and would need sufficient help in order to
effectively help the nation in times of distress.
Japan has been supporting developing countries in their collective battle against climate
change, in the Pacific, Asia, Latin America and Caribbean, Middle East and Africa.
Pacific
1. Samoa: The Project for Construction
of the Pacific Climate Change Center
2. Kiribati, Cook island, Samoa,
Solomon, Tuvalu, Tonga, Nauru,
Niue, Vanuatu, PNG, Palau, Fiji,
Marshal, Micronesia: The Project for
Strengthening Multi-hazard Risk
Assessment and Early Warning
Systems in Pacific Island Countries
3. Fiji: Project for Reinforcing
Meteorological Training Function of
FMS
4. Palau: Project for Sustainable
Management of Coral Reef and
Island Ecosystems: Responding to
the Threat of Climate Change
5. PNG: Capacity Development Project
for Operationalization of PNG Forest
Resource Information Management
System for Addressing climate
Change
Asia
1. Thailand: Project for Capacity
Development on
Mitigation/Adaptation for Climate
Change in the Southeast Asia Region
2. Viet Nam: Support Program to
Respond to Climate Change (VI)
3. Thailand: Bangkok Master Plan on
Climate Change 2013-2023
4. Philippine: Project for Enhancing
Capacity on Weather Observation,
Forecasting and Warning
5. Bangladesh: Project for
Improvement of Meteorological
Rader System in Dhaka and Rangpur
(Detailed Design)
6. Pakistan: Energy Efficiency
Management Program (EEMP) for
Industrial Sector in Pakistan
Latin America and Caribbean
1. Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, Surinam,
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St.
Lucia, Dominica, Belize: The Japan-
Caribbean
2. Climate Change Partnership (J-
CCCP) (with UNDP)
3. Costa Rica: Las Pailas II Geothermal
Project
4. Antigua and Barbuda: The Project
for Improvement of Fishery
Equipment and Machinery in
Antigua and Barbuda
5. Haiti: The Project for Supporting
Disaster Resilience (with UNDP)
Middle East
1. Iran: Project on Implementation of
pilot project to introduce ESCO for
government’s buildings
2. Jordan: Knowledge Co-Creation
Program (Young Leaders) for
Jordan/ Renewable Energy Course
3. Afghanistan: Project for Enhancing
Agriculture Production through
Irrigation System Improvement and
Strengthening Institutional Capacity
(with FAO)
4. Afghanistan: Project for Capacity
Enhancement on Hydro-
Meteorological Information
Management in Ministry of Energy
and Water
5. Turkey: Training Program on Energy
Efficiency and Management in
Industry
Africa
1. Mauritius: The Project for
Improvement of the Meteorological
Radar System (phase 2) Algeria,
Morocco, Tunisia, Burkina Faso,
Burundi, Cabo Verde, Chad, Cote
d’lvoire,
2. Senegal: Training Program for
Young Leaders for African Countries
(French)/Renewable Energy Course
3. Mozambique: Project for the
Capacity Enhancement of
Meteorological Observation,
Weather Forecasting and Warning
As mentioned above, Japan’s status as one of the pioneers of change and advancement is leading
to a significant demand of energy, water, food and other resources. With investments and support
to developing countries that are with them in the fight against global warming, the need for
collective effort is recognized, as global warming and climate change do not have borders or
boundaries. This current global threat affects everyone and with that comes the responsibility to
address such issue collectively. In the international political arena, the stronger you are the
bigger the responsibility imposed upon you. Since Japan is considered one of the stronger
countries today, it bears with it the responsibility to tackle such mega trends and occurrences
worldwide.
In particular, our own country looks up to Japan for technical assistance with regard to
energy development. To cite an example, our own Department of Energy (DOE) and the
Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) signed the Technical Cooperation
Letter of Intent (LOI) last June 2018. This will involve the identification of problems and
corrective measures based on Japanese expertise and experience. It will also consist of the
proposal for institutional arrangements to push for the installation of facilities with dependable
performance; and the conduct of training for the Philippine government and independent power
producers to enhance operations and maintenance of existing thermal power plants.
With this global threat of climate change and scarce resources, we in developing
countries cannot but feel inadequate. Japan’s openness to providing technical support to its less
developed neighboring countries like the Philippines is then much appreciated. This is where
we must, as a nation and as one planet unite and fight under the same cause. Great things are
done by a series of small things brought together. For us and this earth that we live in to have a
fighting chance against the looming danger that climate change is starting to bring us, it is not
only the nation’s problem, it is not only our leaders’ problem, but it is a problem that we must all
address and act upon both effectively and efficiently. We should not wait for the next global
catastrophe to happen.
REFERENCES
Toichi, T (2005)., “Japan’s Energy Situation: Present and Future”
Wikipedia, “Nuclear Power in Japan”
Okada, A., On the Quaternary faulting along the Median Tectonic Line, in Median
Tectonic Line (in Japanese with English abstract), edited by R. Sugiyama, pp. 49–86,
Tokai Univ. Press, Tokyo, 1973.
“Philippines partners with Japan to resolve power sector’s issues”
POWER PHILIPPINES NEWS,
Recovery from Great East Japan Earthquake – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Japan”. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Jack, Theo Leggett, Kamal Ahmed, Simon. “Why Switching to Fully Electric Cars Will
Take Time,” September 19, 2017, sec. Business.
“Driverless Cars on UK Roads by 2021 – Really? – BBC News.”
“Nothing Found for Development Desa En News Population World Population Prospects
2017 *.”
“Union of Concerned Scientists.” Union of Concerned Scientists.
