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The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Global Summit)
will be held m Brazil m June 1992 This Conference is scheduled to adopt "the
Framework Convention on Climate Change" (Provisional name), which is an international
effort for the prevention of global warming, and is raising international interest
in environmental problems. Japan's MOT is playing an important role in dealing
with areas including global warming, destruction of the ozone layer, acid rain
and sea pollution.
The MOT is implementing the policies listed below based on its "Action Program
to arrest of Global Warming" which received Cabinet approval in October 1990.
(1) Extending and strengthening systems for observation, supervision and forecast
of environmental conditions centered on the Maritime Safety Agency and the Meteorological
Agency
(2) Policies for the control and reduction of C02 exhaust from traffic by
raising the cost of fuel for cars and promoting the introduction of diesel and
electric hybrid cars
(3) Establishing a transport system which produces less C02 exhaust through
undertaking a modal shift, increasing distribution efficiency through expanding
the use of trunks of common carriers, and establishing public transport facilities.
(4) To forecast the effect that can be expected from arise in the sea level
and establishing countermeasures for prevention of related disasters
There is urgent need, on the other hand, for international emergency prevention
measures for accidents causing pollution, such as massive oil spills from tankers.
In November 1990 the IMO adopted the "International Convention on Oil Pollution
Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990" (Provisional name) as a system
for international cooperation to deal with massive oil spills. The MOT is in
the process of implementing measures domestically fitting with their participation
in this Agreement.
The MOT is also implementing the OSPAR Plan as part of its pollution control
activities. The Plan provides for active cooperation with ASEAN countries with
coastlines fronting Japan's major oil routes to deal with massive oil spills
in the area. In FY1991 the MOT undertook a research survey into concrete measures
to implement a system for international cooperation to deal with oil spills,
and participated in the OSPAR Cooperation Conference held in Manila.
Japan has a record of full cooperation when environmental pollution problems
arise. When oil spills occurred in the Persian Gulf during the Rersian Gulf
Crisis, Japan contributed oil fences and dispatched personnel from its Maritime
Safety Agency and Meteorological Agency. Since then it has continued its support
in line with requests from gulf countries.
Regulations controlling exhaust gases such as Nox from simple substances
have been further tightened. This is a countermeasure to control environmental
pollution caused by from traffic.
Comprehensive policies are being implemented in the transport sector for
the introduction of low-pollutant vehicles such as methanol cars, replacement
of cars presently in use with cars satisfying new regulations, and shifting
from using private cars to commercial vehicles.
The distribution system is being rationalized, a modal shift implemented
and public transport facilities established. Measures are also being considered
for a high degree of switch over to low-pollutant vehicles in large urban areas
where pollution is particularly bad.
Policies are also being implemented to control pollution including noise
from cars, noise and vibrations from Shinkansen trains, and aircraft, at the
source and in the surrounding environment.
Japan is developing its policies from a comprehensive perspective of "cleaning-up"
the environment. It is implementing measures in line with international trends
to prevent pollution of the oceans and has strengthened its regulations beyond
former levels to limit discharge from ships, and further strengthened its supervision
and control capacity. (Fig51)
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