Japanese technological response to global environmental problems
The Institute of Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS), part of the Commission's Joint Research Centre has published the second edition of a study on "The Japanese technological response to global environmental problems". The first edition resulted from a study mission to Japan in 1991, and was part of the Commission's preparations for the Rio Conference in 1992. The second edition takes account of rapid progress in the field in the past five years, and is published in view of the Kyoto conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention, taking place in December 1997. A second study mission to Japan in late 1996 forms the basis of the report. The report looks at the Japanese national strategy for tackling environmental problems, and takes note of Japanese success in reducing SOx pollution in the 1970s. In particular, Japanese strategies for reducing CO2 emissions are considered, with government-funded science and technology programmes examined. The author concludes that Japan is willing to take the lead in the technological response to global environmental problems, and expects this position to become clearer at the Kyoto conference.
Countries
Japan