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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