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Nikkei Ecology

February 2005 Issue

Cover Story 1

Scrutinize the science behind the environmental issues
How credible are the scientific hypotheses on global warming, ecosystem destruction, petroleum resource depletion, and other concerns?

Global warming: Are we really experiencing 6°C increase by 2100?

Biodiversity: Are the fauna and flora really on the brink of extinction?

Forest conservation: Do the forests truly breathe in CO₂?

Endocrine disruptors: How much have we learned about their risks?
Petroleum resources: Is that true that we will use up the petroleum in 4
1 years?

The new “dogmas” in environmental issues continue to appear

Cover Story 2

Trends and possible measures of the Kyoto Protocol
Private sectors take a leadership role in “emission right trading”

Report

Risk communication
Dialogues with the local communities become more important for corporations while their attitudes are questioned

Technology Frontline

Products
[Large-scale solar power generation] New systems generate as much as 1,000-kW electricity from the solar energy

Trend
[Hydrogen-methane two-stage fermentation technology] Hydrogen and methane are simultaneously generated from kitchen waste

Elements
[Inkjet circuit production] Epson aims at commercial production of circuit boards in 2007 by using inkjet techniques

Technology & people
[Komei Harada, National Institute for Materials Science] Maximizing the values of ecological materials

“Honor students” in recycling
[Beer brewing byproducts] With added values, byproducts from beer brewing can create 700 million yen sales a year


Technology News Clips

Learn about environmental laws

Easy-to-understand Environmental Law
[Law Relating to the Prevention of Marine Pollution and Maritime Disaster, as amended] Control of gas emission and waste generation from vessels is tightened

Environmental Laws Q & A
Why was the Basic Environmental Law chosen as one of the electives for the bar exam from 2006?

This Month’s Environmental Law
Three laws are implemented to conserve landscape and urban green areas

Kenichiro Sato’s Report from the Diet
Vertical administrative structure must be corrected and information from citizens must be effectively utilized to solve environmental problems

Trend and News

Environmental policies in 2005
Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol is to accelerate Japan’s domestic measures against global warming, while reduction of waste generation is to be promoted by the introduction of a charging system for domestic waste collection

Global warming
COP10 fails to show the picture of “post-Kyoto Protocol” framework

Recycling
Battery is not in the scope of the Automobile Recycling Law but is to be treated in a separate system

Biomass
High prices of crude oil push forward development and production of plant-based plastics as well as designing of a biomass plastic labeling system

Fuel cells
Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. introduces a leasing program to promote fuel cell cogeneration system, albeit the lease set at one million yen for 10 years will bring deficits to the company

CSR Frontline
Founder of the Natural Step International: “CSR management needs a vision”

Corporate responsibility is still sought 20 years after the tragic accident in Bhopal

ECO Interview
Isao Negoro, President of Negoro Sangyo Co., Ltd.: “Used materials can be recycled endlessly as long as an ‘exit’ is prepared for them”


ECO Column

Kankan Gakugaku (Active Argument over Environmental Issues)
Emiko Seal, cyclist and adventurer

Takuro Morinaga’s ECO Lifestyle
Tips for healthy, long life still remain in Okinawa even after the drastic changes of local lifestyle

Fieldwork Japan
Black bass extermination programs include relishing of the game


Report

Vice-Rector Itaru Yasui’s “Eco Michelin”
Dish washer and drier

Achieve the Top Sales with Eco Products!
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. / Passol

Inside-Out

[Digging up waste from landfills - part 2] Frequent troubles threaten Takasago City in Hyogo Prefecture

WorldWatch Institute
The holy land with scarce wildlife species in the demilitarized zone in the Korean Peninsula needs protection from development

ECO Seminar

How to make the best use of ISO
[Efforts by NEC part 2] Setting up the ultimate goals of ISO activities and enhancing the knowledge of sales people with “three-minute studies”

New Environmental Studies
[Environmental and social considerations in official development aids] Information disclosure is promoted to facilitate monitoring of ODA programs by NGOs

Quick Guide to Environmental Key Words
Triple bottom line

Learn from Environmental Reports of Companies Overseas
SABMiller plc (UK) - part 2

World Trend

From EU <NEW>
Japanese corporations may face the “Year 2006 problem,” as the European Parliament prepares the REACH program to regulate chemical substances comprehensively

From UK
Can Russia be a responsible player in the emission trading market?

From USA
Whale fins and other things in nature can tell us much about technologies that can be applied to reduce resistance of vessels and airplanes

From Germany
Multitiered governance is essential to strengthen the strategies to realize sustainable development

From China
While the registration system of exporters to China is ready to start, no sign is yet in sight for resuming of waste plastic export

Nikkei BP EcoManagement Forum

[ECO graph]
Fuel cells for household use are ready to be launched on the market