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Nikkei Ecology

March 2006 Issue

Cover Story

Asbestos issues
Taking up the challenges of the “negative heritage,” which has been shaking up the society


Kubota Corporation—recent development
Now is the time to fully face the “risks taken in the past”

User companies
Complete information disclosure is the key to alleviate consumer anxieties

Manufacturer companies
Social acceptance can be gained by the attitudes to learn from the past and to make improvement for the future

Lesson that Japan can learn from the U.S. cases
Corporations are at the risk of facing expensive lawsuits

Alternative materials
Technologies to develop alternative materials are eagerly awaited as implementation of a total ban on asbestos use nears

Detoxification technologies
Fritting asbestos is a promising method, but its high cost is creating a barrier before dissemination

Introductory information on asbestos
Debt left by the “dream material”

Practical information on asbestos
Countermeasures are no longer something that you “should” take, but something that you “must” take

Report
Will Japan be able to comply with the Kyoto Protocol?
The national government and corporations are to start full-scale measures for the Kyoto Mechanism

Learn about Technologies

First Step in Technology
[PCB treatment] 30 years after the implementation of production ban, competition heats up in development of chemical treatment processes

Products
[Information system on global warming measures] Emission estimates and budget-priced reduction measures are available with simple operation

New Energy
[Technologies to stabilize wind power generation] New capacitor mitigates the fluctuation level with quick charge and discharge

Energy Conservation
[New type of nickel-hydride rechargeable battery] SANYO Corporation finds solution for the “self discharge” problem and now aims to fully replace the conventional dry cells with rechargeable batteries

“Honor Students” in Recycling
[Kitchen waste] Kitchen waste is made into compost at constant 5°C and used as a deodorant agent in railroad station rest rooms

Learn about Environmental Laws

Easy-to-Understand Environmental Law
[U.S. Energy Policy Act Part 2] Energy consumptions in the transport sector are not likely to start declining even after the new act is enforced

How to Read the Waste Disposal Law Part 2
Definition of waste

Environmental Laws Q & A
Are there any cost-effective ways to treat PCB waste in storage?

This Month’s Environmental Law
Development of laws for asbestos treatment is under way

Trend and News

Recycling
Containers and Packaging Recycling Law is to be revised without reaching a clear-cut solution on the problem of responsibility allocation between businesses and governments, leaving dissatisfaction among the stakeholders

North American International Auto Show
Hybrids, compact cars and other high fuel-efficiency vehicles regain popularity in the U.S.

Nuclear Energy
The reprocessing plant in Aomori Prefecture comes one step closer to operation

Measures against Global Warming
Twice more types of manufacturers now show their interest in emission right trading

Measures against Global Warming
Six countries, including Japan, the U.S., China and India, held a meeting to discuss “how to supplement the Kyoto Protocol”

Natural Energy
Two Japanese heavy-industry companies succeed to build large-scale wind power generators, proving the capabilities of Japanese manufacturers over the Western competitors

Abnormal Weather Phenomena
The year 2005 experienced a record-high heat followed by extraordinarily snowfall; what is the relation to global warming?

Environmental Business
Peter Rabbit supports environment-friendly businesses

Solar Cell
Sharp Corporation aims to halve the generating cost in five years

CSR Frontline

Chinese governments and corporations intensify enthusiasm in CSR

Questioning the rationale of the Nuclear Renaissance after 20 years from the Chernobyl accident


Kyoto Mechanism
Q and A to understand the Kyoto Mechanism

Q: From when and how will the emission right trading for CDM activities be operated?
A: The credits are to reach Japan in 2007 before the launch of the international trading in 2008


Learn about Environmental Issues

True and false of environmental science
[Acid rain] Is it the principal offender to cause forest dieback?

Threats waiting around the corner
The constantly overcrowded “swan lakes” may be a result from feeding and global warming

Junko Edahiro’s eye-opening facts on environmental terms in English
[“Growth” and “development”]


Column

Kankan Gakugaku (Active Argument over Environmental Issues)
Kenichiro Mogi, brain scientist

Secret tips for environmental management
The management system and information disclosure form the backbone of environmental management

Cuisines of Japan
Persimmons are disappearing from rural landscape -- both in the back yards and under the eaves

Honest opinions by the “eco-moms”
Have the “warm biz” outfits gained popularity among businessmen?

Artisanship in repairing
Furniture repairing by Daniel Inc.

The reality of NPOs
[Japan Association of Environment and Society for the 21st Century] The opinion leader in politics takes advantage of the connection with the Environmental Agency now for environmental activities

Report

Inside-Out
[Asbestos waste management Part 3]
Illegal demolition of buildings with sprayed asbestos continues

From BusinessWeek
The worst of the hurricanes is yet to come

WorldWatch Institute
Investment in new energies increases while argument on the “oil production peak” intensifies

ECO Seminar

How to Make the Best Use of ISO
[Mos Food Services, Inc. Part 1] The “environmental management strategy game” to let store managers realize the values of environmental conservation

New Environmental Study
[System thinking Part 1] To build more roads is not the real solution for traffic jam — decisive measures are called for

Quick Guide to Environmental Key Words
“Industrial Waste Tax”

World Trend

From EU
The new administration of Germany is unlikely to change its course in environmental policies under the EU’s principle to harmonize the national policies of the member states

From UK
“Regulations are opportunities,” say energy companies in answer to a CDP survey

From USA
Synthetic diamond is gaining popularity because of the large environmental burden of natural diamond mining

From Germany
Wuppertal Institute and the UN Environmental Programme establish the Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP)

From China
Metal scrap recycling is growing with estimated production of 60 million or more tons for 2010