### e. Promoting and disseminating ecological driving

MLIT has promoted holding symposiums and events all over the country in cooperation with the relevant ministries and agencies of the government and the District Transport Bureaus. We also worked on promoting and spreading ecological driving based on the “10 Reasons for Driving Ecologically”. Furthermore, in order to promote and disseminate ecological driving by the Automobile Carrier businesses, MLIT supports the introduction of the Ecological-driving Management System (EMS) Note $ ^{1} $ .

## (3) Promotion of traffic flow improvement

Various traffic flow measures are being tried, since improving the driving speed by smoothing the traffic flow will improve the actual as mileage rate and decrease the carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles. Specifically, we are developing ring roads and other arterial road networks that are effective in reducing through-traffic in the urban center by providing them with alternate routes, working on grade separation of intersections and promoting serial railroad grade-separation projects to eliminate unopened grade crossings. In order to realize smooth, safe transportation services, we are also promoting initiatives for enabling roads to be used smartly, such as by contributing to the optimal use of existing networks through the use of ETC 2.0, a program for which full-scale adoption efforts have begun. We also work on providing improved road space for cyclists. In order to reduce carbon footprint, LED road lights are being introduced.

## (4) Promoting the use of public transportation

The shift from private vehicles to public transportation reduces travel with vehicles and is a necessary facet of global warming countermeasures. For this reason, we are helping to promote the introduction of public transit IC cards and other computerization initiatives, make public transportation more convenient through the introduction of an LRT/BRT system and improvements to transfers and popularize ecological commuting at the business establishment-level through a scheme to certify offices for excellence in eco-commuting. Furthermore, information analysis and validation results of past activities for the Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Model Project were provided nationwide to regions working to realize EST.

## (5) Optimizing logistics

Exceeding 50% of the total domestic transportation modes in Japan, trucks account for the majority of the share ratio (ton kilometer basis in transportation). The $ CO_{2} $ emissions base unit Note $ ^{2} $ of trucks is greater than that of mass transportation such as railroads and domestic shipping, and trucks account for 90% of the $ CO_{2} $ emissions in logistics. In order to reduce $ CO_{2} $ emissions while sustaining domestic logistics, we must strive to utilize energy efficient transportation modes such as railroads and domestic shipping in addition to improving energy efficiency and transportation efficiency of trucks. With a view to establishing an efficient system of logistics with a lower environmental impact, we are providing support for initiatives concerning joint transportation, modal shifts, efforts to promote the dissemination of large CNG trucks and