The Central Environmental Council proposed Wednesday that the government consider introducing an environmental tax as one measure to combat global warming and air pollution.

The proposal was made in a report submitted to Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.

In the report, an updated version of the nation's Basic Environment Plan, the Environment Agency advisory panel outlined basic environmental policy proposals for the early 21st century.

The report is expected to be approved at a Dec. 22 Cabinet meeting, officials said.

The updated draft of the plan establishes 11 areas for priority attention, setting global warming and the creation of a recycling-intensive society at the top, with the plan's ultimate objective being the realization of a sustainable society. It discusses potential environment taxes, such as a carbon tax to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, stating that they merit further consideration.

Other areas to receive priority attention include chemical pollution, biodiversity, traffic, environment education, local environmental initiatives and international contributions.

To guarantee effective government implementation of the plan and its principles, the revision will require ministries to submit annual progress reports evaluating progress toward meeting environmental objectives outlined in the plan. The agency's top advisory council will review these reports and detail them in the organ's annual white paper, possibly spurring other ministries to take more environmental measures, officials said.

The first plan was created in 1995. It is to be reviewed again in five years.