The government will help finance convenience stores' efforts to counter global warming, hoping their actions will encourage other entities to take similar steps nationwide, the Environment Ministry said Wednesday.
Environment Minister Yuriko Koike met executives of seven major convenience chain operators the same day and explained the program. The ministry will work out details after receiving concrete suggestions from the operators and will include the aid program in its budget plan for fiscal 2005.
The ministry said the program is likely to focus on high-efficiency air conditioning, refrigeration and lighting systems.
The ministry will decide whether to help out on the basis of criteria such as effectiveness in preventing global warming and the likelihood of spreading similar measures to other entities if employed by convenience stores.