From the mid-1970's to mid-1980's, the economy shifted from rapid growth to stable growth due to the oil crisis (2nd period) that hit twice and in the industrial sector, energy conservation has progressed, although the energy consumption increased in the household sector and the transportation sector. Pollution problems caused by industrial activities started to converge as a result of pollution prevention agreements made by municipalities and effects of rules and regulations of the country, and measures taken by enterprises. For instance, sulfur oxide measures regarding air pollution showed their distinguished effects. However, during this period, urban life type pollutions associated with daily living and normal business activities have become problems due to con-

Emissions of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides (fixed source)

Presentation: Prepared by the Ministry of the Environment

The concentration of population in metropolitan areas, air pollution caused by automobile exhaust as a result of the circulation of automobiles caused by increase of income, and water pollution caused by sewage.

In and after the middle of 1980's (3rd period), imports of not only raw materials but all the products increased and at the same time, production of high energy consumption type industries such as chemicals and pulp increased due to the price drop of crude oil. In Japan, population concentration in Tokyo accelerated and consumer spending increased due to the bubble economy. However, after the bursting of the bubble economy, Japan faced a long-term economic recession and consumption stagnation. Since the framework of environmental measures had already been constructed during the expansion period of rapid economic growth, industrial pollutions were not repeated. However, urban life type pollutions started to prevail, causing new environmental problems such as waste and recycling problems. During this period, problems of endocrine disrupters (so-called environmental hormone) were detected, many of whose scientific characteristics including toxicity are still unknown.

### 3. Lessons from the past examples

Turning our attention to the world’s situation, in regions with the most fragile environment in the world there are some cases where destruction of the ecosystem is imposing serious influences on the social economy. Among them are examples of Aral Sea, whose size was reduced to one third and India and China, whose underground water levels are dropping sharply. Examples of the Sumer Civilization and Easter Island Civilization indicate that a civilization is ruined when the environment is degraded to an unrecoverable state. The natural environment exists in a delicate balance and we must examine the significance of the influence on the environment by continuation of such economic activities, considering these examples.

### 2. Socio Economic System and Environmental Efficiency

### 1. Sustainability and eco-efficiency

Various ideas were submitted regarding the ideal relationship between the socio-economic system and the natural environment while our socio-economic activities are consuming resources of the Earth gradually, and environmental pollution exceeding the self-purification capability of Nature is becoming more eminent. Of all the ideas, the idea called "sustainable development" has influenced many countries so that the idea was taken up as the main theme of the global summit held in 1992. The idea indicates the development that satisfies the desires of the current generation while satisfying the desires of the next generation. In the "Basic Environment Plan" that was revised in 2000, Japan summarized and introduced the "sustainable society" as the society that maintains the healthy relationship with various systems that are formed by the mutual relationship among the air, water, soil, and organisms that form the environment. These components carry out activities within the range that allows maintenance of self-purification capability of the environment and functions of the ecosystem, without reducing the resources, in order to avoid any adverse influence on the systems.