Ministry Formulates Basic Strategies to Promote Japanese Environmental Infrastructure Overseas

Image by Brian Gratwicke Some Rights Reserved.

Japan's Ministry of the Environment announced on July 25, 2017, that it had drawn up basic strategies to promote Japanese environmental infrastructure overseas. The aim is to contribute to environmental improvements in developing countries while also expanding opportunities for Japanese businesses by deploying their advanced technologies, know-how and systems there. Developing countries often need what is called a "leapfrog" style of development in which they can make a quick jump to the best and most cost-effective technologies to decrease the damage from pollution, by introducing waste-processing facilities and environmental infrastructure for renewable energy and energy saving.

The major components of the strategies are (1) to introduce Japanese environmental technologies at the top level of sales by utilizing bilateral policy dialogues and community forums, (2) to deliver "packaged" support by including everything from systems to technologies and finance, highlighting the socioeconomic benefits, and implementing the initiatives strategically by sector and region, and (3) to strengthen the implementation systems for the strategies within the Ministry of the Environment, and cooperate with private companies, local governments, other ministries and aid agencies from Japan and overseas.

The sector-by-sector actions for environmental infrastructure include specific implementation approaches in six sectors: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, waste and recycling, wastewater treatment systems, aquatic conservation, and environmental assessments.

The regional strategies look at developing countries in East and Southeast Asia, South Asia, small island states especially in the Pacific region, and the Middle East and Africa. They identify implementation strategies that cater to current circumstances and regional characteristics.