Winners of the "Cool the Earth" Idea Contest

* The organizer of this contest is Eco Business Creation Association and the manager of the web site is NTT Resonant Inc.

>> Japanese Version

Eco Business Creation Association organized and held the "Cool the Earth" Idea Contest. We received 85 applications in total, including 20 in Business Division (domestic), 28 in Governmental System/Policy Division (domestic), 21 in Business Division (overseas), and 16 in Governmental System/Policy Division (overseas). They are from India, the US, Australia, Nepal, Finland and other countries from all over the world. We greatly appreciate your participation in this contest. After an impartial examination, the panel selected the following winners. The prizes will be awarded at Eco-Products 2008 on Friday, December 12, 2008.

Winners

Grand Prize

Governmental System/Policy Division (domestic)

Mr. Atsushi Yokoyama・・okyo・褀
Establishment of learning system platform for children to proactively plan and implement a low-carbon, recycling-oriented society, utilizing the community characteristics
Abstract: The target of this project is to establish the environmental/information education platform (website) which enables children to create a model of low-carbon, recycling-oriented community in their school districts. The platform (PF) consists of five categories: (1) a platform for research and publication; (2) a platform for joint studies; (3) research tools; (4) contents bank; and (5) an archive for facilitators and supporters. The platform is to be utilized in the integrated studies at school, work at home, after-school care program, encouraging children to seek what the sustainable development is as well as to strive for low-carbon, recycling-oriented society in their communities, or school districts.

Comment by Panel: It is a great idea to create a learning platform for children, who are to be the center of a sustainable society. There would be some challenges to implement this idea such as gaining parents窶餀 and teachers窶餀 understanding, and involving the governments, but the very efforts to try to overcome each challenge would create important impacts to the society.

Special Prizes

Business Division (domestic)

Mr. Yoshikuni Wada・・anagawa・褀
Carbon dioxide absorption and sequestration by mass-production of bamboo charcoal
Abstract: Bamboo charcoal is widely known as an environmentally-friendly product, but its market and businesses remain rather small in scale, and the price is high. By utilizing emissions credit trading scheme, which will start in near future, the project aims to realize the market created by mass-production and mass-sequestration of bamboo charcoal. The CO2 absorption and sequestration can be precisely measured by the weight of bamboo charcoal (one ton of charcoal is equivalent to 3.66 tons of CO2).

Comment by Panel: Although some equivalents are not precisely calculated, it is an excellent idea since it also can reduce the damage caused by the neglected bamboo forests.

Business Division (overseas)

BANDOBASTA Byabasthapan Sewa Pvt Ltd・・epal・褀
To verify the social marketing approach on conservation and Urban forestry promotion
The proposal is targeting to promote the Buddha tree (Ficus religiosa) as efficient air purifier, and disseminate information of green consumerism through leaf card. Nepali mother will plant the tree and produce leaf skeletons, Japanese children will convert those skeletons into wonderful cards with message to keep earth as cool as possible, and business house causing warm earth utilize those cards for their business purpose. Blending the Science, economics and spirituality in one program may give better performance.

Comment by Panel: The concept 窶彜piritual Capitalism窶鴀 is new and very interesting.

Governmental System/Policy Division (overseas)

Mr. Andre Stochniol・・.K・褀
Creating and obtaining international support for a differentiated International Maritime Emission Reduction Scheme to halve maritime emissions and pay for improvements
Abstract: In the proposed cap-and-charge approach, CO2 emissions from international maritime transport form one emission bubble rather than being allocated to countries. An emission reduction goal (cap) is established and applies to Annex I countries only. Emission charges are linked to the goal and the prevailing forward carbon price. Aggregated funds are used to both stimulate innovations and cost-effectively mitigate growth of maritime emissions. Furthermore, gains generated through the aggregated approach are directed to climate change adaptation in developing countries.

Comment by Panel: The oceangoing ships are exempt from the Kyoto Protocol, and it is necessary to regulate them by other scheme. If this project is practically implemented, it is possible to apply it to aviation.

Review by the Panel: We sincerely appreciate various ideas ranging from concrete ideas which may solve immediate challenges to grand design. We found them very interesting since various viewpoints are incorporated within them. The diversity presented by various ideas is one of the important factors for sustainability.
The Grand Prize was awarded to the scheme to create a platform for children to participate in creating a sustainable society, and the platform with this kind of viewpoint will get more and more important in future. It is children that will play a major role in a sustainable society, and they need to learn an abundant knowledge and criteria for developing their power of decision in future.
Meanwhile, today窶冱 grown-ups also need to learn new things, and we expect that a platform for their learning would be developed. To fundamentally change our society, it is essential to review rules for sustainable production and consumption as well as creative ideas from individuals. Based on the scientific knowledge with thorough understanding of the limit of the earth, we grown-ups, particularly governments, need to make rules for development which will improve the immature part of the current material civilization.
Member of the panel: Fumikazu Masuda, Ryoichi Yamamoto, Satoko Ekberg

Award Ceremony

Date/Time: 17:00 to 17:45 on Friday, December 12, 2008
Venue: Eco Communication Stage at the Eco-Products 2008 (in the East Exhibition Hall of the Tokyo Big Sight)

"Cool the Earth" Idea Contest

Overview: http://eco.goo.ne.jp/topics/cooltheearth2008/english/
Entry Guidelines: http://eco.goo.ne.jp/topics/cooltheearth2008/english/apply.html

* For inquiries, contact:: Shiro Hosojima, Japan for Sustainability (supporter of contest)
E-mail: cooltheearth@japanfs.org
(for inquiries or information in Japanese, contact Kouichi Inagaki, "Cool the Earth" Idea Contest Office, c/o Amita Corporation.
28 Banchi, Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0075 Japan
E-mail: cool-the-earth@amita-net.co.jp)

Return to "Cool the Earth" top