# Towards a Society that Achieves the Decoupling of Economic Growth from Environmental Impact

The decoupling of economic growth from environmental impact is one of the main objectives of the OECD Environmental Strategy for the First Decade of the 21st Century, adopted at OECD Environment Ministers Meeting in 2001. “Decoupling” in the environmental field means the situation in which the rate that environmental impact increases is less than the rate of economic growth.

As an example of achieving decoupling, we can point out the relationship between economic growth and SOx emissions in Japan (Figure 2-1-1). In the past, to overcome terrible environmental pollutions and the two oil crises, Japan has promoted pollution control measures and has also pioneered the development and introduction of energy saving, high-efficiency manu-

Figure 2-1-1 Changes in SOx Emissions and GDP in Japan

Note 1: SOx emissions are those generated from soot and smoke emitting facilities provided for in the Air Pollution Control Law.

2: GDP = Real price (US$, 2000)

Source: Compiled by the Ministry of the Environment from the data of The World Bank, World Development Indicator 2007; and the Ministry of the Environment, FY 2005 General Survey of the Emissions of Air Pollutants

market has grown from 30 trillion yen in 2000 to 45 trillion yen in 2006.

Growth of eco-businesses not only lowers environmental impact but also brings technological innovation, creates jobs, and enhances international competitiveness. Eco-businesses can add tremendous value to the economy. Eco-businesses are expected to continue to grow, connecting the environment with corporate values and profits and helping to realize a society that balances economy with the environment.

## (2) Accelerating Development of Renewable Energy

Next, let us look at the accelerating development of facturing equipment. In the case of SO $ _{x} $ emissions, Japan achieved a high level of decoupling among OECD countries as a result of the spread of advanced flue gas desulfurization equipment, promotion of low-sulfur fuel utilization, and improvement in efficiency of heat utilization.

To create a low carbon society while ensuring compatibility between environmental conservation and economic development, it is necessary to transcend the system in which economic growth is always linked to increased fossil fuel consumption, by decoupling economic growth from $ CO_{2} $ emissions. However, there has been no progress in this direction since the oil crises in the 1970s and 1980s (Figure 2-1-2).

Figure 2-1-2 Changes in CO₂ emissions and GDP in Japan

Source: Compiled by the Ministry of the Environment from the data of IEA, $ CO_{2} $ Emissions from Fuel Combustion 2007

renewable energy in the world in recent years.

## A Status on the Use of Renewable Energy

To reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide, we must wean ourselves of our dependence on fossil fuels and reexamine our energy sources. In recent years, countries worldwide have actively adopted policies to promote the introduction of renewable energies, accelerating their penetration and diffusion worldwide.

There is no uniform definition for renewable energy internationally. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable energy is energy resources that are incessantly replenished naturally. It includes energy generated from sunlight, wind, biomass, geothermal heat,