Post on 18-Dec-2015
Yasuhiro KANDA Director
Hyogo Prefectural Institute of Environmental Sciences Hyogo Environmental Advancement Association
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Environmental Policies in JapanPart 1: History
Serbia Webinar: October 16, 2014
ContentsPart1. History of Environmental Pollution and Environmental Policies - Transition of Environmental Issues - Four Major Environmental Pollution Diseases - Pollution Diet, etc.
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Part2. Present Environmental Status and Environmental Policies - Global Warming - Biological Diversity - 3 R ( Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) - Environmental Pollution, etc.
Transition of Environmental Issues1868 The Meiji Restoration Modernization Policy of increasing wealth and military power
1940-45 World War Ⅱ War-damaged Reconstruction
1955-73 Rapid Economic Growth 1970 EXPO’70, Pollution Diet
1992 The Earth Summit
2011 Fukushima Nuclear Accident
Industrial PollutionMining Industry,
Heavy & ChemicalIndustries
Urban/Lifestyle related Pollution
Automobile, Wastewater from households, Waste
Global Environmental Change, Sustainability
Industrial PollutionPetroleum Complex
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Expanding Environmental Issues
Industrial Pollution
7 types of pollution:Air, Water, Soil
Noise, Vibration, Odor,Ground subsidence
Waste, Wastewater from Household
Global Warming, Biological Diversity, Radioactivity
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1880s Mining Industry Pollution
Besshi Copper Mine
Ashio Copper Mine
Photo: Wikipedia
Air pollutionWater pollutionSoil pollutionFloodHealth disturbanceAgricultural product damage etc.
SOx
Cu, Pb, SO4
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Ashio Copper Mine Pollution Case: Origin of Environmental Pollution
After WW (1945-)ⅡIndustrialization and Four Major Pollution Diseases
Hanshin (Osaka-Kobe)
Chukyo (Nagoya)
Keihin (Tokyo-Yokohama)
3 Big Industrial Zones
Comprehensive National Development Plan ( Growth Pole Strategy ): 15 cities designated in 1962 5 zones designated in 1964
Photo: Amagasaki 21st century forest
Yokkaichi Asthma(Petro-complex)
Minamata Disease
Itai-Itai Disease
Niigata-Minamata Disease
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Minamata Disease
1932 Chisso started acetaldehyde production.
1956 The discovery of an “ unknown disease” was reported to a public health office.
1968.5 Chisso stopped acetaldehyde production.
1968.9 Government issued a unified view that the cause of the disease is methyl mercury contained in wastewater from the factory.
1969 Lawsuit for damages was filed against Chisso.
Pollution continued for 36 years.
Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by methyl mercury. It took years to identify the cause.
Photo: Minamata Disease Municipal Museum
Food chainBioaccumulation
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Yokkaichi AsthmaSulfur oxide from a petrochemical complex caused severe smog, resulting in severe cases of bronchial asthma among the local inhabitants.
Photo: Yokkaichi City
1959 The 1st complex area started full operation.
1960.3 Notice on stinking fish1960.8 City of Yokkaichi set a committee on environmental pollution.1960.12 Mie prefecture set a committee on water pollution.
1967 Lawsuit for damages was filed against 6 companies.
The first lawsuit on air pollution.
1961 Community association conducted a questionnaire survey and proposed a medical aid system to City of Yokkaichi.
1963 A group of fisherman rose in a riot.
1964 Became a designated area of the smoke and soot law
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Pollution Diet in 1970In 1970, - EXPO’70 was held in Osaka - Photochemical smog victims emerged in Tokyo - National Diet (special legislative session) was held At the Diet Session,-14 Laws were enacted.
- Article on “Coordination between Economy and Environment” was deleted.
6 Laws newly enacted: Water Pollution Control Law, Waste Management Law, etc. 8 Laws revised: Basic Law for Environmental Pollution, Air Pollution Control Law, Noise regulation Law, etc.
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In 1971, Environmental Agency was established.
Photo: Wiki
The Four Lawsuits around 1970
However, regarding the Minamata disease lawsuits are continuing for certification of the disease.
- Victims won the four lawsuits.- Japanese society changed to accept strict environmental regulation and standards, and to create a compensation system.
MinamataDisease
Niigata-Minamata
Itai-Itai Disease
YokkaichiAsthma
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
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Trends of Environmental Quality 19
65
1970
1975
1970
1975
1969
1975
1978
1971
1968
1978
1978
1978
NO2
15 stations average
SO2
15 stations average
CO 2 stations average
Non-conformance rate of hazardous materials in water
BOD 5 small river
average
BOD 6 big river average
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Source: MOEJ Whitepaper
New Comprehensive National Development Plan 1969-
current status
7 block development plan
integrated national land
arterial road construction plan
“Plan for Remodeling the Japanese Archipelago 1972” accelerated the development.
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Large Scale Development Projects were promoted.
Conflicts between Public Transportation and the Environment
Road
Airport
Shinkansen Super Express
Photo: Wikipedia
Photo: Wikipedia
Photo: Hyogo pref.
NOxPM
Noise,Vibration
Route 43 Lawsuits 1976-1995Compensation was accepted,but injunction was not accepted.
Osaka Int’l Airport Lawsuits 1969-1981, Agreement in 1984
Nagoya Shinkansen Lawsuits 1974-1985, Agreement in 1986
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Towards Preventive MeasuresEnvironmental Impact Assessment: EIA
project proponents must conduct preliminary surveys, forecasts, and evaluations on the potential environmental impact of the projects,
Before the commencement of large-scale development projects such as the construction of roads, airports and power plants,
and consult with local governments and citizens, etc. to obtain their opinions upon the assessment results.
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History of EIA1963-64 Citizens movement against Mishima- Numazu Petrochemical Complex plan. (Discussions over both sides’ EIA reports)
1972 Cabinet admission on EIA Each ministry in each way. Transport Ministry: road, airport, port Construction Ministry: landfill, dam Industry Ministry: power station, etc. (1973 Oil Shock, 1979 Second Oil Shock)
1984 Cabinet decision on EIA (1992 Earth Summit, 1993 Basic Environment Law)
1997 EIA Law enacted2011 EIA Law (Revised to add SEA process, etc.)
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Critics say EIA is a pardoner oran excuse.
Strong opposition blocked legislation.
Major Events around 1992
1988 Ozone Layer Protection Law
1992 Automobile NOx Law
1992 Earth Summit (UNCED in Rio de Janeiro) Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda
21, Conventions on GHG, Bio-diversity
1988 Brundtland Commission “Our Common Future” Concept of “Sustainable
Development”
1993 Basic Environment Law (1967 Basic Law abolished)
1994 Basic Environment Plan
1988 Amagasaki Action on the Air
Pollution 1988 PCB high-temperature pyrolysis
1990 EMECS Conference (Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas)
1994 International EMECS Center
Hyogo TrendsInternational/National Trends
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Environmental Management System
In 1996, the International Organization for Standardization published the first edition of ISO 14001, the environmental management systems standard.
In Japan, EA 21 is disseminated to SMEs.
Plan
Do Check
Action
ContinuousImprovement EMS as a business
strategy along with Quality Management System ISO9001
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Information Disclosure of Companies:Environmental Report (CSR Report)
Input (Material, Energy)
Environmental Load
CompanyA
CompanyB
CompanyC
CompanyA
Consumer
Investor, Shareholder
Worker
Bank
Securities Co.
Grading OrganizationGovernment
Institutional Investor
NGO/NPO
Stakeholders
Value Chain
Pro
duct
/Ser
vice
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Information Disclosure of Companies:PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register)
Risk Communication
CitizensCompanies
Governments
How many tons of chemicals -Released to Air, Water, Soil-Transferred to Sewage, Disposal siteper year.
Chemical risk is evaluated by Hazard X Exposure Dose
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Source: MOEJ
Major Events around 2000
2001 Environment Agency becomes the Ministry of the Environment
1999 Dioxin Law
2000 Fundamental Law for Establishing a Sound Material Cycle Society (2003 Fundamental Plan)
2003 Environmental Education Law
1999 APN Center in Kobe (Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research)
2001 IGES Kansai Research Center (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies)
2003 Hyogo Eco-town Plan
Hyogo TrendsInternational/National Trends
1999 PRTR Law
2005 Kyoto Protocol comes into effect. Kyoto Target Achievement
Plan
2001 POPs Convention
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2011 Great East Japan Earthquake
Environment and Disaster Management-Rubble treatment-Environmental monitoring (asbestos, PCB, etc.)
Radioactive material-Basic Environment Law, etc. were revised to include radioactive material.
Photo: WikipediaPhoto: MOEJ
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Conclusions 22
1. Environmental problems change according to the contents of economic development.
2. Environmental issues have expanded, which makes us deal with the issues “wide and shallow.”
3. Before environmental damage prevail, countermeasures should be taken as early as possible.
4. “Coordination between Environment and Economy” needs to be carefully examined.
5. “Regulatory measure” works effectively when polluter is identified.
6. Information disclosure is effective to change the attitudes of companies.
7. Japan has experienced environmental problems one by one, which made it possible to have time to deal with the problems.
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