Press Release

May 06, 2010
  • Global Environment

OECD Environmental Performance Review of Japan

* The 37th Meeting of OECD Working Party on Environmental Performance (WPEP) was held at OECD Headquarters in Paris, France from May 3 to 4, 2010, where Japan's performance on environmental policies was reviewed. Mr. Nobumori Otani, Parliamentary Secretary of the Environment, MOE, headed the Japanese delegation to the meeting.

* "Assessment and Recommendations" were reviewed and approved by WPEP at the meeting.

* In "Assessment and Recommendations", Japan's efforts are positively assessed in various points, including: conducting progress reviews on the environmental policy development at the Central Environment Council and disclosing its results to the public; submitting its target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% below 1990 level by 2020 under the framework of the 2009 Copenhagen Accord; reducing emissions of dioxins and NMVOCs (non-methane volatile organic compounds) emissions from mobile sources; and promoting sound material management policies through the enactment of the Fundamental Law for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society.

* On the other hand, 38 recommendations were made to Japan, including:
(1) To review and update the 1993 Basic Environmental Law
(2) To broaden the use of environmentally related taxes
(3) To introduce a mandatory cap-and-trade emissions trading scheme
(4) To put a price on carbon through emissions trading in combination with climate-related taxes

* The full report "OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Japan" will be published by OECD in Q4 2010.

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