Japan
Mr. Chair,
First, I would like to discuss waste management. Japan is putting higher priority on 3R policy, as you know Reduce, Reuse, Recycle of wastes for minimizing waste discharge and maximizing resource efficiency.
For this purpose, based on Polluter-Pays Principle and Extended Producer Responsibility, we need to establish laws and regulations, and social rules which clearly identify the responsibility and cost sharing among stakeholders for waste disposal and recycling. At the same time, institutional mechanisms for law enforcement are necessary.
In Japan, Municipalities have primary responsibility for collection, treatment and disposal of household wastes and moderate subsidy program from central government is available for building facilities and infrastructures.
Our system is depending upon citizens and general public on source separation and minimizing waste discharge. Municipalities have been conducting public awareness raising and environmental education programs throughout the country.
With regard to international cooperation, Japan launched the Regional 3R
Forum in Asia in last year with 15 governments in east Asia and UN organizations including UN/DESA, UNEP, and UNCRD, donor organizations such as Asian Development Bank, GTZ and JICA, in order to promote the 3R policies and measures. This Forum aims to identify the priorities through formulation of national 3R strategy in each country and to implement the program by mobilizing external resources. The second meeting will be hosted by Malaysian government in October this year, and is expected to contribute to prioritizing 3R policy in Asian regions.
As a contribution to CSD process, Japan hosted an inter-sessional meeting of CSD 18, namely the International Consultative Meeting on Expanding Waste Management Services in Developing Countries co-organized by the UN/DESA and UNCRD. Experts and representatives of various entities including international organizations and government representatives worldwide actively participated in this meeting. The conference materials have been distributed to everyone here, and we hope that you will find useful information and knowledge. The Government of Japan will hold a side event on Friday afternoon, May 14. Taking this opportunity, I would like to invite all of you to attend the event.
In addition, Japan will also host another inter-sessional meeting toward CSD19 in January next year. I hope that many participants from around the world will join us to produce a constructive input to the CSD19 next year.
Second, I would like to touch upon chemical management policy.
Japan has been developing our policy step-by-step basis, from hazard-based approach to risk-based one. We would like to suggest that countries which are going to formulate chemical policy could start from the legislation based on hazard level assessment.
Japan experienced Minamata disease caused by methyl mercury, Japan determined to actively contribute to ongoing negotiation on international convention to prevent mercury pollution. Therefore, it is our desire to name the
forthcoming treaty ?Minamata Convention?. Japan pledges to take actions against mercury pollution. Japan would like to share our experiences, policies and technologies with other countries, and make utmost efforts to strengthen international mercury management.
Finally, I would like to stress that SAICM should be the framework for countries to review the progress and work to overcome their challenges on chemicals management. Japan supports and promotes SAICM by actively serving as an ICCM bureau member.
Thank you for your attention.
First, I would like to discuss waste management. Japan is putting higher priority on 3R policy, as you know Reduce, Reuse, Recycle of wastes for minimizing waste discharge and maximizing resource efficiency.
For this purpose, based on Polluter-Pays Principle and Extended Producer Responsibility, we need to establish laws and regulations, and social rules which clearly identify the responsibility and cost sharing among stakeholders for waste disposal and recycling. At the same time, institutional mechanisms for law enforcement are necessary.
In Japan, Municipalities have primary responsibility for collection, treatment and disposal of household wastes and moderate subsidy program from central government is available for building facilities and infrastructures.
Our system is depending upon citizens and general public on source separation and minimizing waste discharge. Municipalities have been conducting public awareness raising and environmental education programs throughout the country.
With regard to international cooperation, Japan launched the Regional 3R
Forum in Asia in last year with 15 governments in east Asia and UN organizations including UN/DESA, UNEP, and UNCRD, donor organizations such as Asian Development Bank, GTZ and JICA, in order to promote the 3R policies and measures. This Forum aims to identify the priorities through formulation of national 3R strategy in each country and to implement the program by mobilizing external resources. The second meeting will be hosted by Malaysian government in October this year, and is expected to contribute to prioritizing 3R policy in Asian regions.
As a contribution to CSD process, Japan hosted an inter-sessional meeting of CSD 18, namely the International Consultative Meeting on Expanding Waste Management Services in Developing Countries co-organized by the UN/DESA and UNCRD. Experts and representatives of various entities including international organizations and government representatives worldwide actively participated in this meeting. The conference materials have been distributed to everyone here, and we hope that you will find useful information and knowledge. The Government of Japan will hold a side event on Friday afternoon, May 14. Taking this opportunity, I would like to invite all of you to attend the event.
In addition, Japan will also host another inter-sessional meeting toward CSD19 in January next year. I hope that many participants from around the world will join us to produce a constructive input to the CSD19 next year.
Second, I would like to touch upon chemical management policy.
Japan has been developing our policy step-by-step basis, from hazard-based approach to risk-based one. We would like to suggest that countries which are going to formulate chemical policy could start from the legislation based on hazard level assessment.
Japan experienced Minamata disease caused by methyl mercury, Japan determined to actively contribute to ongoing negotiation on international convention to prevent mercury pollution. Therefore, it is our desire to name the
forthcoming treaty ?Minamata Convention?. Japan pledges to take actions against mercury pollution. Japan would like to share our experiences, policies and technologies with other countries, and make utmost efforts to strengthen international mercury management.
Finally, I would like to stress that SAICM should be the framework for countries to review the progress and work to overcome their challenges on chemicals management. Japan supports and promotes SAICM by actively serving as an ICCM bureau member.
Thank you for your attention.
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