China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal and coal power, emitting more greenhouse gases than the United States, Europe, and Japan combined. It burns more coal every year than the rest of the world combined. The country’s answer to the heat waves now affecting China and much of the world is to burn more coal to maintain a stable electricity supply for air-conditioning. Last month, China generated 14 percent more electricity from coal, its dominant fuel source, than in 2022. #globalwarming
Blue Pond: Hokkaido’s famous Biei Blue Pond was made by accident, as the by-product of attempts to control mudslides. Aluminum from the soil seeping into the water scatters the sunlight causing the pond to look blue. But depending on the time of day and the light, the reflection can also look green and every shade in between. #bluepond #blue
Nikko National Park is one of the best places to see brilliant fall foliage. Japan's beloved haiku poet, Matsuo Basho passed through here, composing poetry on the beauty of nature. #autumnequinox#tohoku
The flower farmers of Kagoshima, Japan, have taken their green thumbs to Salinas, California, the self described Salad Bowl of the World. Salinas also claims the best year-round climate in the entire North American continent. The farmers immigrated here in the 1950’s bringing their skills and traditions with them, including their architecture and gardens. #flowerfarm #salinascalifornia
Hokkaido Farms: well-organised fields on rolling hills create true works of art. And thanks to crop rotation, the range of different crops growing side by side makes for an ever changing patchwork of colors. #hokkaidofarm
Mountain Day: Today is Mountain Day (Yama no Hi), Japan’s newest public holiday, a day to promote love for Japan’s mountains. Here is a portfolio of Japan’s most famous - majestic Mount Fuji and look-alikes from Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Kyoto and Hokkaido
More of Hokkaido’s celebrity trees. These are perhaps the most popular of all, named after a cigarette and the commercial that was filmed here — Seven Star Hills. #sevenstars#sevenstarhill#hokkaido