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THE BASIC ENVIRONMENT PLAN
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THE BASIC ENVIRONMENT PLAN
(Cabinet Decision)
GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN
The Basic Environment Plan was established by the Cabinet decision on
December 16, 1994, as a long-term comprehensive national plan for
environmental conservation, in accordance with the Article 15 of the
Basic Environment Law (Law No. 91, 1993).
This English translation is preliminary, being prepared to enhance
public awareness on future directions of Japanese environmental policy.
Any reader who seeks to understand formal policy and measures of
Japanese Government should refer to the Japanese original text which is
published by the Governmental Printing Office of the Ministry of Finance
("Kankyo Kihon Keikaku", ISBN4-17-155602-3) .
This translation and publication was sponsored by the Global
Environmental Forum, and the translation was undertaken by the Japan
Center of International and Comparative Environmental Law. The
Environment Agency is grateful for the assistance and efforts of these
organizations and the members of the working group : Mr. Tadashi OHTSUKA
(Professor of Law, Gakushuin University), Dr. Mineo KATO (Associate
Professor, Faculty of Economics, Yokohama National University), Mr.
Yumihiko MATUMURA (Associate Professor, Kyorin University), Mr. Michael
DUNN (Research Student, Faculty of Law, the University of Tokyo) and Mr.
Louis J. ROSS(Research Student, Faculty of Law, the University of Tokyo).
Copies of this English text can be purchased by mail order at :
Global Environmental Forum
1-9-7 Azabudai, Minatoku, Tokyo 106, JAPAN
Any inquiries regarding the Plan should be forwarded to :
Strategic Environmental Planning Division, the Environment Agency
1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyodaku, Tokyo 100, JAPAN
Table of Contents
FOREWORD 1
Part I. BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PLAN 2
Section 1. Trends in Environmental Problems 2
1. Changing environmental problems
2. Future trends in environmental problems
3. Characteristics of future environmental problems
Section 2. Growing Awareness and Activities 5
1. International community
2. Activities in the nation
Section 3. Significance of the Plan 6
Part II. PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY 7
Section 1. Basic Concepts 7
Section 2. Long-Term Objectives 7
1. Desired relationship between people and the environment
2. Long-term objectives
2.1. Environmentally sound material cycle
2.2. Harmonious coexistence
2.3. Participation
2.4. International activities
Section 3. Developing Comprehensive Indicators 8
Part III. FUTURE POLICY ON ENVIRONMENRAL CONSERVATION 10
Chapter 1. Building a Socioeconomic System Fostering Environmentally
Sound Material Cycle 11
Section 1. Conserving the Atmosphere 11
1. Conserving the global atmosphere
2. Preventing broadly spreading air pollution
3. Preventing urban air pollution
4. Measures on toxic substances
5. Improving living environment
6. Establishing a system for monitoring the atmosphere
Section 2. Conserving the Water Environment 18
1. Environmentally sound water circulation
2. Reducing environmental load at each stage of water use
3. Conserving the environment in closed water system
4. Conserving the marine environment
5. Establishing a system for monitoring the water environment
Section 3. Conserving the Soil and Ground Environment 22
1. Safety of the soil environment
2. Conserving the ground environment
Section 4. Policies on Waste and Recycling 24
1. Reducing waste generation
2. Promoting recycling
3. Promoting proper waste disposal
Section 5. Policies on Environmental Risks of Chemicals 26
Section 6. Environmental Consideration in Technological Development
etc. 27
Chapter 2. Harmonious Coexistence Between Nature and Humankind
Section 1. Coexistence compatible with the region's natural/social
characteristics 29
1. Mountainous areas
2. Countryside areas
3. Areas with high human impact
4. Coastal seas
Section 2. Conserving Biodiversity 33
Section 3. Securing and Utilizing the Blessings of a Sound
Environment 33
1. Various efforts in regional planning
2. Responsible utilization of nature
Chapter 3. Participation by All Sectors of Society Sharing Fair Burden
35
Section 1. Role of Each Sector 35
1. The State
2. Local governments
3. Corporations
4. People
5. Private organizations
Section 2. Promoting voluntary actions by each participant 38
1. Promoting environmental education and learning
2. Promotion of specific activities to conserve the environment
3. Providing information
Section 3. Setting an Example by Government Action 39
Section 4. Efforts in Major Socioeconomic Sectors 40
1. Production, marketing, consumption and disposal of goods
2. Energy supply and consumption
3. Transportation and traffic
4. Others
Chapter 4. Measures Forming the Basis of Environmental Policy 45
Section 1. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 45
Section 2. Regulatory Measures 45
Section 3. Economic Measures 46
Section 4. Environmental Infrastructure Improvement 47
Section 5. Scientific Research, Monitoring/Observation and
Environmental Technology 47
Section 6. Providing and Maintaining Environmental Information
49
Section 7. Regional Pollution Abatement Programs 50
Section 8. Environmental Health, Pollution Disputes, etc. 51
Chapter 5. Promoting International Activities 53
Section 1. Promoting International Cooperation for Global
Conservation 53
1. Securing international coordination of policy
2. Conserving the environment in developing regions
3. Conserving internationally valuable environments
4. Strengthening the domestic foundation to promote cooperation
55
Section 2. International Cooperation in Research, Observation and
Monitoring 55
Section 3. Encouraging Activities by Local Governments and Private
Sector 55
Section 4. Environmental Consideration in International Cooperation
55
Section 5. Efforts Based on International Agreements 55
Part IV. EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN 57
Section 1. Implementation Scheme and Society-Wide Cooperation 57
Section 2. Setting Specific Goals 57
Section 3. Financial and Other Measures 57
Section 4. Plan Coordination 57
Section 5. Follow-up of Progress and Review of the Plan 58
Appendices 59
FOREWORD
Humankind can enjoy healthy and cultured living, depending on the
abundant blessings of the Earth's environment. Recently, however, it is
becoming a common recognition that the global environment, the very
basis of humankind's continued existence, is at risk of being damaged.
There is a growing need to reconsider our values placing too much
emphasis on the pursuit of material wealth, and the prevailing
socioeconomic activities and lifestyles marked by mass-production, mass-
consumption, and mass-disposal. It is the present generation's
obligation to pass on to the future generations a well conserved and
healthy environment, both globally and domestically. This obligation
applies to all humankind. As for Japan, we must change our society to a
sustainable one that generates little burden on the environment, while
at the same time promoting international activities for conserving the
global environment.
Based on these considerations, the Government hereby establishes the
Basic Environment Plan, in accordance with the provision of Article 15
of the Basic Environmental Law (Law No. 91, 1993).
The Basic Environment Plan prescribes four long-term objectives. These
are 1) to build a socioeconomic system fostering environmentally sound
material cycle, where environmental load by human activities are
minimized, 2) to secure a harmonious coexistence between humankind and
diverse wildlife and natural environment, 3) to enhance participation of
all the members of society in environmental conservation activities, and
4) to enhance their international activities. The Plan also provides
for the outline of policies, roles of each sector of society, and the
direction for implementing various policy instruments, toward the
achievement of these objectives.
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