《英語本文》
EDITORIAL: Japan needs carbon pricing as global ‘climate crisis’ heats up/ The Asahi Shimbun February 9, 2021

《英語本文のスラッシュリーディングと解説》

《社説/日本語の新聞より》

　《出典元》
The Asahi Shimbun/Japan needs carbon pricing as global 'climate crisis' heats up

朝日新聞/社説/炭素に「値段」導入前提に議論を急げ

《英語本文》　EDITORIAL: Japan needs carbon pricing as global ‘climate crisis’ heats up

The Asahi Shimbun February 9, 2021

With the threat of global warming at such an urgency that experts are warning about a “climate crisis,” this is no time for debating whether to introduce a plan to reduce carbon emissions by putting a price on them.

The government should act on the assumption that the need for such a system is indisputable and swiftly design a carbon pricing system that can achieve both a carbon-free future and economic growth.

Carbon pricing means imposing charges on carbon dioxide emissions as a financial incentive for polluters to cut down on the amount of greenhouse gases they produce.

A subcommittee of the Environment Ministry to discuss the topic recently restarted its work, a move to achieve the administration’s target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to soon set up a study group to discuss the issue.

Finland blazed the trail in 1990 by introducing a carbon tax on CO2 emissions. As of April 2020, 46 countries and 32 areas had adopted carbon pricing.

The European Union, which introduced a cap-and-trade system of emission allowances for industry in 2005, has seen significant growth in corporate investment for technological innovations to reduce greenhouse emissions.

Due to this approach to carbon pricing, which allows greenhouse gas producers to trade permits to emit pollutants issued by the government, the EU’s CO2 emissions declined by about 20 percent during the 2004-18 period while the region continued economic growth.

As it has been putting off adopting a full-fledged carbon pricing system, Japan cut its emissions by only about 9 percent during the same period.

Debate on carbon pricing also grew in Japan after the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, was adopted in 1997. In 2012, Japan introduced a new levy to promote measures to stem global warming, which is a type of carbon tax.

But the tax rate is a puny 0.76 yen per liter of gasoline, less than one-10th of the typical carbon tax rates in other countries on a carbon-equivalent basis.

The tax will reduce Japan’s CO2 emissions by only 0.2 percent between 2013 and 2030, according to an estimate by the Environment Ministry.

A cap-and-trade program has been adopted by Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, but they only cover such specific facilities as commercial buildings and factories.

Behind Japan’s slowness in embracing the idea is the reluctance of the business community and the economy ministry to support it.

Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), the nation’s most influential business organization, has been opposed to this approach. It argues a tax levied directly on CO2 emissions would eat into companies’ resources for research and development, thereby undermining their international competitiveness.

While Japan is dragging its feet, the world is rapidly changing. The EU plans to introduce a “Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism” as early as 2023, which would impose a tax on imports from countries exhibiting poor performance in cutting CO2 emissions. U.S. President Joe Biden has promised to introduce a similar measure.

The environment and economy ministries should work together to develop a carbon pricing system suitable for the realities in Japan.

If a carbon tax is to be introduced, the various existing energy levies with different purposes and rates, including the gasoline tax and the tax to promote power sources development, should be consolidated from the viewpoint of slashing CO2 emissions.

There is no room for competition among ministries for tax sources.

To stimulate corporate efforts to reduce the amounts of CO2 they emit into the environment, it would be better to put the same price on all CO2 emissions. But this could put an excessively heavy burden on the power and other industries that depend heavily on fossil fuels.

The government needs to consider proper transitional measures under a clear vision for a low carbon future.

PHOTO:A windmill for wind power generation stands near the chimney of a steel mill in Muroran, Hokkaido Prefecture, in 2010.



英語本文のスラッシュリーディングと解説

EDITORIAL: Japan needs carbon pricing/ as global ‘climate crisis’ heats up
社説：日本は炭素の価格設定を必要としている/地球規模の気候危機が増す中。
The Asahi Shimbun February 9, 2021

With the threat of global warming/ at such an urgency/ that experts are warning about a “climate crisis,”// this is no time for debating/ whether to introduce a plan to reduce carbon emissions/ by putting a price on them.
主節のS=this V=is
With～crisisは副詞句で、that～crisisはurgencyを修飾

The government should act on the assumption/ that the need for such a system is indisputable/ and swiftly design a carbon pricing system/ that can achieve both a carbon-free future and economic growth.
主節のS=the government V=should act/(should) design…actとdesignが同格

Carbon pricing means imposing charges on carbon dioxide emissions/ as a financial incentive for polluters/ to cut down on the amount of greenhouse gases/ they produce.

A subcommittee of the Environment Ministry/ to discuss the topic/ recently restarted its work,/ a move to achieve the administration’s target/ of net zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050.
主節のS=A subcommitee～topic　V=restarted…主節の動詞をまず見つけられると、その前が長い主語の部分になることがわかります。

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry/ plans to soon set up a study group /to discuss the issue.
主節のV=plans/ plan to set upの不定詞名詞的用法の間にsoonが挿入されている形

Finland blazed the trail in 1990/ by introducing a carbon tax on CO2 emissions.
As of April 2020,/ 46 countries and 32 areas had adopted carbon pricing.

The European Union, /which introduced a cap-and-trade system of emission allowances for industry in 2005, /has seen significant growth in corporate investment/ for technological innovations/ to reduce greenhouse emissions.
主節のS=The European Union V=has seen
…主節の主語を、カンマに挟まったwhich（関係代名詞）から続く文で説明している。文の構造がわからなければ、カンマに挟まった部分は省略して読んでみましょう。

Due to this approach to carbon pricing,/ which allows greenhouse gas producers to trade permits to emit pollutants issued by the government,/ the EU’s CO2 emissions declined by about 20 percent/ during the 2004-18 period/ while the region continued economic growth.
主節のS=the EU's CO2 emissions V=declined
長い副詞句の後に主節のSVが来るパターン。

As it has been putting off adopting a full-fledged carbon pricing system,// Japan cut its emissions /by only about 9 percent/ during the same period.
従属節のS=it V=has been putting off
主節のS=Japan V=cut

Debate on carbon pricing/ also grew in Japan/ after the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,/ was adopted in 1997.
主節のS=Debate～emissions　 V=was adopted
主節の主語が多くの説明を伴って長い形。主節の動詞を早く見つけられるとわかりやすいです。カンマに挟まれたan international～emissionsまではthe Kyoto Protocolの説明で、省略しても意味がわかると思います。

In 2012,/ Japan introduced a new levy/ to promote measures to stem global warming,/ which is a type of carbon tax.

But the tax rate is a puny 0.76 yen per liter of gasoline, /less than one-10th of the typical carbon tax rates in other countries/ on a carbon-equivalent basis.

The tax will reduce Japan’s CO2 emissions/ by only 0.2 percent between 2013 and 2030,/ according to an estimate by the Environment Ministry.

A cap-and-trade program has been adopted by Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture,// but they only cover such specific facilities/ as commercial buildings and factories.

Behind Japan’s slowness in embracing the idea is the reluctance of the business community and the economy ministry/ to support it.
主節のS=the reluctance～support it 　V=is
…倒置の文になっています。「～の背後にはSがある」

Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), /the nation’s most influential business organization,/ has been opposed to this approach.

It argues/ a tax levied directly on CO2 emissions/ would eat into companies’ resources/ for research and development,/ thereby undermining their international competitiveness.
主節のS=it V=argues
従属節のS=a tax～emissions V=would eat

While Japan is dragging its feet,/ the world is rapidly changing.
The EU plans to introduce a “Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism”/ as early as 2023, /which would impose a tax on imports from countries/ exhibiting poor performance in cutting CO2 emissions.
U.S. President Joe Biden/ has promised to introduce a similar measure.

The environment and economy ministries/ should work together/ to develop a carbon pricing system/ suitable for the realities in Japan.

If a carbon tax is to be introduced, //the various existing energy levies with different purposes and rates,/ including the gasoline tax/ and the tax to promote power sources development,/ should be consolidated from the viewpoint/ of slashing CO2 emissions.
主節のS=the various～development　 V=should be consolidated
主節の主語がわかりにくいので、主節の動詞を早く見つけましょう。

There is no room for competition/ among ministries for tax sources.

To stimulate corporate efforts to reduce the amounts of CO2/ they emit into the environment,/ it would be better/ to put the same price on all CO2 emissions.
主節のS=it （仮主語・to put～emissionsが本主語）　 V=would be
Toから始まる長い副詞節がSVの前にあるパターン。

But this could put an excessively heavy burden/ on the power and other industries/that depend heavily on fossil fuels.

The government needs to consider proper transitional measures/ under a clear vision for a low carbon future.

PHOTO:A windmill for wind power generation stands near the chimney of a steel mill in Muroran, Hokkaido Prefecture, in 2010.


《社説/日本語の新聞より》
（社説）炭素に「値段」　導入前提に議論を急げ


「気候危機」と言われるほど温暖化が進んだ今、もはや導入の可否を論じる段階ではない。導入を前提に、将来の脱炭素社会と経済成長を両立させる制度の設計を急ぐべきだ。

二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）の排出に「値段」をつけて負担させ、排出量を減らすほど得するようにして削減を促すカーボンプライシング。その議論をする環境省の小委員会が再開された。２０５０年に温室効果ガス排出を実質ゼロにするという政権の目標達成に向けた動きだ。経済産業省も近く研究会をつくる。

１９９０年、フィンランドがＣＯ２排出に課税する炭素税を始めたのを皮切りに、昨年４月時点で４６カ国３２地域がカーボンプライシングを採用している。その一種で、ＣＯ２排出が多い企業が少ない企業から「排出枠」を買う排出量取引を０５年に導入した欧州連合（ＥＵ）では、排出削減に向けた技術革新への企業投資も進み、経済成長を続けながらＣＯ２排出量を１８年に０４年より約２０％減らした。

一方、本格導入が見送られてきた日本では、同じ期間の削減率が約９％に過ぎない。
国内でも、９７年に採択された京都議定書を契機に議論は起こり、１２年には、炭素税に分類できる地球温暖化対策税が始まった。しかし、その税額はガソリン１リットル当たり０・７６円と、炭素換算の税率で諸外国の１０分の１に満たない。環境省によると、直接のＣＯ２削減効果は３０年時点で０・２％（１３年比）にとどまる。排出量取引も、東京都と埼玉県が商業ビルや工場などを対象に実施しているだけだ。

背景には産業界や経産省の消極姿勢がある。経団連は、ＣＯ２排出に直接負担を課されれば研究開発の原資が減り、国際競争力を損なうと反対してきた。

足踏みを続けている間にも世界は変化する。ＥＵは、ＣＯ２削減対策が不十分な国からの輸入品に税をかける「炭素国境調整措置」を２３年にも導入する考えだ。米国のバイデン大統領も調整措置を公約に掲げる

環境、経産両省は協力し、日本の実情に合った仕組みづくりに取り組まねばならない。
炭素税を導入するのなら、揮発油税や電源開発促進税など、目的も税率も違う税が並立しているエネルギー課税を、ＣＯ２排出を減らす観点から整理し直す必要がある。各省が財源争いをしている余裕などない。

排出削減のためには、あらゆるＣＯ２を同じ値段で扱うのが望ましいが、現在は化石燃料への依存度が高い電力産業などにとって、著しい負担増になる可能性もある。過渡的にどんな配慮が必要か。将来も見通したうえで探ることが欠かせない。