I think that is very good news. The Japanese railway company  Tokyu Railways  has declared that since last April 1, its trains and all its facilities operate with electrical energy obtained by non-polluting methods: solar, wind, hydraulic, geothermal, etc….

This company has 100 km of rail tracks and provides service to more than 2 million people every day. It's not too many, but it's a good start and above all an example that things can be achieved when you try hard.

After the Fukusima nuclear power plant disaster, Japan closed nuclear power plants and increased its consumption of coal to generate electricity, and as a country it has a goal of getting just over 35% of its energy from renewable sources. But it is clear that some companies intend to go faster.

In the photo below you can see an advertisement at a station, telling customers that ToKyu Railways is powered by renewable energy.

Japan currently gets 20% of its energy from renewable sources, and as it is a highly industrialized country, it consumes a lot of energy and it will be difficult for it to meet the commitments of the Paris Agreement, but it is also a rich country and can invest part of their wealth in changing their energy consumption for more renewable ones.

All developed countries have the same challenge, but very few address it seriously and rigorously.

The case of New Zealand comes to mind, where more than 80% of the energy consumed is from renewable sources, and it aims to reach 100% by 2035. An example to follow.

By Amador Palacios

Reflections of Amador Palacios on topics of Social and Technological News; other opinions different from mine are welcome

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