Annual White Paper on the Environment
 8th International Workshop on the ECO ASIA Long-term Perspective Project
 The Third Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting of Korea, China and Japan
 Breeding Success of Crested Ibis in Japan
 'Japan's 88 Best Bathing Areas' Clean and Safe Water to Swim and Play
 Results of Soil Pollution Survey
 Town Meetings with Environment Minister
 Opinion Survey on PRTR and Chemical Substances
 Eco Town Plan in Yamaguchi
 The Impacts of Global Warming on Japan 2001--Report Released
 Events

The Japanese Cabinet recently approved the 2001 edition of the annual White Paper on the Environment. The main theme of the white paper this year is "Wa no Kuni," making double-use of the character for "wa," which means both "the environment" and "circulation," to describe "kuni," which means country. The paper states that Japan's role is to become a country where society has environmentally-sound material cycles that emphasize simplicity and quality, and to contribute to the international community based on the country's past experience.
   To achieve this role, Japan needs to keep the activities of society and the economy within the finite limits of the earth and encourage all players in society to engage in dialogue to this end. The main components of the paper are described below.

Section 1: Tasks for 21st century environmental policies and the basic countermeasures for environmental problems

Chapter 1: Changes and trends in environmental problems
This chapter goes into the character of the environmental problems and the complex structure of their causes, after considering the effects of various changes in socio-economic structures. It indicates the direction society should be heading.

Chapter 2: Contribution to the international community based on past results in environmental conservation
Production control procedures and eco-efficiency in Japan are at a high level. The current surge in corporate environmental awareness is expected to result in greater environmental conservation. Japan should provide positive examples of changes in society in order to contribute to sustainable development in the international community.

Chapter 3: Basic strategies for establishing "Wa no Kuni" (harmonious and sustainable society)
Japan's new Environment Basic Plan is the compass for the country's environmental policies in the twenty-first century, and provides the basic strategies for a clean environment and sound material cycles. This chapter describes the basic direction of environmental policies and eleven strategic programs for the years to come. It also describes in detail how Japan's prefectures and government ministries are addressing environmental problems.

Section 2: Pursuing societal and economic activities symbiotic with the earth

Chapter 1: Environmental problems require human society to change direction
This chapter presents the view that threats to human survival are approaching, as evidenced by the worsening impacts of global warming, inefficient resource use and the accumulation of harmful chemicals in the environment. It asserts that environmental problems caused by human activity will become a key issue of environmental politics in future.

Chapter 2: How to promote efforts to prevent global warming
This chapter describes the process of the formation of international frameworks, targets and rules relating to global warming.

Chapter 3: How to promote activities to create a society with environmentally-sound material cycles
After describing the present situation, this chapter points the direction for measures to deal with waste disposal and recycling. It also shows the way for the formation of a society with environmentally-sound material cycles, and the significance of related laws.

Chapter 4: How to cope with problems caused by chemical substances
This chapter delves into the subject of chemical substances and describes current trends. The production, use and emission of chemical substances are regulated, however the stock of knowledge and information about them is not adequate. Greater efforts are needed for information collection and disclosure.

Chapter 5: How to accelerate overall activities for environmental conservation
This chapter describes examples of activities being promoted in various parts of Japan and their significance. It addresses the need to use economic measures and an effective policy mix.

Section 3: Sustainable society created by environmental communication

Chapter 1: The role and potential of environmental communication
This chapter goes into the impacts, the current situation and the potential of "environmental communication," one of the most important measures for establishing partnerships--among individuals, industry, and governments--in order to create a sustainable society.

Chapter 2: Encouraging the participation and collaboration of each sector
This chapter describes how sectors of society communicate with each other.

Chapter 3: Building various partnerships for environmental conservation
This chapter explains the role of governments in building the foundations to activate environmental communication needed for the establishment of sustainable society.

8th International Workshop on the ECO ASIA Long-term Perspective Project

On 27 and 28 February the Ministry of the Environment organized the 8th International Workshop on the ECO ASIA Long-term Perspective Project in Tokyo. A major objective of the workshop was to gather input regarding the draft report from the second phase of the Long-term Perspective Project to the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in 2002. Another objective was to confirm the common understanding of participants that the provision of scientific information and strategic environmental policy options is essential to solve environmental problems in this region, and to discuss future directions. Some of the main discussions are outlined below.

1. Status of LTPP progress:
Draft reports were presented regarding research on climate change, urban environments and other fields, research on environmental awareness in the Asia-Pacific region, and the state and prospects of regional cooperation.

2. Results of Phase 2 of the LTPP:
A discussion was held about reporting of the final results, and providing input to the Summit in 2002.

3. Directions after Phase 2:
A discussion was held about the follow-up to this phase. Participants re-confirmed the importance of providing a scientific basis to policy-makers for policy-formulation in order to achieve sustainable development, and confirmed the importance of a new project after Phase 2. The participants also supported the idea of transformation of this workshop into a panel with mandate in particular: i) providing policy option proposal for ECO ASIA Ministerial discussions, ii) guidance to a new project 'Asia Pacific Environmental Innovation Strategy', and iii) providing possible input to the Eminent Persons Forum

4. Eminent Persons Forum:
Views were shared about the topics for the "Eminent Persons Forum on Environment and Development in the Asia-Pacific" (tentative name), which was proposed by Environment Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi in September last year at ECO ASIA 2000 in Kitakyushu. Ministers present at that congress supported the proposal, and preparations are now under way.
   As a background note, Phase 1 of the ECO ASIA LTPP (1993-1997) made predictions of the regional environment in the year 2025 and proposed concepts for sustainable development in the region (eco-consciousness, eco-partnerships, eco-technology/eco-investment, and eco-policy linkages). Objectives of Phase 2 (1998-2001) include clarifying environmental problems that could arise from various development scenarios in the region, providing input to ECO ASIA Congresses so that they can contribute to the Summit in 2002, and building capacity of individuals and organizations through participation in the project.
Participants in this workshop included a total of thirty-four representatives from Japan and twelve other Asia-Pacific countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand) as well as from related international organizations.

Group photo from 8th International Workshop on the ECO ASIA Long-term Perspective Project (February 27 - 28, 2001)

The Environment Ministers of Korea, China and Japan met in Tokyo on 7 and 8 April for the annual Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting (TEMM). This meeting completed the first cycle, after Korea and China hosted in the two previous years. This year, Ms. Kawaguchi Yoriko, Environment Minister of Japan, welcomed Ms. Kim Myung Ja of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea and Mr. Xie Zhenhua of the State Environmental Protection Administration of the People's Republic of China.
   Five priority project areas determined at the previous TEMM meeting were (1) raising consciousness of environmental community, (2) fresh water (lake) pollution prevention, (3) land-based marine pollution prevention, (4) cooperation in the field of environmental industry, and (5) ecological conservation in Northwest China. This year, reports were presented on these project areas, with notable progress including a workshop on an environmental education network, creation of the TEMM web site and a technical workshop on ecological conservation in Northwest China. Progress has also been made in the planning of other work in each prioritized area
   The Ministers also discussed the issues of climate change and shared the common recognition that a successful outcome of the resumed COP6 is vital for bringing the Kyoto Protocol into force as early as possible. The Ministers expressed their hope that the US government will actively work with all the Parties to attain such a successful outcome.
The Ministers expressed a great concern about the degradation of natural conditions in Northwest China and affirmed their recognition to formulate and implement TEMM projects in this area and in all Asian region to address this concern. These projects are expected to contribute to ecological conservation following a step-by-step approach. The Ministers also shared the recognition that the three countries should promote cooperation for systematic studies on sand dust (yellow sand or kosa), which is exacerbated by soil degradation in order to find out better ways to solve this problem.
   In addition to these topics, the Ministers heard reports on a wide range of ongoing bilateral and multilateral environmental projects involving the three countries, and encouraged further efforts.
   The next Tripartite Meeting will be held in Korea. The Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting Official Page can be found on the Internet at http://www.temm.org/.

Three Ministers at the joint press conference (from left to right, Mr. Xie, Ms. Kawaguchi, Ms. Kim)

The Sado Japanese Crested Ibis Conservation Center has had a successful breeding season. Kin was the only crested ibis (Nipponia nippon) of Japanese birth when China presented You-You (male) and Yang-Yang (female) to Japan in 1998. This pair produced chicks, named Yu-Yu, Shin-Shin and Ai-Ai. China presented Mei-Mei for Yu-Yu in 2000. During the 2001 breeding season, You-You and Yang-Yang produced seven chicks (one died), and Yu-Yu and Mei-Mei had six chicks (one died), bringing the total number of chicks to thirteen.
   These are encouraging results compared with only two chicks born last year. Of particular note is the higher rate of egg fertilization (88%, compared to 29% last year), thought to be due to the birds' becoming more accustomed to their surroundings of Japan.
Eighteen crested ibises are now kept in the Center, including the eleven surviving chicks born this season. Because Japan and China have agreed that offspring born of Yu-Yu and Mei-Mei are to be shared between the two countries, three chicks will be sent to China. Details of transport are now being discussed.
   Starting with only one crested ibis in Japan at the end of 1998, this breeding project has succeeded in increasing the number of this endangered bird to eighteen in three years. With continued success at this rate, the number of crested ibises in Japan could reach one thousand in 2008. Handlers are now concerned about the possible negative effects of inbreeding and the lack of the cages for the birds. One solution for inbreeding is the exchange of crested ibises between Japan and China.
   A new problem may arise when the number of the artificially bred crested ibises increases significantly--will they be capable of nesting and raising chicks? However, in May 2001, a pair of artificially bred crested ibises reportedly succeeded in hatching and raising chicks, an important precedent for releasing the crested ibis to the wild. It is hoped the crested ibises bred in Japan can be re-established in nature in the future.

Upper stand, Mei-Mei's chicks, Lower stand, Yang-Yang's chicks (May 2, 2001)

The Ministry of the Environment recently selected 88 of Japan's bathing areas for national recognition. This system for recognizing good bathing sites was introduced by the MOE in 1998, when 55 sites were selected for the first time. In 2001, the winning sites were selected based on the following revised criteria:

(i) water quality, natural environment such as scenic surroundings
(ii) environmental consideration and activities
(iii) safety
(iv) accessibility and amenities

Forty prefectures recommended 146 sites, from which the Committee For Comfortable Bathing Sites selected the winning bathing areas for presentation of award certificates. The next selection will be in three years.

Neshiko Beach (Nagasaki pref.)	Okazaki Beach (Hyogo pref.)	Issiki Beach (Kanagawa pref.)

Town Meetings with Environment Minister

The Ministry of the Environment has been holding " Town Meetings", dialogue between citizens and the Minister--at the instance of the Minister, Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi--to build better partnerships with the people of Japan. During the meetings, held in five cities (Tokyo, Sendai, Osaka, Kanazawa and Fukuoka), the Minister gave presentations about the government's environmental policies and exchanged views with the participants. In conjunction with the town meetings, roundtable conferences were also held, with the participation of the Minister and officials of the Ministry, local business leaders and representatives of local non-governmental organizations. Below are excerpts of dialogue in the town meetings.

Participant 1: I would like the government will support local activities more proactively.
Minister: We hope to support the expansion of good activities to other local areas and can provide financial assistance and suggest useful ideas to local people.
Participant 2: I think it is important to provide environmental education to children, but more important is environmental education for adults.
Minister: It is important that persons involved in environmental policies have their views on the protection of the environment.
Participant 3: I would like to have information on the condition of the environment and pollution in real time.
Minister: Information disclosure is very important. We have a regional observation system for the atmospheric environment called "Soramamekun." It provides brief reports about air pollutants in the Kanto area.
Participant 4: We need to raise the awareness of people who have no interest in the environment.
Minister: I have some doubts about obligating people to have environmental education, but it is important to promote interest in the environment and to set up information desks to support concerned people.
Participant 5: I suggest that the Ministry of the Environment assess environmental cooperation and local government projects?
Minister: The role of the government is not in assessing but in showing criteria.

Opinion Survey on PRTR and Chemical Substances

Based on 'Law Concerning Reporting, etc. of Releases to the Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in Their Management', Japan launched its Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) system this April. Leading up to the start of this system, the Ministry of the Environment conducted an opinion survey of persons registered as environmental monitors and released the results in April.
   One major finding of the study is that more than 70 percent of respondents are concerned about chemical substances. Regarding the PRTR system, more than 80 percent wanted it to indicate the extent of negative impacts on humans and the ecosystem from chemical substances emitted into the environment.
   Asked what is the greatest source of concern about chemical substances around them, the largest number of respondents (83.1 percent) indicated emissions from factories, waste incineration facilities, etc., followed by vehicle exhaust (77.5 percent), agricultural chemicals (77.0 percent), and household items (75.4 percent). Only 0.9 percent responded that they have no concern. Asked from what facilities they require emissions data, the largest number of respondents (33.4 percent) stated they want data from facilities in the cities or towns where they live.
   More than 99 percent of respondents stated that *risk communications are necessary or would become necessary in the future. In most cases (about 80 percent) they expect that the local government should play a key role in that area.
   The survey targeted 1500 persons nationwide and had a response rate of 84 percent.

* The term "risk communications" refers to sharing information and promoting better understanding among governments, businesses, citizens and NGOs, etc., in order to develop a common understanding about "environmental risk" (threats of harmful impacts via the environment on the human body and living environment).

EVENTS