Environmental Policy Bureau

Building a Rich, Healthy Relationship between Humans and the Environment

Environmental Policy Bureau
Environmental Policy Bureau carries out planning, formulation and promotion of basic environ-mental conservation policies, and is responsible for overall administrative coordination of the environmental activities of governmcnt organi-zations.

Promotion of the Environmental Impact Assessment<PDF File>
The environmental impact assessment (EIA) system compels developers to conduct preliminary studies to assess the potential environmental impact of large-scale development projects, such as the construction of roads, airports, and power stations before the commencement of the projects. For EIAs, Iocal governments and residents concerned with the area of the project site submit their views. The EIA system is of vital importance in preventing degradation of the environment and moving towards the creation of a sustainable society.
In the past, EIAs in Japan were conducted based on the "Implementation Scheme for Environmental Impact Assessment," a set of guidelines for environmental impact assessment decided by the Cabinet in 1984 as well as specific laws, administrative guidance and ordinances of local governments.
This system came under review following the enactment of the Basic Environment Law in 1993, resulting in the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of June 1997, which has been in force since June 1999. Through setting the Basic Guidelines it has formulated and conducting investigations to assess specific projects, Ministy of the Environment is seeing to it that environmental impacts are taken into account in all development projects.
Environmental Impact Assessment Law
URL: http://www.env.go.jp/en/lar/assess/index.html

Promotion of Environmental Education
To build an environment-friendly sociery, it is important that every citizen has a strong environmental consciousness and exercise this in all activities that impact on the environment. To help promote such an attitude, Ministy of the Environment is promoting a variety of measures for environmental education.

Junior Eco-Club
Ministy of the Environment invites elementary and junior high school students from all over Japan to join its Junior Eco-Club, which gives children the chance to enjoy environment-related study and activities in their local communities. Each club has up to around 20 children, along with adults (supporters) who assist with activities. The agency supports the Junior Eco-Club activities by supplying easy-to-understand environmental information, and organizing a national exchange conference and other events.

Environmental Counselors
Ministy of the Environment enlists individuals who have a deep knowledge and rich experience of the environment to act as environmental counselors. In addition, we hold seminars to help them improve their skills and release a list of all environmental counselors to the public. At present, 672 persons are registered in the citizens category and 1,276 in the corporate category. All of these people help in advising citizens' groups and corporations on environmental issues.

Environmental Study Support Project
Ministy of the Environment systematically develops environmental education and study programs focusing on current environmental issues of concern. In various ways, it also supports other groups to organize model courses in environmental studies and other projects.

Supporting Voluntary Environmental Activities in Corporations
As an important measure for encouraging voluntary environmental conservation activities in corporations, the Ministy of the Environment assists corporations in environmental management and audit. For example, the agency is actively promoting the introduction environmental management and audit by industries. Together with related ministries and agencies, we are hclping to introduce Environmental Management System Standards and Environment Audit Standards of International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which became effective in autumn 1996, into many Japancse companies.
At the same time, to help promote the adoption and diffusion of environment-friendly products, Ministy of the Environment supports and implements the following measures.

ECO Mark Program
The Eco Mark system was designed to help consumers identify environment-fricndly products, i.e. products that have lesser burden on the environment, As of the end of March 1999, about 2,900 products were approved to carry the Eco Mark.

Green-Purchasing Network
The Green-Purchasing Network was jointly established in February 1996 by corporations, government organizations and consumer groups to promote the purchase of products that have lesser load on the environment (green purchasing). The network's activities include information exchange on green purchasing, and developing guidelines and compiling a guide book.

Promotion of Reuse and Recycling
To facilitate a smooth introduction of the Law for Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containcrs and Packaging, enforced from April 1997, Ministy of the Environment is promoting awareness of the new law using the character "Wakebei" (Mr. Separation). This character was created to help consumers to learn about and develop a positive attitude to separating their household waste for disposal.
In April 1998, Ministy of the Environment began evaluating a new reusable packaging system, involving bottles that are repeatedly washed and reused. The system is being assessed in terms of technology, environmental effects, costs and other factors. The agency is conducting a research project to clarify the work needed to introduce and spread the system.

White Paper on Environment
The White Paper on Environment is an annual report to inform citizens on the current state of the environment and environmental policy measures.
The 1999 White Paper contains a look back over the history of environmental administration in the 20th century, along with some ideas and proposals on the kind of environmental policies now needed to bring about a global development that can make the 21st century the "environmental century."
The report puts forward specifrc suggestions on ways in which we can more efficiently utilize our natural resources, especially those we now rely heavily on imports for, Iike foods, minerals, and energy. The report also urges that we strive to reshape our socio-eonomic society. If we make the best possible use of resourccs and add sufficient value to our production, we can generate enough prosperity to meet our needs and even help out other countries, without burdening our environment. The White Paper claims that this is the path for Japan if it is to truly earn an international reputation as an "environmental nation" in the 21st century. It also discusses some of the ideas for realizing this goal.
To make this environmental information as accessible as possible, the Environment Agency produces the white paper in a number of formats, including an abridged and illustrated version, a cartoon version, a CD-ROM version, and English version entitled Quality of the Environment in Japan.

Promotion of Envitonmental Research and Technology
A wide range of research and technical development projects are necessary to help us solve our environmental problems. These include monitoring the condition of the environment, research on pollution mechanisms, and the development of technology to reduce the load on the environment.
Recognizing the importance of such research and development, Ministy of the Environment drew up a Basic Plan for Environmental Research and Technology in Juiy 1999 to promote this aim in a coordinated and comprehensive manner into the 21st century.
In 1997, Ministy of the Environment established a research system called "Fundamental Research Fund for the Environmental Future," that invites submission of ideas and proposals on large-scale basic environmental studies in cooperation with the govcrnment, industry and academic groups.
Furthermore, efforts are being made to address possible future environmental problems resulting from technological innovations, such as biotechnology, despite the fact that the same technology is expccted to be useful in environmental protection (e.g. bio-remediation). Ministy of the Environment is also conducting a study and disseminating information on techniques to quantify and evaluate the environmental load of individual products and processes, right through from the stage of raw materials to disposal (life-cycle assessment).