(1) Global Environmental Problems are defined as environmental problems which apply to one or both of the following descriptions.

• problems caused by human activities which affect the entire Earth environment or a large area of the Earth
• problems which cause impact on the environments of developing country regions or environments considered to be of high values.

(2) Considering these descriptions, ten subjects are recognized as Global Environmental Problems:

• Global warming
• Depletion of the ozone layer
• Decrease of biodiversity
• Marine pollution
• Deforestation (especially tropical forests)
• Trans-border transportation of noxious wastes
• Acid precipitation
• Desertification
• Environmental problems in developing countries
• Protection of internationally valued environment

(1) The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment
Environmental problems were internationally recognized in 1972 with the publication of the report "Limits to Growth" by the Club of Rome. This report warned that increases of human activities would reach the Earth's limits in a hundred years if population growth continued and the state of the global environment worsened, and emphasized the need for a dramatic change from growth to a global balance.
In June 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm, Sweden, was the first large-scale international conference by the United Nations for a whole range of environmental problems.
The Declaration on the Human Environment was adopted at the conference, covering the basic right for humans to live in a sound environment and the responsibility to preserve environment. In addition, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established within the United Nations framework to specifically deal with environmental problems.

(2) Sustainable Development
At the special session of the general meeting of the board of administrative directors of UNEP in 1982, the World Committee for the Environment and Development (WCED) was established. This committee published a report "Our Common Future" advocating a new concept of "Sustainable Development", words which have now become most important key words considering environmental problems of this day.

(3) United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), the largest conference in history on environmental issues, was held in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, with the participation of governmental delegates from about 180 countries. Many meetings were held at the same time by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and for the public.
The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development was adopted at UNCED, concerning principles for sustainable development, as well as Agenda 21, the action plan of UNCED. Other items adopted were the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Non-legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for a Global Consensus on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development of All Types of Forests.
In addition, the importance of voluntary actions by the private sector and the general public was recognized for the protection of global environment, strengthening the need for cooperation and their rights to speak.

Japan has been expected to show leadership for realization of sustainable development, as an advanced country in the Asia-Pacific region, which holds half the world population and which is likely to face serious environmental problems in future as economies grow rapidly.
In May 1989, the Council of Ministers for Global Environment Conservation was established in Japan to promote effective and comprehensive measures on global environmental problems. In addition, since July 1989 Minister of State in charge of Global Environmental Problems has been coordinating policies undertaken by administrative organs in the government in Japan. The Director General of the Environment Agency is normally appointed to this post.
In 1993, the National Action Plan for Agenda 21 was adopted to implement Agenda 21 in Japan, and local governments were encouraged to formulate their own local Agenda 21 action plans for the protection of the global environment at the local level.
In addition, the Basic Environment Law was passed in November 1993 as a new framework of environmental policy to deal with a range of environmental problems over generations. In December 1994 the Japanese government established the Basic Environment Plan, which introduces overall and long-term policies with four long-term objectives: the establishment of a socio-economic system fostering an environmentally sound material cycle, harmonious coexistence between nature and human beings, participation in environmental conservation activities, and promotion of international environmental efforts.

The Environment Agency of Japan (EAJ) was established to promote administration for the protection of the environment, to implement related policies and promote research as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region.
EAJ has organized the Environment Congress for Asia and the Pacific (ECO-ASIA) every year since 1991 (except 1992) to deal with the need for long-term environmental protection through closer dialogue among Environmental Ministers in this region and representatives from international organizations.
Global Warming has been one of their main concerns because of its predicted extensive impact on the region. As the host country of the Kyoto Conference (the Third Session of Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), Japan has began taking steps to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions an average of about 6% from the 1990 level by the target years of 2008-2012. EAJ submitted the Action Program to Arrest Global Warming to the Diet, and is making an effort to strengthen domestic measures to address global warming.
In order to find the appropriate steps to deal with global environmental problems, the promotion of research to clarify uncertainties in scientific knowledge is of great importance. EAJ initiated the "Global Environment Research Program" (GER Program) in 1990 to promote comprehensive research and studies for global environmental conservation from interdisciplinary and international perspectives.