First Review (1994) Internal Cooperation and Agreements

  • Evaluation
    • Japan has increasingly recognised the importance of international environmental issues over the last 20 years. It is promoting and pursuing a range of very significant initiatives to adopt and implement international agreements and to foster international co-operation.
    • To prevent oil spills, the International Convention of Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation needs to be implemented as soon as possible. Further steps should be taken to improve oil spill prevention and emergency preparedness in the ASEAN region. Japan could also improve oil pollution compensation systems, taking into account the huge cost of a large oil spill near its coastline or that of an ASEAN country.
    • In the area of whaling, the Japanese position should continue to be assessed and probably be explained more convincingly to overcome the strong opposition that exists in many other countries.
    • Concerning possible radioactive contamination of the sea, a better assessment of the situation created by Russian waste should be carried out. Sources of SOx emissions contributing to acid precipitation are not yet sufficiently identified. Regional co-operation should be established to assess the origin and the consequences of emissions of SOx and NOx. This could include establishing an international network of measuring stations and negotiating an international agreement to reduce emissions of atmospheric pollutants.
    • Concerning forestry, the ITTO principle of using tropical wood from sustainably managed forests should now be vigorously pursued. Voluntary agreements to reduce non-essential domestic consumption of tropical wood could play an important role.
    • In relation to projects financed under official assistance programmes or carried out by multinational enterprises, the principles for environmental protection adopted within the OECD should be implemented by Japanese agencies and enterprises. These include the preparation of environmental assessments, adherence to strict environmental regulations and information for local communities.
    • Japan could consider taking an even more active role in international forums, extending and building on the impressive expansion of its international outreach, which has been so apparent and productive in recent years. It could propose and support new activities and new agreements, in both global and regional affairs. This should concern in particular scientific co-operation with neighbouring countries (China, the Republic of Korea and Russia) to solve a number of subregional environmental issues oil spills, acid precipitation, nuclear waste), and with the countries of the Pacific and Southeast Asia with which Japan has close economic ties.
  • Recommendations
    • Continue to strengthen international co-operation at subregional and regional levels. This may include management of fisheries, prevention of land-based marine pollution, prevention of oil spills and compensation for oil spill damage, monitoring for radioactive pollution of the seas, monitoring of acid precipitation and addressing the issues of imports of tropical timber and exports of hazardous products.
    • Continue to implement at international level the principles adopted in Rio, particularly concerning preparation of ElAs for overseas projects, provision of information to communities overseas concerning environmental risks from Japanese activities abroad, promotion of the best available technology in developing countries and support for sustainably managed forests in tropical countries.
    • Continue to provide financial contributions for environmental assistance to developing countries and/or multilateral funds, ensuring that they are commensurate with the country's international economic role and GDP.