I. Title of the Best Practice

II. Overview of the Best Practice

A. Features of Voluntary Plan by Industrial Organisations
1. Establishment of voluntary environmental action plans
(1) Background
In 1991, the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) announced the "Keidanren Global Environmental Charter" in which pledge to make voluntary and active efforts for environmental conservation. In 1996 it announced the "Keidanren Declaration on the Environment", in which it specified concrete policies to conserve the environment, including dealing with global warming and constructing a society based on a recycling economy. In 1997, it announced the " Voluntary Action Plan on the Environment", through which it created a framework for the steady implementation of environmental measures at all levels of industry in Japan. Today, 142 industry organizations in 41industries participate in this plan.

(2) Summary of the Voluntary Action Plans on the Environment

• Principles: In implementing environmental measures, industries set clear targets and conduct follow-up surveys every year to achieve the targets. This enhances accountability and promotes voluntary efforts to limit GHG emissions.
• Setting of targets and measures: In the plans, the targets and measures in four areas are set: global warming measures, waste management measures, environmental management, and environmental conservation in overseas operations. In particular, many industries set quantitative targets in terms of global warming and waste management.

(3) Examples of targets and measures set by each industry
(a) Action Plans on the Environment in electric power industry (Federation of Electric Power Companies)

• Targets: To reduce the level of CO2 emissions per unit to 80% by 2010, compared to 1990. To try to reduce GHG emissions other than CO2 as much as possible.
• Measures: Promotion of the best mix of energy resources, development and dissemination of natural energy, improvement of generating efficiency and energy efficiency of equipment, promotion of energy saving and load leveling, implementation of flexibility measures such as Joint Implementation, and limiting of GHG emissions other than CO2.

(b) Voluntary Action Plan on Environmental Conservation in iron and steel industry (Japan Iron and Steel Federation)

• Targets: To reduce total energy consumption by 10% in iron and steel industry by 2010, compared to 1990. To use new energy sources, in cooperation with local communities. To contribute to save energy in society by adopting life-cycle assessments (LCA). To contribute to save energy through international technical cooperation.
• Measures: Promoting the spread of existing energy-efficient technologies, putting innovative technologies to practical use and promoting their use, development and dissemination of high quality steel materials, cooperation in energy saving policy through such as Joint Implementation.

(c) Voluntary Action Plan to limit SF6 emissions in electric power industry

• Background: SF6 will continue to be used because of the lack of effective insulating gases that replace SF6. Therefore, targets and measures are set in this action plan to limit and recycle emissions to the atmosphere from appliances when they are overhauled and scrapped.
• Targets: To reduce the rate of emissions from overhauls to 3% by 2005 (40% at present). To reduce the rate of emissions from insulating equipment when they are scrapped to 1% by 2005 (100% at present).
• Measures: Aiming to establish closed-cycle system and to completely manage quantity of possession and emission.

2. Actions in the field: Examples of the measures on GHG emissions reductions in the process of production
(1) Achievement of CFC-free operations at factories (Asahi Breweries)
Asahi breweries decided to eliminate the use of CFC gases in all facilities and equipment installed in the factories. The use of CFC gases is abolished not only in their manufacturing processes, but also for air conditioning systems, refrigerators, analytical equipment and others. Refrigerants used in the manufacturing process are converted to ammonia-absorption refrigeration units. Other equipment, such as air conditioners, are replaced or converted to the ones using anmonia, propane, cool and warm water, isobutane and peltier (electric cooling).

(2) Adoption of cooling system of ammonia-absorption refrigeration units (Meiji Milk Products Co., Ltd.)
In order to secure stable supply of heat for cooling in the process of producing milk, thermal storage system with anmonia-absorption refrigeration units is being introduced. This system can be operated efficiently and contribute to energy saving.

3. Development of materials/technologies with less GHG emission
(1) Development of low CO2 emission cars/technologies (Toyota)
Toyota produced the world's first mass produced hybrid (gasoline/electric) "Prius" car. Toyota also aggressively undertook wide-ranging activities for advanced environmental technology (e.g. direct injection gasoline engine, direct injection diesel engine, fuel cell electric vehicle, system for efficient sharing of small-sized electric vehicles).

(2) Reduction of total CO2 emissions through applying environmentally effective technologies (Nissan)
Nissan is applying diverse technologies for mass production vehicles to reduce CO2 emissions, such as direct injection gasoline engines, direct injection diesel engines, and Continuous Variable Transmission (CTV).

(3) Large-scale energy-efficient furnance systems (NKK Corporation)
NKK has developed technology with lower global warming impact, such as large-scale energy-efficient furnance systems. (NKK)

(4) Highly efficient refrigeration systems (Matsushita Refrigeration Company)
Matsushita has developed products and applied-technology product models to mitigate global warming, such as highly efficient refrigeration systems.

(5) Fuel cell development (Ebara Corporation)
Ebara has developed the technology for power generation by fuel cells using gas from waste treatment.

B. Reasons for Inclusion as Best Practices

• They can contribute to the formation of future policies to prevent global warming.
• They are challenging and emerging approaches. These are voluntary practices.
• They are useful for consideration by social actors other than G8 countries implementing domestic initiatives in developed countries.
• They can be evaluated quantitatively and/or qualitatively.

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
( ) Local government
( X ) Business

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

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

IV. List of Attachments

Omitted

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

Contact Person:	Yoshida
Title:	-
Organization:	Global Environment and Energy Group, The Japan Federation of Economic Organization (Keidanren)
Email:	-
Tel:	+81-3-3279-1411
Fax:	+81-3-5255-6258
Address:	-
Note:	N/A