As the flow of people and goods between Japan and other countries increases, the importance of measures against terrorism in Japan is also increasing. We must continue to tackle with all our strength matters like improving security in critical infrastructure, such as land, sea, and air transportation facilities and airports, seaports, dams, and other facilities that form an important basis for public life and economic activities, as well as making efforts toward the proactive prevention of terrorism and the assurance of safety.

Trends in the Proportion of Terrorist Incidents by Region

Source: Compiled from U.S. Department of State, Patterns of Global Terrorism

## ☐ The need for preparations for natural disasters

Japan’s disaster-prone natural characteristics make the occurrence of earthquakes a risk factor in domestic business operation. In addition, the increasing globalization of economic activities in recent years has led to an increase in companies starting overseas operations, making damage from the outbreak of natural disasters at overseas business locations another risk factor in business operation. To these ends it is crucial for companies to be prepared for the outbreak of natural disasters in Japan and overseas.

## [Issues accompanying the use of hazardous substances]

A vast array of chemical substances, natural minerals, and the like said to number in the tens of thousands have come to be used in manufacturing activities and everyday life, making life more convenient. Although these substances provide a high degree of convenience, however, some of them carry the risk of ill effects on the human body and the environment.

It turns out that in the period of high economic growth from the 1960s to the 1970s, problems with pollution came up from hazardous chemical substances like mercury and cadmium that were used and discharged in economic activities, including the four major types of pollution, causing tremendous harm to public health and living environment. In the period from the 1970s to the 1980s as well, depletion of the ozone layer from CFCs, which had been long used as refrigerants, was verified, and there were concerns about the effects of the increase in harmful ultraviolet radiation on human health and ecosystems. It can be said that these were the cases through which the ill effects of hazardous substances came to light, and from there steps like bans on the use of concerned chemical substances were taken as a whole society.

However, cases can be seen where the concept of the “preventive approach” – the idea that measures must be taken without delay in cases like that of asbestos, where responses each time were conducted based on the scientific knowledge available at the time but there remained serious potential for harm even without full scientific certainty

– which is recognized internationally, had not really sunk in, and hence responses based on this line of thinking were not implemented.

Assessments of environmental risk must be performed and appropriate environmental risk measures must be taken to proactively prevent issues like the asbestos problem and other harmful effects on human health and the global environment from hazardous substances. This are also calls for Japan's active participation in the activities of international organizations like the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).