Transition of environmental problems of Japan

Year	Social economy and science and technology	Environment status and international movement	Environmental measures of Japan
Highgrowth period when industrial pollution was generated (1st stage, around 1960's to 1972)	1955	- The "Economic White Paper" declared "it is no longer a post-war" material (1956) - Joined the United Nations. (1956) - Opening of metropolitan expressway (1959)	-Itai Itai disease was detected (Jinzu River basin). (1955) - Minamata disease was detected. (1956) - Protest against factory effluent by the Tokyo Bay fishermen. (1958)	-Memorandum was exchanged with the local factory (Shimane Prefecture). * First Pollution Control Agreement by the local public bodies (1952) - Smoke Control ordinance was established (Tokyo) (1955) - Natural Parks Law was established. (1957) - Law regarding water quality conservation of public basins and law regarding factory effluent were established. (1958) - Factory Location Law was established. (1959)
1960	- The Japan - U.S. Security Treaty was signed. (1960) - National income doubling plan (1960) - National total development plan (1962) - Joined OECD (1964) - Opening of Tokaido Shinkansen (1964) - Host the Tokyo Olympics. (1964)	-Iwaki economy (June 1958 to June 1961) - Olympic economy (June 1962 to October 1964)	-Law regarding smoke and soot emission control was established. (1962)
1965	- The population in Japan exceeded 100 million. (1966) - European Community (EC) was established. (1967) - Japan's GNP ranked the 2nd in the world. (1968) - The first human landed on the moon. (1969)	-Lime accumulation in Tagonaura, Shizuoka Prefecture (1960) Yokkaichi pollution became serious (asthma, etc.) - Smog was generated over one week. (Tokyo) (1962) - Rachel Carson, "Silent Spring" (1962) - The construction project of Mishima/Numazu industrial complex was canceled due to protest from the residents. (1964) - The second Minamata Disease was detected (Agano River basin). (1965)	-Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control was established. (1967) - Air Pollution Control Law and Noise Regulation Law were established. (1968)
1970	- Osaka EXPO was held. (1970) - Number of passenger vehicles owned exceeded 10 million. (1971) - The Okinawa Return Agreement was signed. (1972) - The "Plan for Remodeling the Japanese Archipelago" was announced. (1972) - Club of Roma "Limits to Growth" (1972)	-Niiigata Minamata Disease lawsuit and Yokkaichi pollution lawsuit (1967)	-Fourteen pollution related measures were established in the 64th Diet session. (1970) (Marine Pollution Prevention Law, Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law, Water Pollution Control Law, Law concerning Entrepreneurs' Bearing of the Cost of Public Pollution Control Works were established.) (1970) - The Environment Agency was established. (1971) - Construction of Oze automobile road was cancelled. (1971) - Nature Conservation Law was established. (1972)
Stablegrowth period when urban type pollution became noticeable (2nd stage, 1973 to middle of 1980's)	1973	- Changed to the floating exchange rate system. (1973) - 1st oil crisis caused by the 4th Middle East wars (1973) - 2nd oil crisis occurred (1979) - Three-Mile Island nuclear power plant accident occurred (USA) (1979)	-Photochemical smog damage frequently occurred in Tokyo. (1970) Serious air pollution by smoke, soot, and SOx occurred. Environmental pollution problem caused by PCB - The policy of imposing the responsibility on those who caused pollution was accepted by OECD. (1972) - Declaration on the Human Environment was accepted by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. (1972) - The World Environment Day (June 5) was decided by the UN General Meeting. (1972) - The UN Environment Plan (UNEP) was established. (1972)	-Law Concerning Special Measures for Conservation of the Environment of the Seto Inland Sea was established. (1973) - Chemical Substances Control Law was established. (1973) - Pollution-related Health Damage Compensation Law was established. (1973) - Notice of Japanese Version of Muskie Act (1974) - SOx emission control system was introduced. (1974) - Low Concerning the Rational Use of Energy was established. (1979) - Total pollutant load control of COD. (1979)
1980	- Number of Japan's automobile production reached No. 1 in the world. (1980) - Iran-Iraq War (1980) - The USA launched the first space shuttle. (1980)	-SOx environmental quality standard was almost accomplished. (1980) The occurrence of photochemical oxidants was decreasing. Ground subsidence expanded nationwide.	-NOx emission control system was introduced. (1981) - Law Concerning Special Measures for the Preservation of Lake Water Quality was established. (1984)
Period when global environmental problems were beginning to be recognized (3rd stage, from middle of 1980's)	1985	- Tsukuba Science EXPO was held. (1985) - Chernobyl nuclear power generation plant accident occurred. (1986) - The National Railways was divided and privatization was implemented. (1987) - World's share market collapsed (Black Monday). (1987) - The Seikan tunnel was opened and Seto Bridge was completed. (1988)	-An ozone hole was discovered above Antarctic. (1985) - Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was accepted. (1985) Continuously decrease in automobile traffic noise environmental quality standards accomplishment rate. Ground water pollution by trichloroethylene and so on spread more widely. The NOx environmental quality standard accomplishment rate (general bureau) deteriorated. - Our Common Future was announced (WCED). (1987) - The Montreal Protocol was accepted. (1987) - An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established. (1988) The household wastewater pollution problem became serious in the enclosed basins.	-Ozone Layer Protection Law was established. (1988)
1989	- Tokyo Stock exchange price average reached the highest in its history (38,915 yen) (1989) - Consumption tax (3%) was introduced. (1989) - The Berlin Wall collapsed. (Integration of East Germany and West Germany) (1989) - Gulf War (1991) - Soviet Union collapsed and CIS was established. (1991) - The five-day working week system became stable and schools started to introduce the system. (1992)	-Valdez oil leakage accident (1989) The agricultural chemical problem of golf courses became evident. Automobile air pollution in metropolitan areas became serious. The dioxin problem became evident. - Basel Convention was implemented. (1992) - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was accepted. (1992) - Acceptance of Biodiversity Convention (1992) - A Global Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro. (1992)	-Water Pollution Control Law was revised (prevention of groundwater pollution was regulated) (1989) - The global warming prevention activity plan was decided by the Cabinet (enacted in 1990) - Law for the Promotion of Utilization of Recyclable Resources. (enacted in 1991) - Automobile NOx Law was established. (1992) - Law for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was established. (1992) - The Government development aid principle was decided by the Cabinet. - "Environmental conservation" as the basic principle. (1992)
1993	- WTO was established. (1994) - The Product Liability Law (PL Law) was established. (1995) - Great Hanshin Earthquake (January), Underground Sarin incident (March) (1995) - The exchange rage of Japanese yen reached 1 dollar = 79 yen 75 sen (highest in the postwar history). (1995) - The consumption tax was increased to 5%. (1997) - Hong Kong was returned to China. (1997)	Pressure in the final landfill site - "Global Warming has already started" IPCC Secondary assessment report (1995) - Convention on Prevention of Desertification was accepted. (1996) - Nakhodka Oil Spill accident (1997) - Kyoto Protocol was accepted (COP3) and an emissions reduction commitment was set. (1997)	-Basic Environment Law was established. (1993) - The environment basic plan was decided by the Cabinet. (1994) - Law for Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging. (enacted in 1995) - Keidanren Environment Appeal - declaration of Voluntary Action of business community (1996) - Environmental Impact Assessment Law was established. (1997)
1998	- Single currency "Euro" was launched. (1999) - Number of people who are without jobs reached 3 million. (1999) - Reorganization of the central government ministries (2001) - Simultaneous terrorism occurred in the USA. (2001)	-Rotterdam Convention on PIC was adopted. (1998) - Tokorozawa Dioxin vegetable problem (1999) - "Climate change 2001" IPCC 3rd Assessment Report (2001) - Stockholm Convention on POPs was adopted. (2001) - COP7 (Marrakesh Agreement) (2001)	-Law for Recycling of Specified Kinds of Home Appliances was established. (1998) - Global Warming Measure Promotion Law was established. (1998) - Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy was revised (introduction of top runner method, and so on). (1998) - Law Concerning Reporting, etc. of Releases to the Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in Their Management was established (PRTR Law). (1999) - Law on Promoting Green Purchasing was established. (2000) - Basic Law for Establishing the Recycling-Based Society (enacted in 2000) - Food Recycling Law. (enacted in 2000) - Construction Materials Recycling Act (enacted in 2000) - New environment basic plan was decided by the Cabinet. (2000) - Fluorocarbons Recovery and Destruction Law was established. (2001) - Law Concerning Special Measure against PCB waste (enacted in 2001) - Automobile NOx Law was revised (PM was added). (2001)

Presentation: Prepared by the Ministry of the Environment