Japan
Memo for May 4, TWG, CSD 14 Japan
Promoting Industrial development and sustainable natural resource management
through sustainable consumption and production patterns
===
Japan is a country with limited natural resources, so that we deeply rely on imported
fossil fuels. Therefore high crude oil price has made us to develop energy efficient
industry and to seek for sustainable consumption and production patterns.
One of our barriers and obstacles we are facing is our lifestyles.
Only a few hundreds years ago, we had a sound material cycle society in Japan. In the
course of our economic development, our lifestyles have changed into mass-producing,
mass-consuming, mass-disposing one like other developed c ountries. We are now
working hard to re-realize the sound material cycle society.
Let me touch on our good practices to share participants in this room.
In addition to the Top runner program, which Dr. Weizsaecker mentioned, Japan
advocates the 3R Initiative, which aims to establish a sound material-cycle society
through efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle wastes. This contributes to the Marakesh
process previously mentioned by distinguished delegate from Austria. Promotion of the
3Rs contributes to promotion of industrial development and reductions in both natural
resource consumption and other adverse environmental impacts.
As a part of 3R promotion and industrial development, we have published guidelines for
waste treatment and recycling, by product categories or sectors of business entities
since 1990.
The guideline aims to encourage business entities to take voluntary measures for the
proper waste treatment and recycling. It has been revised biannually, and latest
guideline published in 2005 covers 35 categories and 18 sectors of business entities that
emit 70% of general wastes. This guideline includes quantitative targets such as
recovery rate of glass bottles and PET bottles.
These guidelines have promoted voluntary actions by business entities. For example,
the recycling rate of steel cans reached 87% in 2004, and that of aluminum cans reached
86%. Both recycling rates are the world?s highest levels.
Before concluding my intervention, let me also add that we h ave been actively
addressing technology transfer and capacity building for promoting 3Rs in developing
countries. We have been cooperating with International Organizations including ADB
UNCRD and UNEP on this issue. By the end of this year, we are planning to convene a
regional meeting in Japan, to promote 3Rs in Asia-Pacific region.
We underline the importance of sharing good practices, not to repeat faults we have
experienced.
Promoting Industrial development and sustainable natural resource management
through sustainable consumption and production patterns
===
Japan is a country with limited natural resources, so that we deeply rely on imported
fossil fuels. Therefore high crude oil price has made us to develop energy efficient
industry and to seek for sustainable consumption and production patterns.
One of our barriers and obstacles we are facing is our lifestyles.
Only a few hundreds years ago, we had a sound material cycle society in Japan. In the
course of our economic development, our lifestyles have changed into mass-producing,
mass-consuming, mass-disposing one like other developed c ountries. We are now
working hard to re-realize the sound material cycle society.
Let me touch on our good practices to share participants in this room.
In addition to the Top runner program, which Dr. Weizsaecker mentioned, Japan
advocates the 3R Initiative, which aims to establish a sound material-cycle society
through efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle wastes. This contributes to the Marakesh
process previously mentioned by distinguished delegate from Austria. Promotion of the
3Rs contributes to promotion of industrial development and reductions in both natural
resource consumption and other adverse environmental impacts.
As a part of 3R promotion and industrial development, we have published guidelines for
waste treatment and recycling, by product categories or sectors of business entities
since 1990.
The guideline aims to encourage business entities to take voluntary measures for the
proper waste treatment and recycling. It has been revised biannually, and latest
guideline published in 2005 covers 35 categories and 18 sectors of business entities that
emit 70% of general wastes. This guideline includes quantitative targets such as
recovery rate of glass bottles and PET bottles.
These guidelines have promoted voluntary actions by business entities. For example,
the recycling rate of steel cans reached 87% in 2004, and that of aluminum cans reached
86%. Both recycling rates are the world?s highest levels.
Before concluding my intervention, let me also add that we h ave been actively
addressing technology transfer and capacity building for promoting 3Rs in developing
countries. We have been cooperating with International Organizations including ADB
UNCRD and UNEP on this issue. By the end of this year, we are planning to convene a
regional meeting in Japan, to promote 3Rs in Asia-Pacific region.
We underline the importance of sharing good practices, not to repeat faults we have
experienced.
Stakeholders