The low carbon society is often spoken about but what does it entail and what are all the constituients that could contribute to make it work? A paper prepared by the Japan-UK Joint Research Project and titled "Developing visions for a Low Carbon Socirty" attempts to do that and concludes that through innovation, energy efficiency, renewable power sources that Japan could reduces its emissions by 70% by 2070 which would be below 1990 levels.

The full paper can be accessed through this web reference http://2050.nies.go.jp/interimreport/20076215_report_e.pdf .

What is interesing about the report for any layman is the approach that is taken by the researchers and the assumptions that are made. It becomes very evident from their conclusions that CO2 reduction is more about efficiency, planning and doing things better than huge leaps of inventiveness altough clean technology always has a role. The analysis begins with a projection of the socio economic position in 2050, only then is behaviour quantified, then energy demand as a response to both and finally the role of innovation.

If the reader is looking for a methodology on how his organisation might reduce its emissions, this methodology and analysis is a good starting point.