II. Becoming a Leading Environmental Nation for a Better World

II. Becoming a Leading Environmental Nation for a Better World

1. Creating a "Japanese Model" for a Sustainable Society

Creation and dissemination of "Japan as an immune nation"　Although countries and regions around the world are pursuing polices and measures to achieve a sustainable society, every country and region in the world is still in a trial-and-error stage.      In this context, Japan is in an ideal position to create a working model of a sustainable society as a　"miniature Earth," in the sense that Japan has few natural resources as well as a population and industrial activities that are concentrated onto national land that is limited in size, and yet has strengths such as traditional wisdom from living in harmony with nature, environmental and energy-related technologies that have enabled socio-economic development, the experience of having overcome severe pollution, abundant human resources with great passion and capabilities. In addition, Japan boasts a culture and set of values in which efforts conducted through public-private partnerships incorporate the participation and cooperation of a broad array of stakeholders who work

together as one, as evidenced in the contributions made to the nation’s steady economic growth. We should take full advantage of these strengths to create a "leading environmental nation," with a strategy of policies and measures for the development and spread of environmental and energy-related technologies, reforms of social and economic systems and so on, in cooperation and partnership with other countries around the world. Through such efforts Japan will utilize in modern-day society its traditional wisdom for coexistence with the natural environment. Moreover, through the cooperation of a wide range of stakeholders acting in unison, Japan will use its world-leading environmental and energy-related technologies, its experience and wisdom in

overcoming severe pollution, and its abundant supply of passionate and capable human resources to derive from the environment both economic growth and vitality in local societies, creating a "Japanese model" in which Japan, as a leading environmental nation, contributes to the development and the prosperity of the globe, to be shared with Asia and with the world.

２. 「環境立国・日本」の創造・発信

(１) 持続可能な社会の「日本モデル」の構築

前述したような持続可能な社会の実現に向けた様々な挑戦が世界各国・各地域で進められているが、いずれの国・地域においても、未だ試行錯誤の段階にある。こうした中で、我が国は、天然資源に乏しく、限られた国土に人口や産業活動が集中する一方、自然との共生を図る智慧と伝統、社会経済の発展をもたらしてきた環境・エネルギー技術、深刻な公害克服の経験、意欲と能力溢れる豊富な人材など様々な強みを有しており、いわば「ミニ地球」となる持続可能な社会の生きたモデルを創造する上で絶好の条件が整っている。また、官民協調による取組が着実な経済成長に寄与していたことにみられるように、幅広い関係者の参加と協働の下、一致協力して目標達成を目指す文化や価値観も、我が国の強みの一つである。

こうした我が国の強みを最大限発揮するためには、世界の国々と連携・協働を図りつつ、技術の開発・普及、社会経済システムの見直しなど戦略性を持って施策を展開していくべきである。こうした取組を通じて、我が国の自然共生の智慧と伝統を現代に活かすとともに、世界に誇る環境・エネルギー技術、深刻な公害克服の経験と智慧、意欲と能力溢れる豊富な人材を、環境から拓く経済成長や地域活性化の原動力となし、幅広い関係者が一致協力して、世界の発展と繁栄に貢献する品格ある「環境立国」を「日本モデル」として創造し、アジア、そして世界へと発信する。

2. Principles towards the "Leading Environmental Nation"

(1) Creation of a Beautiful Nation in which Tradition Wisdom for Coexistence with Nature isApplied to Modern Society

Since ancient times, Japanese people have had a view of nature in which every living thing is respected as part of nature. Japanese people have traditionally embraced a sense of respect for nature and have lived in harmony with nature. As exemplified by satochi-satoyama (our community-based landscape which consists of forest areas and the surrounding countryside), Japanese people have possessed traditional wisdom for not just utilizing nature but also conserving and maintaining.

Although this traditional view of nature is becoming less noticeable in Japan, the traditional wisdom by which people take a humble attitude towards nature and work cooperatively for environmental conservation and management is an approach that holds great significance in the pursuit of a sustainable society, and is one that can be spread not only within Japan but also throughout Asia and beyond. By taking advantage of our strengths in environmental and energy-related technologies as well as utilizing here in the modern day our traditional wisdom of living in harmony with nature, we should aim to create a beautiful nation with abundant natural blessings. landscape which consists of forest areas and the surrounding countryside), Japanese people have possessed traditional wisdom for not just utilizing nature but also conserving and maintaining.

Although this traditional view of nature is becoming less noticeable in Japan, the traditional wisdom by which people take a humble attitude towards nature and work cooperatively for environmental conservation and management is an approach that holds great significance in the pursuit of a sustainable society, and is one that can be spread not only within Japan but also throughout Asia and beyond. By taking advantage of our strengths in environmental and energy-related technologies as well as utilizing here in the modern day our traditional wisdom of living in harmony with nature, we should aim to create a beautiful nation with abundant natural blessings.

(２) 「環境立国・日本」に向けた施策の展開方向

① 自然との共生を図る智慧と伝統を現代に活かした美しい国づくり

古来より私たち日本人は、生きとし生けるものが一体となった自然観を有しており、自然を尊重し、共生することを常としてきた。我が国には、例えば里地里山に代表されるように、自然を単に利用するだけではなく、協働して守り育てていく智慧と伝統がある。こうした伝統的な自然観は現代においては薄れつつあるが、自然に対する謙虚な気持ちを持って、協働して自然を守り育てていくという智慧と伝統は、持続可能な社会を目指す上で、我が国のみならずアジアを始めとする世界に発信できる積極的な意義を持つ。我が国の環境・エネルギー技術などの強みに加えて、自然との共生を図る智慧と伝統を現代に再び活かすことにより、自然の恵み豊かな美しい国づくりを目指す。

(2) Environmental Protection and Economic Development/Revitalization of Local

Communities: Moving Forward Like Two Axles of the Same Vehicle

Tackling environmental problems is the key to achieving economic growth and to continuing the development of society in Japan and the world. We will transform our measures for environmental issues into an engine for economic growth by improving our environmental and energy-related technologies, including technologies for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and nuclear energy, among others, by promoting innovative technological innovation, and by creating new business models to tackle environmental issues. In doing this, it is important to pursue environmental protection and economic development simultaneously, pursuing economic invigoration and a strengthening of international competitiveness while working to solve environmental problems both

at home and abroad. We will also make the best use of people with enthusiasm and skills for environmental protection and strongly promote local environmental activities all over Japan with a view to helping local communities become prosperous ones with their own strength and characteristics.

These measures can comprehensively improve the environmental, economic, and social aspects of our society. Through our response to the environment seen in socio-economic activities such as a company’s business activities, an individual’s lifestyle, and a community’s activities, we will create new business opportunities and utilize the society’s energy to pursue environmental protection, economic growth, and revitalization of local communities.

② 車の両輪として進める環境保全と経済成長・地域活性化

環境問題への対応は、我が国や世界が経済成長と社会発展を持続させていく上で不可欠なものである。省エネルギー、再生可能エネルギー、原子力等の環境・エネルギー技術に磨きをかけ、創造的な技術革新を図るとともに、新たなビジネスモデルの創出などにより、環境問題への対応を新しい経済成長のエンジンとする。これにより、内外の環境問題の解決に寄与するとともに、経済の活性化や国際競争力の強化を進め、環境と経済の両立を図ることが重要である。また、環境保全に関する意欲と能力溢れる豊富な人材を活かし、各地域の環境保全活動の輪を全国津々浦々に広げ、力強く後押しすることにより、地域が持つ本来の力が十分に発揮された元気な地域社会の実現を目指す。こうした取組により、環境的側面、経済的側面、社会的側面の統合的な向上を図り、企業の事業活動や一人一人の暮らしや地域活動などの様々な社会経済活動における環境への対応を通じて、新たなビジネスチャンスや社会の活力を生み出し、環境保全とともに経済成長と地域活性化の実現を図る。

(3) A Japan that Develops Along with Asia and the World

Global environmental issues are closely linked to our environmental problems and socio-economy in Japan. Japan has particular concern regarding the Asian region, which has a close relationship with Japan both geographically and economically. As a result of its rapid economic growth, Asia has become vulnerable to serious environmental pollution resulting from air pollution, water contamination, and improper treatment and disposal of waste. Its large volume of carbon dioxide emissions also has huge impact on the global environment. From the standpoint of the "Global Commons," through which the earth is recognized as an asset held jointly by all humankind, we should join forces with various countries in the world, starting

with Asia, to implement measures to create a sustainable society, so that these measures will become the engine for sustainable growth and prosperity not just for Japan but also for Asia and the rest of the world. In particular, we should promote mutually-beneficial (co-benefit) measures in developing countries, integrating measures to halt environmental pollution with measures to mitigate climate

change. As advocated in the Principle 1 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, people in the world "are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature." In particular, with a view to eradicating the vicious cycle between environmental problems and poverty in developing countries, we will continue to engage in international cooperation by making best use of our environmental and energy-related technologies as well as our experiences and know-how for halting environmental pollution.

③ アジア、そして世界とともに発展する日本

世界の環境問題と我が国の環境問題や社会経済とは相互に密接に関わっている。特に、地理的にも経済的にも我が国と密接な関係を有するアジア地域においては、急速な経済成長を背景に、大気汚染、水質汚濁、廃棄物の不適正処理などの深刻な環境汚染が懸念されるとともに、二酸化炭素排出量の急増など地球環境にも大きな影響を及ぼしつつある。このため、「グローバル・コモンズ」すなわち「人類の共有の財産としての地球」の考え方に立って、持続可能な社会に向けた我が国の取組が、我が国のみならず、アジア、そして世界の持続可能な発展と繁栄のエンジンとなるよう、アジアを始めとする世界の国々と手を携えて取組を進める。特に、途上国の公害対策等と温暖化対策との相乗的・一体的な対策（コ・ベネフィット対策）を推進する。また、「環境と開発に関するリオ宣言」の第一原則に謳われているように世界の人々が自然と調和しつつ健康で生産的な生活を享受できるよう、特に開発途上国における環境と貧困の悪循環の解消を目指して、我が国の環境・エネルギー技術や深刻な公害克服の経験・智慧を活かした国際協力を展開する。