Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
## Promotion of effective energy use and using unutilized energy

If several buildings in regional areas and cities use energy together, it is possible to streamline energy use and reduce the amount of energy used. For example, the Harumi area in Tokyo made energy conservations of 28% by introducing area air conditioners. Shin-Yokohama in Yokohama city reduced energy use by 18.2% by renovating several buildings to share heat amongst them.

Major cities in Europe have heat conduction networks that use steam and hot water to share heat among cities. Japan also has begun to connect several areas to share energy.

# Ecology City Network Equipment Project around Nagoya Station

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Japan

Heat Conduction Network in Other Countries

Source: “Research of Equipment Project for Effective Energy Use in Existing City Areas,” Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Japan (March 2006)

It is also possible to reduce the environmental burden even further by taking advantage of heat waste from factories and using waste incineration, briquette fuel or biogas derived from sewage water, the energy from temperature differences of rivers and sewage, and natural energy generated from sunlight or wind.

It is necessary to implement city projects that emit less $ CO_{2} $ and improve the city energy environment by promoting the use of several kinds of energy sources and unused energy.

Application Example of Using Unutilized Sewage Energy
## Chapter 3 The Direction of the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Policy in the Global Warming Era

## (1) Monitoring and projection of climate change caused by global warming

## ○ Monitoring and projection of climate change

The Japan Meteorological Agency is continuously observing issues related to the global environment such as greenhouse gases concentrations. Furthermore, the Japan Meteorological Agency analyzes the environment by methods such as precisely reproducing world weather of the past, and projects the climate change caused by global warming at the end of the 21 $ ^{st} $ century, with the global climate model and the regional climate model with finer resolution around Japan developed by the Meteorological Research Institute.

These accomplishments contributed to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report. They are also used as a basic resource for the evaluation of the effects of global warming, and efforts to adapt to and mitigate global warming, not only in Japan but all over the world.

Yearly Change of the $ CO_{2} $ Concentration in Atmosphere in 3 Areas of Japan

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Japan

Deploying the instruments from the research vessel to measure water temperature, salinity, $ CO_{2} $ etc. at various depths in the sea.

Projection Example Based on the Global Climate Model of the Meteorological Research Institute

(Annual Average Surface Temperature Change between Present and 2081–2100)

## ○ Development of the geographic information contributing to global environmental issues understanding

The Geographical Survey Institute is promoting a “Global Map” of worldwide land that clearly shows geographical information including vegetation and land cover, so that the current environment and its changes can be easily seen. In March 2008, it developed the “Global Map Version1” based on the cooperation of National Mapping Organizations from more than 170 countries.

(Arranged in January 2008)
## (2) Activity to adapt to the effects of climate change

## ○ Necessity of adaptation methods based on climate change

There have been reviews and activities overseas about adaptation methods based on climate change. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) summarized the progress of adaptation methods in developed nations in May 2006. European nations such as the UK, France, and the Netherlands have been promoting and reviewing the adaptation methods as has the USA and Australia.

It is necessary for Japan as well to handle the effects of climate change and to plan adaptation methods, and implement them early, sharing the roles among related organizations, in order to make a strong, safe and comfortable country that endures natural disasters with a long-range perspective. At the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, we have started reviewing ways to deal with floods, storm surge, and water resource control.

Climate Change Adapting Flood Control Vision

## ○ Enhancement of international ties

On December 2007 in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, the “1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit” was held, and the “Beppu Message” was announced to “urge immediate action to support developing nations adapt to climate change.” Based on this message, the MLIT started to consider strengthening support given to developing nations. For example, in March 2008 the Japanese government sent a team to Tuvalu to inspect the sea level increase and the water resource problems caused by climate change. The MLIT also sent personnel to consider support necessary to aggressively conduct climate change adaptation methods.

Activities to Ease Global Warming (Sri Lanka in December 2007)

Source: Japan Water Agency
Part II

Trends in MLIT Policies
## Chapter 1: New MLIT Policies Accommodating the Needs of the Times

## (1) Result-oriented policy development

MLIT implements policy assessment (i.e. ex ante evaluation), policy checkup (i.e. performance measurement), and policy review (i.e. program evaluation) and so on. In August 2007, the evaluation process was reviewed so that the units of policy evaluation (measures) and those of the items shown in the budget and account settlement documents will be amended to correspond to each other.

As for the individual public works, the integrated project evaluation system, including the evaluation at project approval, reevaluation and ex-post evaluation after project completion, has been established. Also, examinations are being made for further sophistication of the evaluation technique.

## (2) Efficiency and competitiveness-oriented policy initiative

## ○ Promoting reform of the cost structure of public works projects

MLIT and its affiliated organizations attained a reduction rate of 11.5% in their total cost reduction efforts in FY2006. Starting from FY2008, efforts will be made to promote “Cost Structure Reform” that includes additional evaluation items, putting an emphasis on the optimization of VFM.

Cost Structure Reform

## ○ Ensuring quality of public works and implementing appropriate tender contracts

Expanded trials for adding-up methods in construction works and experiments for the comprehensive evaluation method in construction consultant operations were conducted in order to ensure the enhanced quality of public works.

Further, as measures against bidding at dumping prices, a system of examining unreasonably low tender prices was introduced to construction consulting services while experimental application of “examination throughout the working processes” was put into practice. Requests to completely reject biddings at dumping prices have been made to local public agencies with weakness in their order management systems while assistance has also been provided via the introduction of the comprehensive assessment method.

In order to further improve the system of tender contracts, MLIT has been promoting an application of diversified ordering methods, including expanded general competitive bidding, further utilization of the comprehensive evaluation method, use of the bid bond scheme, application of package contracting of design and construction works as well as the CM method.

## Strategic maintenance and renovation in the era of aging infrastructure

As an increasing percentage of infrastructure stocks are becoming old, maximum utilization of the accumulated stocks is indispensable to accurately cope with the political needs of addressing the decrease in population and revitalization of provincial areas.
To attain these goals, “preventive maintenance management” aimed at lowering the life cycle costs of stocks through prolonging their useful lives will be introduced, while an increased emphasis will be placed on “infrastructure-exploiting renovation” to enhance the functions of the existing stocks to obtain effects similar to those provided by newly developed facilities.

Reduction of Life-cycle Costs through Preventive Maintenance Measures

## ☐ Reform of independent administrative agencies

As for the reform of independent administrative agencies, efforts will be made to integrate the four traffic-related research organizations.

With respect to the reform of public corporations, the Government Housing Loan Corporation was abolished and the Japan Housing Finance Agency was newly established in April 2007. The Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation was nominated to be a specified corporation in October 2007.

## ○ Overhaul of special accounting and tax revenues exclusively reserved for road construction

The revision of special accounts have been scheduled for the integration of the special accounts of loans for road development, river improvement, port improvement, airport improvement and urban development into the “Special Account for Social Capital Improvement Projects,” as well as the integration of the special accounts for motor vehicle liability insurance business and motor vehicle inspection and registration into the “Special Account for Motor Vehicle Safety” by the end of FY2008.

With reference to the special accounts for loans for road development, related bills based on the “Review of Special Accounts for Loans for Road Development” prepared by the government and the ruling parties were submitted to the 169th Ordinary Diet Session in December 2007.

## (3) Establishing new relationships among national government, regional governments and private sector

## ○New relationship between the national government and regional governments

Taking the appropriate role sharing between the national and regional governments into consideration, the MILT is promoting the establishment of flexible standards/criterion to make appropriate options available for the regions in accordance with their own circumstances (i.e. introduction of local rules.)

## ○Utilization of the creativity and ingenuity of private sector

With the PFI method proactively introduced to utilize private financial resources and capabilities to provide quality public services, the number of MLIT-related projects implemented as at the end of October 2007 amounts to 61.

Regulations by the MLIT are being reviewed on a timely basis to accurately cope with the changes of the times. The 14 preferential measures in the specified structural reform districts have been implemented nationwide, reflecting the accomplishments in the districts.
## (2) Efforts to realize a tourism-based country

## ○Creation of attractive points of interest with international competitiveness

For the purpose of promoting the creation of attractive points of interest with international competitiveness, assistance is being given, through the Tourism Renaissance Subsidizing Scheme and Practical Plan for Tourist Destination Development, to private organizations' projects to improve the environment to accept foreign tourists and to develop human resources, in combination with the aid projects conducted by the respective local municipalities.

## ○Improvement of international competitiveness of tourism industry and development of human resources to contribute to the promotion of tourism

With the aim of revitalizing the accommodation industry, demonstration experiments were made to introduce a system where lodging and meals are provided separately to the guests. For the purpose of developing human resources that can contribute to the promotion of tourism, the MLIT has been sponsoring tourism charisma schools and promoting cooperation among the government, industry and academia to train tourism-related workers.

## ○Promotion of international tourism

The Visit Japan Campaign is currently under operation through the joint efforts of the government and private sectors with a goal to promote the attractiveness of Japanese tourism and appealing tour products to foreign tourists abroad. From now on, the project will be transformed into the “Visit Japan Upgrade Project” with the goal of increasing the number of foreign tourists who visit Japan on a repeated basis. Efforts will be made to increase convenience for tourists by unifying IC cards or ensuring their common use among different business operators. Together with the promotion of international conferences to be held or invited to be held in Japan, efforts will be made to improve the facilities to accept foreign tourists to Japan.

## ○Improvement of the environment to promote tours

Efforts are being made to formulate guidelines to promote universal design in tour products and tourist destinations, develop a system to provide information on tourist destinations, to protect consumers with respect to the diversified tourism products and to ensure the safety of tourists.
## Chapter 3: Promoting Regional Revitalization

## (1) Initiatives toward regional revitalization

The Fukuda Cabinet recognized regional revitalization as one of the most important issues facing Japan. With the aim of proactively dealing with regional differences, the implementation structures of the four headquarters established in the Cabinet in connection with regional revitalization (Headquarters for Urban Renaissance, Headquarters for Promotion of Specified Zones for Structural Reform, Headquarters for Regional Revitalization and Headquarters for Revitalization of Central City Areas) have been integrated to promote the respective initiatives in a unified manner.

Within the MILT, regional revitalization is also recognized as one of the most important issues. Taking advantage of the framework of extended regional planning in the national spatial planning scheme, the MLIT will intensively promote effective measures, based on the philosophy of “selection and concentration,” including concentrated investment in the badly needed infrastructures and assistance for the creative regional initiatives toward the revitalization of central city areas and the promotion of tourism.

## (2) Promoting policies that support regional revitalization

## ○Initiatives toward enhanced autonomy and discretion of regions and private sectors

The MLIT is working for the expansion and better operation of the “Regional Revitalization Infrastructure Reinforcement Grants,” “Regional Housing Grants,” “Community Renovation Grants” and other grants, and is also encouraging local governments to take advantage of the expertise and funds of the private sector.

## Comprehensive initiatives to realize intensive-type urban structures

The MLIT is moving forward with the realization of intensive-type urban structures through comprehensive efforts to coordinate various policy measures that include amendments to the “Act on Revitalization of Central City Areas” and city planning law, the development and revitalization of public transport facilities based on the rural/regional comprehensive traffic strategy, and urban development measures aimed at developing stronghold city areas.

Development of Comprehensive Traffic Coordination Measures and Businesses

$ ^{*} $ Key public transport introduced to facilitate links between central city areas and between intensive hubs

* Network of feeder and community buses developed to provide access from traffic nodes

$ ^{*} $ Car and bicycle parking lots for P&R and C&R developed to promote connection to and from the respective forms of public transport

## ○Hard and soft infrastructure development

The development of roads based on city planning, traffic nodes and high-standard banks, improvement of railroad crossings, utilization of sewers and ports, maintenance of cadastral data, the utilization of deep underground space, and the development of community-based town management are being promoted in urban districts.
Rationalization of formalities surrounding applying for a business license under relevant transportation business acts

## ○ Independence and revitalization of expanded regional blocks and regional/national building

The Regional Independence and Revitalization Comprehensive Assistance Program was introduced in 2007 with the aim of promoting the independence and revitalization of expanded regional blocks.

## ○ Promoting coordination and exchange among regions

The MLIT is improving roads in order to promote identification among integrated municipalities and exchange among the regions, exchange between cities and farming, forestry and fishing villages as well as settlement in provincial areas.

## ○Securing means of regional transportation

Pursuant to the Act concerning Revitalization of Local Public Transport, enforced in October 2007, the MLIT is making efforts to develop a system to facilitate consensus-building on the most appropriate means of regional public transport and ensure steady implementation of the agreement while rendering assistance to the revitalization of local railways and the maintenance and security of local bus routes and air and sea links to remote islands.

Framework of the Act concerning the Revitalization of Local Public Transport

### 2. Smoothened Introduction of New Forms of Transportation Services

## ○ Development of towns and exchange sites making use of regional characteristics

The MILT is promoting the development of regions making full use of their natural environment, history and culture, and the development of various businesses and systems closely related to regions, including Roadside Stations (“Michi-no-Eki”), Riverfront Town Development (“Kawamachizukuri”), Ports and Oases (“Minato-to-Oashisu”) and Seaside Stations (“Umi-no-Eki”).

Transition in the Number of Registered Roadside Stations (“Michi-no-Eki”)
## (3) Promoting urban renaissance projects

## ○Achieving various forms of vigorous exchanges and economic activities

The MLIT is working to reinforce the capacity for international exchange and logistics and to develop ring road networks.

Major Airport Projects in Metropolitan Areas

Functional Reinforcement of International Ports

International Comparison of Metropolitan Ring Expressway Networks

Population and population density: Generally that of the area inside the ring road.

## ○Making cities safer

The MLIT aims to further develop a core wide-area disaster prevention centers that serve as the centers for many local governments' disaster prevention activities. The ministry also focuses on rebuilding safe and secure cities through coordination between anticrime measures and community building initiatives.

## ○Building a favorable urban environment

The MLIT is promoting city makeovers that result in zero-waste cities in the three major metropolitan areas, with a new medium- and long-term plan formulated for the Tokyo Metropolitan Area in January 2007. Efforts are also being made to preserve, restore and create natural environments in cities.

## ○ Promoting urban development initiatives by private sector

The number of the “Prompt Development Areas for Urban Renaissance,” under the “Special Measures Act for Urban
Renaissance,” to be developed as centers of urban renaissance in the first round amounted to a total of 65 specified areas, including Tokyo, Osaka, and other Specified Cities and/or Prefectural Capital Cities. In these areas, various urban development initiatives by the private sector are under way (as at the end of March 2008).

## Flexible budget allocations promoting urban renaissance

Flexible budget allocation measures budget, including the Urban Renaissance Project Promotion Budget, are provided throughout the fiscal year to facilitate effective project implementation.

Private Urban Renaissance Projects in the “Prompt Development Area for Urban Renaissance”

## (4) Promotion of development measures for specified areas

The MLIT is proactively promoting the development and promotion of heavy snowfall areas, remote islands, the Amami Islands, the Ogasawara Islands and various peninsulars.

## (5) Promotion of comprehensive development of Hokkaido

Pursuant to the plans of the Hokkaido Comprehensive Development Program for the 6th Term (Program term: 1998 to around 2007), the MLIT has been making efforts to enhance the role of the island as a national food production base, the development of regions using clean energy, the promotion of tourism exchange, the development of infrastructures utilizing local autonomy and discretion, the promotion of the areas adjacent to the Northern Territories and the promotion of Ainu culture. From 2008, the MLIT will formulate new plans and promote measures based on them.
## ○Promotion of favorable housing supply and its effective use

The MLIT is making efforts for the effective use of fixed-term land leases and the revitalization of “new towns” as well as for policy review to facilitate a stable supply of housing sites with sound environments in the areas necessary.

Transition in the Number of Housing Units with Fixed-Term Land Leases

Source: Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Japan

## (3) Realizing comfortable living

## ○Sewerage development

The MLIT is working for the securing of a sustainable sewage service through appropriate stock management, an improved management base, the full utilization of private-sector initiatives and the securing of technology while promoting the dissemination of waste water disposal by sewerage.

Prevalence of Sewerage Systems in Municipalities of Different Population Scales (as at the end of FY2006)

Population	Over 1 million	0.5-1 million	0.3-0.5 million	0.1-0.3 million	50,000 - 100,000	less than 50,000	Total
Total population (x 10,000)	2,734	1,033	1,738	3,046	1,955	2,199	12,705
Population with access to wastewater treatment facilities (x 10,000)	2,710	905	1,496	2,480	1,436	1,441	10,468
Population with access to sewerage (x 10,000)	2,690	833	1,349	2,106	1,078	905	8,961
Total number of cities	12	15	45	189	281	1,263	1,805

Notes: 1) The total number of cities, 1,805, consists of 783 cities, 827 towns and 195 villages (Tokyo's wards are included in the cities).

2) The figures for the total population of each area have been rounded, so the sum of these figures may differ from the total presented.

Source: Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Japan