Search - environment

 
 
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 16, 2023

In Tokyo, a more natural vision for an unnatural waterfront

Against a history of development and environmental issues, a plan by the Tokyo government conjures up images of lush parks and biodiverse shores. Bringing it to fruition won't be easy.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / Longform
Jan 16, 2023

The race to save the Japanese giant salamander

River infrastructure is causing the salamander's decline. To stop Japan from losing this rare species, conservationists are calling for an alternative vision of rural development.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 19, 2021

From LDP 'prince' to punchline: What happened to Shinjiro Koizumi?

In addition to being regularly lampooned on social media, the environment minister has struggled to maintain his influence amid COVID-19 and as a Cabinet insider.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 14, 2020

Paris accord under threat if virus trumps climate change, Koizumi says

Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi warned Monday that the Paris climate accord could face "death" if steps to fight global warming are put on the back burner to facilitate the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health / FOCUS
Jun 24, 2018

India speeds up environmental approval process for major industrial projects

India is fast-tracking environmental clearances for projects like power plants and coal mines in a bid to boost growth, setting off alarm bells among environmentalists and affected residents who say the decisions are being made too quickly.
EDITORIALS
Jul 22, 2017

Protecting the marine environment

Japan can and should do more to preserve the world's oceans.
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Sep 11, 2003

'War on Terror' veils assaults on the environment

Alread two years have passed since terrorist attacks in New York and Washington shook America and shocked the world. Today, the repercussions of those tragedies continue to impact American lives in ways never imagined. For environmentalists, one of the most disturbing consequences has been the Bush administration's...
LIFE / Language
May 3, 2002

Never too young to start making a difference

You don't have to wait until you're grown up to be counted. In fact, if you're between 10 and 12 years old, you're the perfect age to take part in the International Children's Conference on the Environment. And to start thinking of how to preserve and improve the world that you are living in.
JAPAN
May 30, 2001

Environment Ministry plugs green tax in first white paper

In its inaugural white paper approved Tuesday by the Cabinet, the Environment Ministry is touting the merits of introducing an environment tax to help put Japan on a more environmentally sustainable path and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 8, 2022

Tide turns as more governments oppose rush to mine deep sea for valuable metals

A U.N.-affiliated authority is convening in Jamaica to fast track regulations that could allow the mining of fragile and biodiverse deep sea ecosystems for valuable metals as soon as 2024.
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 4, 2022

Big Oil's plastic boom threatens U.N.'s 'historic' pollution pact

When the U.N. agreed on a deal to create the world's first ever global plastic pollution treaty, every party was quick to claim victory, but that could spell trouble.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 11, 2021

China teaches children its own version of the climate change story

China's state-led approach to climate change is less tolerant of public debate over how it's going to reach its emissions targets.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT
Jan 16, 2021

The true cost of the climate crisis on Japan

The prime minister has called for Japan to be carbon neutral by 2050, but bolder measures look necessary to reduce the economic damage caused by global warming.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 8, 2019

Trump to tout green bona fides while gutting environmental rules

Donald Trump is preparing a novel campaign strategy for a president who's pulling the U.S. from the international Paris accord on climate change, cheerleading for coal, one of the dirtiest source of power, and suggesting that wind turbines cause cancer.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / IDEAS IN ACTION
Oct 5, 2018

Company stumbles upon new software to build healthy work environment

Haruki Atarashi never thought his company's flagship software, Recog, which fosters communication between employees within companies, would ever evolve beyond just an internal project.
EDITORIALS
Jun 26, 2015

Pope Francis as environmentalist

Pope Francis has issued a powerful call on mankind to protect the environment, achieving an important alignment of science and religion.
EDITORIALS
Jun 13, 2015

Rural revitalization can be green

Revitalizing rural areas, in addition to slowing the exodus of people to big cities, could also lead to improved environmental conservation.
EDITORIALS
Oct 5, 2012

Environment tax in effect

The environment tax was introduced from Oct. 1. Although the introduction came very late, it is hoped that the new tax will help change the mind-set and behavior of enterprises and consumers so that they can contribute to mitigating global warming through reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, which...
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Oct 28, 2004

Where the candidates stand on your environment

When it comes to politics, I'm a one-issue voter, and the environment is my litmus test. More often than not, if a politician is responsive to environmental concerns, then he or she is likely to support other policies I care about.
COMMENTARY
Mar 29, 2004

Environment tax can work

On Nov. 18 the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Nippon Keidanren) issued a statement opposing a proposed environment tax. Keidanren noted that it had set its own fiscal 2010 targets for reducing carbon-dioxide emissions generated by the industrial and energy-conversion sectors below 1990 levels,...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 27, 2003

New environment minister seeking to boost PR efforts

The Environment Ministry needs to work on making better presentations to the public if it hopes to create greater awareness of environmental issues, according to newly appointed Environment Minister Yuriko Koike.
JAPAN
May 31, 2000

Report suggests environment tax to combat global warming

The 2000 white paper on the environment released Tuesday called for the introduction of an environment tax so Japan can more vigorously combat global warming and waste dumping, government officials said.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jun 18, 2023

How Japan's top soccer league is striving to become a climate leader

As the league continues to grow, and as climate change wreaks havoc on operations, its quest to bring healthier lifestyles to the Japanese public has expanded into environmental issues.
Japan Times
EDITORIALS
Dec 23, 2022

A looming biodiversity crisis demands action

Some 188 governments agreed to a sweeping deal to protect the Earth's biodiversity at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference: COP15 that convened earlier this month in Montreal, Canada.
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Dec 20, 2021

Inside the deadly water crisis threatening Iran’s leadership

The nation's long-brewing crisis over water scarcity is the result of decades of unchecked industrial expansion.
Japan Times
JAPAN / G20 Osaka
Jun 26, 2019

Odds of sweeping deal slim, Japan to use Osaka G20 to tackle plastic waste problem one step at a time

When international delegates arrived at Karuizawa Station for the Group of 20 environment ministers' meeting earlier this month, they were greeted by local schoolchildren, bilingual volunteers — and a wild boar the size of an elephant.
While not the most outspoken politician on the issue, digital minister Taro Kono has a track record of being serious in his commitment to addressing the climate crisis.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change / OUR PLANET
May 19, 2024

The politicians moving Japan forward on climate

In the halls of power, climate-friendly voices may be few and far between, but some in politics are pushing for more aggressive action on decarbonization.
An activist in Seoul protests Japan’s plan to release treated wastewater from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
PODCAST / deep dive
Sep 7, 2023

Anger at Fukushima’s wastewater; hope in its renewables

Good news and bad news out of Fukushima.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?