Amazon, Nagoya, UN-20021120-Eco-Environmental News Summary

Amazon, Nagoya, UN-20021120-Eco-Environmental News Summary
1. Crisis of Tropical Forests, Voices of Indigenous Peoples Unheard
As tropical forests in the Amazon and Southeast Asia are rapidly disappearing, the appeals of indigenous people who live with the forests are being drowned out by waves of economic development. They are not only deprived of their trees, but also of their land rights, and they are in need of coordinated support from the international community.

2. Environment Agency Launches Project to Utilize Recycled Paper
The Environment Agency has issued a notice requiring the use of recycled paper, with the aim of spreading the directive to all public institutions. This is aimed at reducing waste and promoting the recycling of paper resources, and pressure is mounting on the corporate side, including stricter procurement guidelines.

3. environmental NGOs call for review of "green tourism
Environmental NGOs have submitted a proposal for improvement of "green tourism," which is supposed to combine tourism and environmental conservation, but has led to the destruction of nature in some areas. They say that the expansion of lodging facilities and increased traffic are putting pressure on the habitats of rare plants and animals.

New Rules for Transborder Disposal of Waste Home Appliances; Japan-China Talks Underway
With the illegal export and cross-border disposal of home appliances becoming a social problem, Japan and China are working together to seek an international framework for disposal rules. Discussions are focusing on the handling of old home appliances, which have a large environmental impact, and where the responsibility for their manufacture and disposal lies.

5. disparities in urban green space ratios among ordinance-designated cities become more pronounced.
While there are calls for the promotion of urban greening, it is clear that there are disparities in the amount of green space in each city. While Nagoya and Sapporo maintain high levels of green space, Tokyo and Osaka are experiencing a downward trend due to redevelopment. A review is urgently needed from the perspective of residents' health and disaster prevention functions.

6. marine debris survey, international collaboration issues
While surveys of marine debris in the seas around Japan are progressing, international comparisons are becoming difficult due to differences in data collection methods and classification standards among countries. Although UN agencies are seeking a unified framework, the interests of each country are intertwined, and there is no alignment. Cooperation at the citizen's level is also indispensable to solving the problem.

7. Revision of the Recycling Law, but doubts about its effectiveness
The Recycling Law has been revised to promote resource recycling, but there are concerns about its effectiveness. It is particularly difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to deal with this issue, and the complexity of the system is hindering its widespread use. The challenge is to achieve both transparency and feasibility.

8. municipal environmental budgets, use of which is determined with the participation of local residents
One municipality has begun an experiment in which residents directly participate in deciding how the environmental budget will be used. After discussions at a citizens' workshop, spending on greening and the introduction of renewable energy was decided. This is leading to trust building between the government and citizens.

9. wave of "on-the-spot" approach to environmental education
The traditional classroom-based approach to environmental education is giving way to a "field-oriented" approach that emphasizes hands-on experience in the field. The aim is to deepen children's interest and understanding through river water quality surveys and forest management experiences. Environmental NGOs and schools are strengthening their cooperation.

10. promoting reuse of water resources and investment in urban infrastructure
As a measure to address water shortages in urban areas, infrastructure development for reuse of treated sewage water is attracting attention. Advances in treatment technology have made it safer and more widely used for irrigation and industrial purposes. The establishment of a national subsidy system is also being discussed.