Major Car-sharing Examples in Japan

Name	Feature	Car type	Area
CEV Sharing	- Japan's first car-sharing business run by a private company- Participated by citizens and businesses (started operation since 2002)	- Low emission car	Yokohama City	In practical use
Car Sharing Network	- Japan's first car-sharing business run by specified non-profit corporation- Participated by citizens and businesses (started operation since 2002)	- Low emission car	Fukuoka City
Social Experiment on Automotive Transport Fujisawa 2001	- Citizens who commute to train stations by car and businesses that use cars in daytime operations share low-emission vehicles- Co-workers carpool from train stations to the company (2001-March 2002)	- Conventional gasoline-powered car- Low emission car	Fujisawa City (Kanagawa Prefecture)	Experimental stage
Kyoto Public Car System	- Set up stations at seven locations in the city's business, residential and tourist districts- Tourists, citizens and business operators are monitoring members (FY 2000-2002)	- Low emission car	Kyoto City
Electric Truck Sharing System	- Experiment to share electric trucks for business use- Participated by 80 corporations (December 1999-March 2000)	- Low emission car	Osaka City
Ebina City Eco Park- and-ride	- Citizens using low-emission cars to commute to work park their cars at parking lots near stations, and businesses in the neighborhood use the cars in daytime for business purposes- Park-and-ride car-sharing method utilizing difference in the time of car use (January-March 2000, November 2000-March 2001)	- Low emission car	Ebina City (Kanagawa Prefecture)
Electric Car Joint Use Experiment	- In cooperation with car manufacturers, businesses and citizens share low-emission vehicles- About 110 individual members and 18 corporate members (FY 2000-)	- Low emission car	Toyota City (Aichi Prefecture)

Source: Ministry of the Environment

On the other hand, the active approach of individuals towards businesses adds momentum to the environmental activities pursued by businesses. For example, in addition to a rising interest in the purchase of environment-friendly products in recent years, networks are formed to respond to the needs of these consumers. Coupled with the recognition of businesses for their excellent environmental conservation activities and the appearance of eco-funds, there are movements to evaluate and rank businesses from an environmental point of view, to provide information on the environmental management of companies in job information magazines, etc. All of these factors together will change corporate behavior and eventually transform the socio-economic system into one that is more considerate of the environment.

### 2. Relationship between Individuals and the Government

The government is an actor who sets up the framework and establishes the foundation of the socio-economic system and influences the action of individuals. Recently, local governments have begun incorporating the role of each citizen into their local basic environment plans, pointing out the need for citizens to change their lifestyles and to pursue environment-conscious way of living. Taking the opportunity of the introduction of local discretionary taxation system for specific purposes, some local governments have introduced environment-related taxes to promote environmental considerations in various aspects of daily life, such as actions that give consideration to conservation of the natural environment, reduction in the use of plastic grocery bags receiving at the cash register, etc. Furthermore, in response to the increase in environmental load that results from the rising demand for automobile use in daily life, the government is building social infrastructure to create an environment to

Increase in the Number of Local Basic Environment Plans Formulated

Source: Survey of Environmental Conservation Measures by Local Governments (FY 1995–2001), Ministry of the Environment

facilitate the use of bicycles, to establish a park-and-ride system, etc. In addition, the government is also putting efforts in developing human resources that can offer specialized knowledge and rich experience, providing consolidated easy-to-use environmental information, and carrying out public relations activities.

On the other hand, especially at the local government level, it has become possible for individuals to participate actively in the formulation of environmental conservation measures. There are examples that the actions of individuals have influenced public administration, and that citizens and the government have joined forces in implementing such measures.