“environment and poverty” because environmental conservation helps to create a better society, or “environment and disaster prevention,” which looks at environmental problems and social problems in an integrated manner and devises countermeasures accordingly.

### C. Restoring the Environment

As attempts to restore natural environment lost in the past, efforts by citizens' groups to create biotopes, and nature restoration projects by ministries and agencies have begun in many parts of the nation. As for lakes and reservoirs, the bill for making partial amendment to the Law concerning Special Measures for the Preservation of Lake Water Quality was submitted to the 162nd Diet in order to promote implementation of measures for reducing pollution from urban areas and agricultural land and to adopt measures for the proper conservation of the lakeside water environment. Thus, improvement of the water environment is expected.

## (2) Policy Measures for Shaping a New Era

Environmental problems are caused by complex factors, and they affect a wide area. Scientific uncertainty exists in explaining the mechanism and extent of environmental impact. Thus, decision-making principles become important.

One key principle of decision-making is environmental risk management. It forecasts the possibility and scale of impact on the environment based on scientific knowledge, assesses and judges the need and urgency of implementing measures, and implements the required measures. It is also essential to incorporate the principle of “precaution” in decision-making in cases where scientific uncertainty exists in the mechanism and extent of environmental impact.

## (3) Viewpoints in Policy-Making for Shaping a New Era

As today’s environmental problems are closely related to the economy and society, it is essential that all actors recognize their own responsibility towards the environment and act fairly according to each of their roles and positions. Making environmental policy decisions with the participation of citizens not only enables the selection of more appropriate policy measures, but also helps to raise the environmental awareness of citizens, thus realizing a society in which citizens voluntarily work towards environmental conservation.

Local viewpoint is also important. By conducting community level activity to understand the condition of local resources and promoting cooperation among local actors, all actors of the community can share a common direction or goal, resulting in enhanced awareness and capability for creating a better environment and a better community. Such enhanced awareness and capability of a community as a whole is called “local environmental preparedness,” and it is important to take advantage of such powers in building sustainable communities.

It is also important to carry out regional environmental activity in Asia with both Japan’s and global environmental conservation in perspective. As Japan has overcome serious pollution problems in the past and has been making pioneering efforts in realizing a virtuous circle for environment and economy, it should take the lead in promoting comprehensive and strategic environmental conservation in the Asian region.

### 2. Japan’s Environmental Policy as a System

## (1) Building a Low Carbon Society

Following the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol in February 2005, the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan was formulated in April, based on the Climate Change Policy Law, establishing measures required for ensuring achievement of the 6% reduction commitment. The plan calls for fundamental re-examination of urban/regional structures and transport systems, thus incorporating the efficient use of energy in the socio-economic structures and systems. It also includes various efforts by each facility and actor aimed at overall reduction of $ CO_{2} $ emitted in relation to their activities, as well as forest sink measures. In addition, cross-sectoral measures including dissemination of knowledge and promotion of people’s movements are listed. The plan also proposes making use of the concept of policy mix under which serious comprehensive examination of environmental taxes is called for.