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Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 23, 2020

The secret origins of China’s 40-year plan to end carbon emissions

With a September speech to the United Nations, Chinese President Xi Jinping put a 2060 end date on his country's contribution to global warming, taking almost the whole world by surprise.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health / FOCUS
Nov 10, 2020

Trump’s environmental legacy may be lasting harm to the climate

Greenhouse pollution accumulates in the atmosphere, so the heat-trapping gases emitted as a result of loosened regulations will remain for decades, regardless of policy shifts.
Japan Times
WORLD
Aug 10, 2020

Virus-triggered economic meltdown threatens Europe's war on plastic

A drop in oil demand due to worldwide lockdowns has driven barrel prices to historic lows, making virgin plastics more affordable despite their environmental impact.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Jun 21, 2020

Pope says coronavirus should spark new environmental awareness

The drastic reduction in pollution during coronavirus lockdowns around the world should lead to greater concern for the environment as restrictions are lifted, Pope Francis said on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 21, 2020

Great expectations: Has Koike delivered on parenting, gender and climate?

Some believe support from the marginalized voices that christened Koike's first victory may no longer be present during the upcoming vote.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 12, 2020

Plastic piles up in Thailand as virus fight sidelines pollution battle

Thailand began the year with a ban on single-use plastic bags that Bangkok office worker Nicha Singhanoi hoped would cut back the waste that puts her country among the world's top five choking the oceans with plastic.
ASIA PACIFIC
May 2, 2020

As loggers exploit virus, Cambodian forest protectors defy state ban

A Cambodian conservation group has warned that logging in the protected Prey Lang forest has ramped up during the coronavirus pandemic, vowing it would continue to monitor the destruction despite government threats of legal action to stop that work.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 16, 2020

COVID-19 a threat and opportunity for Japan’s environmental activists

As COVID-19 cases rise in Japan and the world favors cleanliness over sustainability, the budding environmental movement is being forced to adapt.
BUSINESS
Feb 25, 2020

Japan to tighten policy on exporting coal power to developing countries

Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi acknowledges that international pressure is propelling the effort.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2020

Awareness of issue of plastic garbage in Japan slowly gaining steam

At a mid-December meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization and UNESCO, Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa spoke with pride about his city's successes in the area of sustainable, environmentally friendly tourism.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 13, 2019

Island states, threatened by disasters, demand urgent action at U.N. climate talks

Island nations at risk of being erased from the map by rising seas accused rich countries of losing sight of the urgency of the climate crisis on Thursday as a marathon U.N. summit in Madrid entered its final stretch.
WORLD / Science & Health
Nov 29, 2019

Vancouver becomes first Canadian city to ban plastic straws and bags

Vancouver voted late on Wednesday to ban the use of plastic straws and bags from April next year, making it the first major Canadian city to enact such a wide-reaching ban, according to the city.
Reader Mail
Nov 1, 2019

Improve work environment for teachers

I am a student. The Media Mix column titled "Schools struggle to cope with staff shortages" in the Oct. 27 edition caught my attention because I have been wondering whether to become a teacher or work for a company in the future. One of the reasons for my hesitation is a prominent part of this article....
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Sep 18, 2019

Over 300 slain in Brazil's Amazon over land and resources in past decade, HRW report says

A Human Rights Watch report on Tuesday found that more than 300 people have been killed over the past decade in conflicts over the use of land and resources in the Amazon, many by organized criminal networks profiting from illegal deforestation.
BUSINESS
Jun 18, 2019

Canada in talks with Malaysia about taking back plastic waste

The government of Canada said on Monday it is in discussions with Malaysia about retrieving plastic waste that originated from Canada and is currently in Malaysia.
BUSINESS
Jun 15, 2019

G20 envoys assemble in Nagano to discuss climate change and plastic waste

Group of 20 nations' environment and energy ministers gather to search for innovative ways to combat emissions-driven climate change and eliminate plastic waste.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 22, 2019

Malaysia, flooded with plastic waste, to send scrap back to source

Malaysia, which has become the dumping ground for the world's plastic waste, will send back nonrecyclable plastic scrap to the developed countries that sent it there, its environment minister said on Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 17, 2019

Japan to ask municipalities to dispose of industrial plastic waste as trash piles up due to China ban

Municipalities that accept the request will pass on the costs for incineration to companies generating industrial plastic.
Japan Times
WORLD
May 2, 2019

Report urges U.K. to adopt world's toughest targets as Parliament declares climate emergency

British people need to fly less, drive electric cars, eat little meat and turn their home thermostats down to 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit) in order to rein in greenhouse gases damaging the planet.
Japan Times
Apr 22, 2019

TSUNEISHI Group FY2018 Consolidated Performance Report - Shipbuilding, shipping, environment, energy, life & resort: revenue growth in all segments due to market recovery and response to demand

Consolidated sales for TSUNEISHI HOLDINGS CORPORATION (HQ: 1083 Tsuneishi, Numakuma-cho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan; President: Hirotatsu Kambara) (46 companies, including TSUNEISHI HOLDINGS) in the fiscal year (January–December 2018) came to 219.3 billion yen, a year-on-year (YOY) increase of 20.4%....
WORLD
Mar 28, 2019

Brazil to privatize some of its most famous national parks starting this year

Brazil aims to begin privatizing the management of its national parks this year, including some of its most famous natural tourist sites, the country's Environment Minister Ricardo Salles said on Wednesday.
WORLD
Feb 18, 2019

U.K. plans new tax to boost recycled plastic content and get producers to pay for waste disposal

Britain is to set out plans to overhaul its recycling system on Monday, including making producers of plastic packaging pay the full cost of dealing with their waste and introducing a deposit return scheme for cans and bottles.
Japan Times
JAPAN / GENERATIONAL CHANGE
Nov 12, 2018

Entrepreneur generates electricity solely from used cooking oil collected throughout Tokyo

For Yumi Someya, Tokyo is an untapped oil field, full of potential to generate electricity.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Oct 13, 2018

Japan to mandate that retailers charge fees for plastic bags, but plans for punishments unclear

The Environment Ministry decides to obligate retailers to charge fees for plastic checkout bags or provide loyalty points to shoppers who bring their own.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan