Ministry of the Environment Holds "Carbon Offset Message Live 2014" Tsuru Takeshi and Others Sing Passionately

On February 25, the Ministry of the Environment held the live event "Carbon Offset Message Live 2014" at Nakano Sunplaza Hall in Tokyo. Carbon offsetting is a mechanism where companies or individuals compensate for the portion of their greenhouse gas emissions that cannot be reduced through measures like investing in forest management. The theme for this second event was "Let's start with what each of us can do!" The event was planned to promote awareness and understanding of carbon offsets through "music" and "sports."

The live performances featured talent and musician Tsuru Takeshi, the male duo Yoshida Yamada, and the idol group Babyraids, energizing the venue. During the talk show, Tsuruno commented on carbon offsets: "I realized just how much CO2 I produce alone. Since I have a large family, I want to be more conscious and work harder to reduce CO2 going forward." Yoshida Yamada stated: "We use candles and try to save electricity, but learning about this initiative raised our awareness. We definitely want to participate." Babyraids, consisting of junior high and high school students, said: "We want schools to teach us about this in an easy-to-understand way. We want to be actively involved going forward."

Support messages from Olympians, including JOC Sports Environment Ambassadors Motoko Obayashi and Tsuguharu Ogiwara, were also introduced. Special guest Kentaro Asahi, a former beach volleyball player, stated, "Beach volleyball is inseparable from the environment. I want to support these activities."

Additionally, programs allowing attendees to experience carbon offsetting themselves through purchasing goods or participating in workshops were offered. A corner showcasing related products and various corporate initiatives was also set up.