Osaka Bay Restoration Action Plan - 2003 to 2024

Osaka Bay Restoration Action Plan - 2003 to 2024

2003 - Plan initiated

The Osaka Bay Restoration Action Plan was formulated in 2003, and coastal municipalities, including Osaka Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, and Sakai City, as well as businesses and research institutions, began working together to improve water quality and restore the ecosystem. Initial targets included a 20% reduction in BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) within five years, a 15% reduction in COD (chemical oxygen demand), and reductions in annual nitrogen and phosphorus emissions of 500 and 200 tons, respectively, while wastewater regulations were strengthened. In the offshore Kobe City, Nanko and Maishima areas, and the coast of Kaizuka City, 100,000 square meters of eelgrass bed restoration was planned over a five-year period, and companies such as Sumitomo Chemical and Kansai Electric Power actively participated in wastewater management and the introduction of technologies to reduce environmental impact. In addition, citizen-participatory environmental preservation ac
tivities were incorporated, with more than 3,000 volunteers annually helping with coastal cleanups and trash collection.

2020s - Current Progress and Achievements

As of 2024, the Osaka Bay Restoration Action Plan has entered its third phase, and concrete results have been confirmed. In particular, in terms of water quality improvement, BOD has decreased from an average of 3.5 mg/L in 2003 to 2.0 mg/L in 2023, and COD has decreased from 4.0 mg/L to 2.5 mg/L. This is the result of the successful upgrading of sewage treatment facilities and thorough management of wastewater by the company. The restoration of eelgrass beds is also progressing smoothly, with 50 hectares of seaweed beds being restored by 2023, and the number of fish and crustacean species has increased, confirming the recovery of the ecosystem.

Corporate efforts are also being continuously strengthened. KEPCO has installed the latest wastewater treatment equipment, reducing nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations by 50%, and Sumitomo Chemical has also drastically reduced emissions of hazardous substances by revamping its processes. Citizen participation is also active, with a total of more than 10,000 people cooperating in cleanup and tree planting activities by 2023, spreading awareness of environmental conservation throughout the community. In addition, environmental education programs have been implemented at local elementary and junior high schools to pass on the knowledge to the next generation.

New Challenges and Future Prospects

On the other hand, new issues are emerging in the 2020s, such as marine pollution caused by microplastics and rising sea water temperatures due to climate change. In order to address these issues, more advanced technological development and international cooperation will be indispensable. The Osaka Bay Restoration Action Plan will continue to improve and work toward sustainable development of the environment and economy, building on the achievements to date.