Problem overview:

     Awareness and visions: In this example, the government of Japan realizes that with the magnitude of its economic growth, certain environmental protection policies are needed in order to assure efficient use of the countrys natural resources.

     Policies and measures: Following a sound vision, there needs to be an establishment of policy measures that will support the vision. What Japan has done is to integrate environmental considerations into economic policy thinking.

Background in summary:

     Environmental degradation from economic expansion: In Japan, during the period of rapid economic expansion environmental degradation became a major problem. It can be seen, in retrospect, that the problems arose from the lack of integration of environmental considerations into the development process.

     Various policy measures on conservation have been promoted: In recent years, a wide range of measures and activities have been promoted by the government in an effort to conserve the environment, such as measures concerning nitrogen oxides emitted by automobiles, household waste water and protection of wildlife, as well as programmes for environmental education.

     Enactment of the Basic Environmental Law: The Basic Environmental Law was enacted in 1993. The law aims at coping with a broad range of environmental problems of today, as well as implementing the outcome of UNCED. The law provides for new basic principles for environmental conservation and various policy measures. The government also adopted the National Action Plan for Agenda 21 at the end of 1993.

     Objectives of the Basic Environmental Plan: On 16 December 1994, the country adopted the Basic Environmental Plan. The plan would operationalise the realisation of the basic principles and measures provided in the Basic Environmental Law. It has long-term objectives, which ensure that

1. Human activities interfering with nature's cycle are minimized
   
   
2. People and nature coexist in harmony
   
   
3. Every one participates in environmental conservation, and
   
   
4. International activities are promoted.

     Development of indicators as criteria for progress evaluation: The Plan advocates the development of comprehensive indicators to monitor the progress of its objectives and to ensure effective implementation of the measures. It is hoped that the implementation of the Basic Environmental Plan will assist Japan in attaining development paths, which will be truly sustainable from both environmental and economic angles.

Peer Review Committee Good practice rating: (1 for the best, 5 for the lowest score)
Sustainability		Efficiency
2	Improvement in either the environment of economic condition with no harm to the other.	-	Cost efficient.
2	Sustainable over time (not one-off)	Process
Adaptability		-	Participation of the community
3	Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?)	-	Participation of resource owners/users
3	Socio-cultural adaptability.	2	Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private)
2	Level of development adaptability.	2	Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments.
2	Style of government adaptability.	2	Ability to attract political interest/support
2	Degree of decentralization adaptability.	2	Procedures for feedback and review.
Comments on this example:   Sustainability of the project:      Awareness and visions: Development has brought along environmental deterioration for every country in the World. Economic tools/instruments to manage and control environmental damages are being adopted worldwide to counter with environmental problems. The selection of which economic instrument/tool to utilize depends on factors, such as level of economic development, cultural background, style of government, etc., of each country. Adaptability of the project to other situations:       This is a prime example of the application of the principles of Agenda 21. Process of decision making and implementation:      Policies and measures: One of Japans policies is the 'Polluters Pay Principle' or 'PPP', where the polluters and consumers are responsible for bearing the cost of pollution abatement. However, this policy will work well only if polluters were rich enough to afford or capable of paying the charges. For developing countries where many producers are still subsidized by the government, the PPP will not work as well as in Japan because the producers are unable and unwilling to pay the charges. The government has not much bargaining power since the countrys development level depends on these production industries. Cost efficiency: