To prevent the negative impacts of climate change, both mitigation and adaptation measures are important. In the Paris agreement adopted at COP21, strengthening the ability of countries to deal with climate impacts has been identified and all countries are expected to submit their adaptation communications, including their adaptation priorities, support needs and plans. On November 27, 2015, the first adaptation plan for Japan has been approved at a meeting of the Cabinet. To promote effective adaptation to climate change with uncertainties at the local government level, four key aspects have been identified : 1) Risk assessment and ordering of priorities, 2) Integrating existing measures into adaptation policies, 3) Establishment of risk communications, 4) Realizing cost reduction through a combination of knowledge-oriented measures and physical infrastructure development.

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Climate change is a global issue requiring urgent action to be taken at the global level. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol were developed in the 1990s to deal with the problem but meager progress has been observed up to now.
　Eighteen years after adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, The 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (Paris Climate Conference) made history with what has been termed the Paris Agreement. This essay briefly outlines the history of climate change negotiations under the UNFCCC and goes on to analyze some of the major issues at stake during the negotiation process for the post-2020 international institution. The paper then describes main elements within the Paris Agreement, analyzes reasons for the success of the agreement and summarizes challenges for the future negotiations.
　In general, failure of the Copenhagen Conference (COP15) in 2009 had a strong impact on the overall mindset of the negotiators and there were warnings that the failures of COP15 must not be repeated at COP21. This learning process, together with economic incentives to reduce GHG emissions, became major stimuli for countries to reach the recent agreement.

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The five-year average for total GHG emission reduction during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (FY2008-FY2012) showed a 1.4% increase from the base year (1278Mt CO₂ eq.). By calculating removals gained by forest coupled with the Kyoto mechanism credits, the five-year average showed an overa ll 8.7% decrease compared to the base year. Japan has therefore been able to achieve its target for the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (−6 % below the base year level).
　A Report on Research of the Wide-Range Movement Situation and Cyclical Use of Wastes was used as one of the main statistics in estimating emissions of the waste sector in Japan. The report was revised for effective use in GHG inventory and for evaluating achievements concerning commitment to reduction targets ; the timing of this compilation was rather quick. It is expected that the current trends in waste statistics being used in Japan can also be applied in other Asian countries in order to expand the promotion of countermeasures for global warming and the 3R initiatives throughout the Asian region.

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The Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) has been established and promoted by Japan and its partner countries to address lessons learnt from CDM experiences. There is an expectation that this will be used by those operating in the private sector to develop and implement climate change mitigation projects. This new mechanism, JCM, aims to promote wide diffusion of advanced, environmentally sound low-carbon technologies in order to contribute to an overall mitigation of global emissions. In the hope of strengthening effective action against climate change issues, there are also plans for the promotion of countermeasures to be implemented in the urban areas of developing countries through application of JCM by private entities as well as city-to-city cooperation.

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Japan successfully completed its national GHG reduction target under the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. With July 2015 being the next step of national climate action, Japan has announced its latest national GHG reduction target to be met by the year 2030 for Japan’s INDC (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions). Under the Paris Agreement of 2015 at the COP21, it will be necessary not only to promote mitigation action for GHG reduction, but also to implement the adaptation action based on national planning. Considering these new international requirements against climate change, necessary mitigation and adaptation in waste management activities will need to be developed. Especially, adaptation in developing countries needs more priority for their sustainable development. In Japan, the development of more activities taking up effective mitigation and adaptation strategies related to waste management are greatly anticipated, and these will be based on the country’s prior experiences and existing low-carbon technologies in waste management.

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This paper provides an itemized description of what the average person can do about climate change if they consider themselves to be global citizens. Based on what was presented at the Japan-Germany Warming Prevention Symposium, I first introduce some local government initiatives taken in Germany. Here, I emphasize how important it is for the efforts of central and local governments, as well as citizens, to be moving in parallel directions. At the same symposium I expounded on the topic of how waste management is closely linked with the prevention of global warming and introduced the commitment behind Kyoto City’s latest waste management campaigns. Next, the paper explains how changes in the lifestyles of citizens can be effective in preventing global warming. The paper shows the results of a survey we conducted, which calculates and compares CO₂ emissions among citizens who consume high amounts of energy and those that have opted for environment-friendly living styles. Lastly, citing data on how the livestock industry adds enormously to the greenhouse gas problem, I recommend that, from the point of view of our food-related carbon footprint, global citizens will need to closely review their eating habits in order to curb global warming.

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