Eco-Environmental News Summary - May 2007

Eco-Environmental News Summary - May 2007

The Price of Fire and the Wind of Technology--The Challenge and Commercial Opportunity of Rising Energy Prices, May 2007
The wave of rising oil prices has created resource nationalism and turned oil into a political weapon. Japan, however, has an advantage in the form of advanced alternative energy and energy-saving technologies. Technologies such as solar power, wind power, and GTL have a great opportunity to attract attention in the global market.

When the Bounty of the Forest is Revived--Domestic Softwood Plywood Dominates the Market, May 2007
The percentage of plywood made from domestic timber has exceeded 70%, reaching a record high production level. The shift to domestic production has been driven by restrictions on illegal logging and the weak yen, and the technology for using thinned wood has also improved. Capital investment has also increased in response to rising demand, marking a major turning point in the utilization of Japan's forest resources.

Recovery Machines Weave the Future--A New Path for PET Bottle Recycling, May 2007
Teijin Fibers Limited, Sumitomo Corporation, and Tomra Corporation have teamed up to establish a new PET bottle collection route using automatic collection machines. Adachi Ward's "Adachi Eco-Net" has attracted attention for its point system and machine-based volume reduction, which may have an impact on system reform.

Sea Temperature Tells of Changes--Shadows Creeping on Fisheries and Dining Tables, May 2007
Sea water temperatures around Japan have risen by up to 1.6 degrees Celsius. Gomamasa mackerel have displaced masaba mackerel, and nori and kelp can no longer grow. Not only the fishing industry but also food self-sufficiency is affected. In the Tsugaru Straits, the phenomenon of iso-yaki (rock scorching) is progressing, and changes are creeping into the very foundations of the ecosystem.

When the Market for Carbon Swells: The 3 Trillion Yen Impact of Emission Rights Trading, May 2007
In 2006, the emission rights trading market surpassed 3 trillion yen, with CDM and JI credit trading expanding and the U.K. becoming the largest carbon finance center.

The Future Supported by Green Certification--Wakayama Forest CO2 Absorption System, May 2007
Wakayama Prefecture has established a system to certify CO2 absorption by forests on a 100-year basis for corporate forest activities. Twenty-seven organizations have already participated in this system, which is designed to balance the maintenance of devastated mountainous areas and global warming countermeasures. Cooperation between local communities and companies is being reevaluated.

From Development to Restoration -- Transformation of Public Works and Harmonization with the Environment, May 2007
Public works projects such as tideland restoration, eco-friendly roads, and the construction of recycling facilities have been transformed to be in harmony with nature. Under the Law for the Promotion of Nature Restoration, sustainable urban design and wide-area waste disposal are also progressing. Construction companies are also expected to play new roles.

The Silent Lake: The Loss of "Total Circulation" in Lake Biwa, May 2007
For the first time, total circulation, the key to oxygen supply, has not been confirmed in the northern part of Lake Biwa. The warm winter resulted in a lack of cooling and melting snow, delaying the recovery of oxygen levels. There are concerns about the future impact on water quality and the ecosystem, and ongoing investigations are continuing.

Construction Machines Tilling Farmland--Construction Industry Pioneers Local Agriculture, May 2007
The construction industry is expanding into agriculture. Particularly in Hokkaido, contract farming utilizing machinery and labor is expanding. In response to the trend toward smaller and more dispersed farmland, composite management, including high value-added crops and tourist farms, has emerged. They are seeking new pillars for the local economy.

A New Industry Lit by Waste: The Biomass Business in Motion, May 2007
Biomass businesses that convert food scraps into feed and energy are starting up in various regions. The seeds of a new industry linked to agriculture and forestry are growing, and integration with solar and wind power is progressing. Against the backdrop of shrinking public works projects, the construction industry is finding a way to make a breakthrough in the environmental field.