Japan's Working Group on Dioxin Emission Reductions recently reported estimates that the country's total dioxin emissions in 1999 were between 2,620 and 2,820 grams of toxicity equivalency quantities (g-TEQ) compared to figures for 1997, which were between 7,300 and 7,550 g-TEQ. Based on this, it appears that Japan's dioxin emissions declined by more than 60% during the two years.
　[Technical note on calculation method: As reported in the September 1999 issue of JEQ, the Working Group had completed a national inventory based on the Basic Guidelines for the Promotion of Measures against Dioxins which were adopted on 30 May 1997. Subsequently, the Law Concerning Special Measures Against Dioxins came into effect, and the definition of dioxins was revised. Under the new law, coplanar PCBs were included in dioxins. In addition, new toxic equivalency factors (TEF) were used (WHO-TEF (1998) instead of I-TEF (1988)). Based on these arrangements, the following two methodologies were used in the present inventories: (i) the new one based on the Law Concerning Special Measures Against Dioxins (i.e., adopting WHO-TEF including coplanar PCBs) and (ii) the former methodology (adopting I-TEF excluding coplanar PCBs).]

　The Tenth Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change was held from 9 to 13 July in Penang, Malaysia. The seminar was attended by experts from twenty-one countries, and eight relevant international and inter-governmental organizations.
　The major objectives of the Seminar were to (a) exchange views on the Kyoto Mechanisms, focusing on technical matters of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) such as baselines and monitoring; (b) discuss measures to improve transfers of technology in the Asia-Pacific area; (c) exchange information on the latest activities of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), including special reports on land use, changes of land use and forestry, and the report on how to handle best practices and uncertainty in greenhouse gas inventories; (d) discuss regional cooperation activities to address global warming impacts; and (e) discuss ways to promote the utilization of the Asia-Pacific Network on Climate Change (APNET).
　Highlights of five sessions are outlined below.
(I) CDM and Asia-Pacific region
　Participants recognized that the technical matters of CDM design such as decisions on baselines were very important for insuring environmental conservation. They exchanged views on how to ensure more equal distribution of CDM projects, make good use of Official Development Assistance (ODA), shift current AIJ projects to CDM projects, and qualify projects.
(II) Transfer of Technology
　After the current situation of the process of setting technology transfers was explained, presentations were made about opportunities, barriers, needs and concerns. Participants confirmed the importance of the implementation of Article 4.5 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. A panel discussion ensued.
(III) APNET
　Reports were given on the present status and planned future activities of APNET. Various options were presented for promoting the utilization of APNET.
(IV) Special Report from IPCC
　An outline of the Special Report from the IPCC was presented regarding land use, land use change and forestry. Best practices of greenhouse gas inventories and the handling of the uncertainty were reviewed.
(V) Regional Cooperation to Cope with Climate Change
　New activities of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) were explained, in which participants showed much interest. In addition the activities of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) were presented, emphasizing the cooperation of scientists and funding contributions. Opinions were exchanged about the present state of AIJ projects and the prospects of CDM projects at the non-governmental level.
For more information (including the Chairperson's Summary), please see the website of the Asia Pacific Network on Climate Change (http://www.ap-net.org)

　Environment Agency made an estimate of Japan's present and future market size in "eco-businesses," based on categories used by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for "environmental goods and service industries." The estimate showed a market size of 24.7 trillion yen in 1997, accounting for just over 2 % of domestic output. By the year 2010, this sector is predicted to be 39.8 trillion yen, having an annual growth rate of 3.7 %. In the estimates, businesses involved in waste disposal and recycling to support a recycling-oriented society account for about 50 % of the sector. The future estimate is based on past trends as well as governmental plans, such as for waste reduction. In terms of employment, 695,000 people worked in this sector in 1997, and this number is expected to increase to 86,100 in 2010.
　The OECD classification of eco-business includes activities that offer products and services capable of measuring, preventing, limiting or correcting environmental damage such as the pollution of water, air and soil, as well as waste, noise and ecosystems. The future potential of the industry is probably bigger than these figures indicate, because they do not include fuel cell-powered vehicles or "inverse manufacturing," for which adequate data were not available.

　Environment Agency recently announced the results of its fiscal year 1999 survey on environmentally sound corporate activities, which has been conducted　every year since 1991. Questionnaires were sent to 2,441 companies listed on the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya stock exchanges, and 3,855 unlisted companies with more than five hundred employees. Valid responses were received from 1,147 listed and 1,620 unlisted companies. The survey results indicate that more companies than ever are gaining a better understanding of environmental issues and enforcing environmental conservation measures. The following is the gist of this survey.

　Industrial pollution can become an issue of concern when companies operate overseas. With this in mind, the Environment Agency conducted a survey in 1995 in order to grasp environmental aspects of the overseas activities of Japanese companies. One finding was that many respondents looked to the Japanese Government to supply information about environmental issues of each country. As a result, the Environment Agency started research in 1996 on environmental trends in relation to the activities of Japanese companies operating in Southeast Asia. The research includes concrete case studies and experiences of innovative environmental management. A Philippine edition of the research report was published in 1997, an Indonesian edition in 1998, and a Thai edition in 1999. The Malaysian edition was published in March this year. The Environment Agency is distributing the latest edition to the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Malaysia, as well as any other interested parties.

Malaysia Edition
Chapter 1: Overview of Environmental Issues and Environmental Conservation Practices in Malaysia
　This chapter includes activities of Japanese companies, current environmental issues, environmental administration and legislation, industrial waste management, water pollution management, air pollution management, and environmental impact assessment in Malaysia, etc.

Chapter 2: Environmental Conservation by Japanese Companies in Malaysia-Case Studies of Corporate Practices and Policies
This chapter features approaches of Japanese companies in Malaysia, cases of having met strict water standards, cases of establishing an environmental management system, and other examples of innovative environmental practices.

　Since the beginning of the 1990s, Japan has been the world's top donor of official development assistance (ODA) to developing countries. In 1998 Japan's ODA amounted to 1.4 trillion yen (about 10.7 billion U.S. dollars) of which about 400 billion yen (about 3.1 billion U.S. dollars) consisted of aid in the environmental field (involving projects related to the residential environment, forest conservation, anti-pollution, disaster prevention, climate change, etc.). The Environment Agency started investigating assessment method of evaluating the results of environmental projects in 1998. The review committee responsible for this task recently released its interim report of study results for the fiscal year 1999.
　The main purpose of this study was to develop a methodology to evaluate projects that have already been completed in host countries, and to determine what should be the essential elements for future assessments.
　This survey targeted two types of technical cooperation projects: those supporting environmental management centers, and those developing systems to improve water quality. After considering various options, the committee decided that the main elements to be assessed should be (i) whether or not the host government has secured the necessary funds (e.g., for upkeep of equipment), personnel and organizational infrastructure even after completion of the project, (ii) whether or not the outcomes of the project (e.g., local use of monitoring technology) are being utilized in other areas throughout the host country, and (iii) whether or not the outcomes of the project (e.g., transfer of environmental monitoring technology) are being reflected in the policies of the host government (e.g., in establishing or revising environmental standards).
　The current study was intended to determine methodologies for assessment of environmental ODA projects. In the future it will be important to use case studies to determine whether the elements chosen are appropriate and can be used to conduct quantitative project assessments. It will also be important to expand the types of projects targeted in assessments.

　Bouquet, fragrance, aroma, scent, smell, odor, and stench-they all are some of the many words describing what we perceive with our olfactory senses. In our daily life, we encounter a great variety of such smells.
　A 1996 opinion poll by the Environment Agency showed that the public is concerned about both offensive odors and comfortable aromas in daily life. As a result, two aspects are required for good policies minimizing offensive odors and preserving comfortable aromas. To meet the demands, the Environment Agency has introduced a concept of "scent environment" and recently established a guideline to support local activities to create better scent environment through the identification of good smells (aromas) in their neighborhood, as well as the regulation of bad smells (odors).
　This guideline contains two goals, one addressing offensive odors (titled "The Goal for Odor Environment (GOE)") and the other addressing comfortable aromas (titled "The Goal for Aroma Environment (GAE)"). GOE aims at "minimizing offensive odors to the degree that most local residents do not notice in their daily life." It will be necessary to establish quantitative targets for it (though the lack of science data prevents it at present). GAE, on the other hand, aims at "creating comfortable aroma environments where agreeable smells can be sensed." Since the perception of smells may vary with regions or individuals, it is important that local residents are involved in the process of creating comfortable aroma environments.
　The guidelines which identify the roles of national and local governments, business sectors, and local residents will help the Environment Agency to take a variety of measures to promote the improvement of "scent environment."

　Japan and the United States discussed common concerns about migratory birds at a meeting held in Anchorage, Alaska, from 6 to 7 May. The meeting was held under the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Japan for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Birds in Danger of Extinction and their Environment (also known as the Japan-U.S. Migratory Bird Protection Treaty), which entered into force in 1974.<.BR> 　Academics joined participants from Japan's Environment Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Discussions centered on institutional and policy arrangements for the protection of migratory birds. Presentations included topics such as the ecological status of sea birds, as well as the roles of local governments under Japan's recently revised Wildlife Protection and Hunting Law.
　Another topic included network activities under Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy. The U.S. proposed that sites in Alaska be included in the existing East Asian Australasian Shorebird Site Network. Further discussions on this will continue in 2001. Japan announced an international workshop to be held in October 2000 in Naha, Okinawa, regarding said strategy.

Dealing with Urban Crows

Growing populations of crows in urban areas have been causing greater problems recently, such as the scattering of garbage and threatening or aggressive behavior toward people. Craws eat garbage exclusively and increase by adaptation to urban environment. There is few case worldwide. In order to promote preventative action, the Environment Agency recently distributed pamphlets and videos that provide the public with tips to reduce nuisances caused by crows in urban areas.
　The eight-page pamphlet is entitled "Crows in Urban Areas-Nuisances and What We Can Do About Them," while the eighteen-minute video (VHS format) is entitled "Why Crows are Increasing in Urban Areas-Reasons and Countermeasures." Both materials were produced in Japanese, with production work done by the Japanese Association for Preservation of Birds and the Wild Bird Society of Japan.

　Crow Facts
　Two species of crows are generally found in urban areas-the jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) and the carrion crow (Corvus corone). Foraging in garbage is mostly done by jungle crows. Both can be seen at all times of the year in Japan. Their breeding season is from March to July, and they make their nests on thick boughs or between the trunk and upper branches of trees. Crows tend to gather to roost in the upper branches at night and these groups tend to grow in size in winter.

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Public Participates in Survey on Aquatic Organisms

　In July the Environment Agency released its report on the 1999 survey on aquatic organisms in rivers. The Agency has been conducting this survey annually since 1984, with participation from the public. A record 59,000 participants joined the 1999 survey at 4,646 sites in rivers. The large turnout is thanks to holding the survey during summer vacation, allowing more participants from schools (67% of the total) and children's or citizens' groups (20%).
　Since aquatic organisms such as the river crab (Potamon dehaani) and stone fly (Kamimuria tibialis) provide good indicators of water conditions, by studying these organisms participants can judge water quality in an effective, simple and inexpensive way. An added bonus of such a survey based on public participation is the heightening of environmental consciousness. Based on the results of the study, water quality is classified into four categories: good, fair, dirty and very dirty. In all, 73% of the sites were found to be of good quality.
　In fiscal year 2000, the Environment Agency will welcome more participants nationwide and make some modifications to indicators used in the survey.

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Preventing Marine Pollution from Plastics

　Marine pollution from plastic substances is a serious problem in Japan and in many places in the world's oceans. To find solutions, the Environment Agency has developed response measures based on a three-year study (from 1996 to 1999) that estimated the amount of plastic waste and marine pollution.
　Research revealed that a large amount of plastic waste is drifting in the seas near Japan, flowing in rivers and washing up along shorelines. In order to reduce the impacts on marine life, the Environment Agency has decided to coordinate campaigns to prevent releases into the marine environment of plastic waste and resin pellets; and strengthen monitoring systems to track their routes, in cooperation with other countries involved in the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP).
　Most plastic waste drifting in the ocean or washed ashore decomposes slowly, so it tends to exist in the marine environment for a long time, harming marine animals that mistakenly eat plastic substances, or get entangled in plastic objects.
　Resin pellets-made of lighter-than-water polyethylene or polypropylene and usually only a few millimeters in diameter-are used in the production of plastic products.
　Some of the major findings of the study are: