The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) of Japan has published its environmental action plan, aiming at ensuring that public works projects are more eco-friendly. MLIT will strive to reduce environmental burdens in all phases of infrastructure works to transform the current mass-production and mass-consumption-oriented society into a recycling-based sustainable one in harmony with nature.

Under the plan, the ministry will introduce an environmental assessment system to the planning phase of public works. This system evaluates the plan of public works comprehensively from the viewpoint of environmental protection, restoration and creation.

MLIT also plans to introduce a "Green Banking" System to systematically increase green space by using public facilities such as rivers, roads and harbors, and as much as possible, to prevent the loss of greenery caused by public works projects.

Aiming to achieve zero emissions at construction sites, MLIT will encourage the use of recycled materials and the recycling of construction by-products such as wood, sludge and waste.



Posted: 2004/11/22 11:44:10 AM
Japanese version

TAG Ecosystem , Government , Material reduction , System/Law