Environment Ministry Selects Winning Environmental Proposals for FY2005

For its fifth annual enivironmental policy proposal competition, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment selected two first-place and two second-place proposals, out of 40 ideas submitted by nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations as well as businesses. Results were announced on November 11, 2005. The ministry started this competition in 2001, aiming to develop organizations' capabilities for developing proposals, and to utilize the policy proposals.

The two first-place proposals selected this fiscal year, which goes until the end of March 2006, are (1) "Establishing centers for promoting the reduction of waste wood from wood buildings and the reuse of wooden structures" (by the Association For Preserving And Reusing Japanese Architectural Heritage), and (2) "Development, diffusion and promotion of environmental education programs utilizing newspapers" (by the Local Newspaper Association of Japan).

The Association For Preserving And Reusing Japanese Architectural Heritage, engaged in preservation of traditional architecture in Kyoto, aims to reduce the volume of wood waste and to reuse used timber from wooden buildings when they are demolished. It proposes to establish centers in municipalities across the country to provide advice on the repair and restoration of wooden structures, and to promote the reuse of timber from demolition. These centers are also to promote an appreciation of recyclable wooden architecture, the training of experts, and environmental education.

The Local Newspaper Association of Japan proposed the use of newspaper articles to encourage environmental education at schools and raise environment awareness in local communities. More specifically, the association calls for cooperation by governments, educators, newspaper companies and NPOs to develop environmental education programs, and for local newspapers to do their part in these programs by carrying articles on local environmental issues.

http://www.env.go.jp/en/
http://www.wood.jp/kbank/index-e.htm

Posted: 2006/03/23 05:53:59 PM
Japanese version