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Environment

Japan has seen numerous advances in environmental protection over the past four decades. Along with the rapid economic growth in the 1960’s, the public became more aware of the environmental conservation and placement issues. The Japanese government and industrial circles were wrestling with these problems. Before 1974, the following main national laws were enforced.
  • Air-Pollution Control Law, 1963
  • Noise Regulation Law, 1963
  • Basic Law on Countermeasures for Environmental Disruptions, 1967
  • Basic Environment Law (amended), 1970
The Environmental Agency (now the Ministry of Environmental Affairs) was established in 1971.

The oil shocks in the 1970s forced Japan to streamline heavy industrial production and to reorient its economy toward less energy intensive industries. Today, Japan is one of the leading countries in the development and implementation of pollution control and energy efficiency technologies. Japan committed to reducing its total carbon emissions under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

Renewable Energy

The long-term energy plan of METI calls for a threefold increase in the use of renewable energy sources, including solar and wind energy, by 2010, though a "Green Credit System" designed to give electricity producers incentives to purchase renewable energy by providing financial assistance to businesses. In 1999, Japan added 43.4 MW wind capacity, increasing its total to 83 MW. The government has set a target to increase its total to 3,000 MW by 2010.

The government also set targets to increase solar photovoltaic power to 4,820 MW by 2010 from its 1999 level of 209 MW (the world’s largest) and to increase power generated from waste to 4,107 MW from the 1999 level of 900 MW. As a volcanic island country, Japan has significant potential for geothermal electricity generation. The country currently has 533 MW of installed capacity. However, potential sites are difficult to develop, because almost all sites are located in National Parks.

Self-sufficiency and fuel diversification

Japan is heavily dependent on imported oil. The government is placing increased emphasis on diversifying its energy supply. In addition to nuclear power, Japan is looking to increase its share of wind, hydro and other carbon-free, non-polluting renewable energy sources.

Fossil fuels still account for around 80 percent of Japan's energy consumption. Japan maintains a strong commitment to the use of nuclear power. Additionally, Japan plans to build facilities to reprocess spent nuclear fuel and use the plutonium as fuel for fast breeder reactors. The mixed plutonium and uranium oxide fuel program is seen as the sole option for light water reactors (boiling water reactors and pressurized water reactors).
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Energy Security Section, Environment and Development Division,
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific