G8 Environmental Futures Forum 2000

Detailed Description of Best Practices
Japan No.8

I. Title of the Best Practice

Eco-Up Office Plan in Tokyo

II. Overview of the Best Practice

A. Features of Eco Up Office Plan in Tokyo

1. Background
Eco Up Office Plan in Tokyo was launched by the Tokyo Metropolitan government on 1 April 1999 with the purpose of supporting voluntary activities by offices to reduce their burden on the environment.
Commercial entities participating in this plan can not only contribute to environmental protection, but also raise their credibility and image. Furthermore, they can establish environmental management systems by upgrading their pledge from Type 2 to Type 1.

2. Contents of the practice.
All kinds of commercial entities are eligible to register and report the environmental friendly measures that they undertake voluntarily. The government provides registered enterprises with registration certificates and "Eco Up Office" stickers. Moreover, their names and efforts are made public via the Internet. Eco Up Offices are divided into two categories, as shown in the following table.

Type 1 registered offices Type 2 registered offices
Requirements of registration 1) Investigation into the burden on the environment caused by their daily business activities, following the prescribed procedure.
2) Formation of (quantitative or qualitative) measures based on the investigation.
3) Setting of quantitative objective to reduce CO2 emission.
1) Formation of more than three (quantitative or qualitative) measures to reduce the burden on the environment.
The number of registered offices (December 1999) 71 offices
(wholesalers, retailers and restaurants 30%, utilities 21%, manufacturers 19%)
657 offices
(wholesalers, retailers and restaurants 29%, service industry 22%, manufacturers 19%)

B. Reasons for Inclusion as a Best Practice

  • It is a challenging and emerging approach that can be undertaken by the entities of all business sizes.
  • It can contribute to the formation of future policies to prevent global warming.
  • It is useful for consideration by social actors implementing domestic initiatives in developed countries.
  • It can be appropriate for application in, or technical transfers to, developing countries.
  • It can be evaluated quantitatively. Type 1 Offices are required to show their quantitative CO2 emission reduction targets.
  • It has far-reaching effects. It creates incentive to reduce the load on the environment because the introduction of this plan requires no initial cost, and company names and targets are publicized.

C. Problems and their Solutions

  1. At first considerable detail was requested of companies about their environmental burden, but after trial operation changes were made so that the degree of detail was easy to deal with in each type of industry.
  2. It appears that some participating companies set targets that have little to do with their normal operations. Therefore, a list of measures by business type is being considered from which they can select the one they wish to implement.

III. Categorizing the Best Practice

1. Classification(s)
( ) Regulatory Approach (Policy approaches-regulations, incentives, etc.)
( X ) Practical Action (Action undertaken independently by a social actor)
( ) Social Network Mechanism (Cooperative structure)

2. Social Actor(s) Involved
( ) Citizens
( ) Central government
( X ) Local government
( X ) Business

3. Sector(s)
( X ) Energy
( ) Residential
( X ) Industrial
( ) Transportation
( X ) Commerce
( X ) Agriculture/Land Use/ Forestry
( ) Others ( )

4. Target Greenhouse Gas(es)
( X ) CO2
( ) CH4
( ) N2O
( ) HFC
( ) PFC
( ) SF6
( ) Other ( )

IV. List of Attachments

Omitted

V. Please indicate a person to contact for more information about this Best Practice.

Contact Person: Akihiko Tanishima
Title: Manager
Organization: Environmental Plannning Divition, Environmental Management Department, Bureau of Environmental Protection, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Email: keikaku@kankyo.metro.tokyo.jp
Tel: +81-3-5388-3412
Fax: +81-3-5388-1377
Address: 2-8-1, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-8001
Note: N/A

Detailed Description of Best Practices - Japan No.8

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