Catharina Klein
Research expert covering Japan
Environmental pollution in Japan - statistics & facts
Even though Japan's greenhouse gas emissions have decreased throughout the past decade, air pollution causes over 44 thousand deaths annually. Rapid industrial development, economic growth, and the increase of the country's population have contributed to air, land, and marine pollution becoming major environmental issues. In addition to pollution caused by human activity, frequent natural disasters contribute to it as well: Volcanic eruptions can cause pollutants to be emitted in large quantities, while typhoons, earthquakes, and tsunamis cause waste pollution on both land and in the ocean.
Another environmental issue that is caused by human activity is waste pollution. Japan represents one of the largest producers and consumers of plastic products, resulting in large amounts of plastic waste. With a rate of 75 percent, incineration is the most widely used waste treatment method, as it can easily reduce the volume of waste. Despite filtering technologies, the incineration process produces greenhouse gases that contribute to air pollution and global warming.
To improve the air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the country focuses on increasing its use of nuclear and renewable energy. Nevertheless, there was international criticism that Japan is too slow in abandoning fossil fuels.
As a measure to reduce waste pollution, the Japanese government promotes the so-called 3R initiative, which encourages businesses and citizens to focus on the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. However, Japan's waste recycling rate has remained low at around 20 percent over the past decade.
As the awareness of environmental issues is rising and the effects of pollution and global warming are becoming more apparent, the majority of Japanese people deem environmentally friendly actions important. Many already try to reduce waste, for example, by using refillable products. However, the Japanese government has so far failed to reach the citizens with its initiatives to promote waste reduction and recycling, as the share of people who know about 3R remains low.
Main causes of environmental pollution
A major cause of air pollution is fossil fuel combustion, which is produced from power plants, industrial facilities, and automobiles. Therefore, most pollution areas are highly populated, urban areas. Since natural gas and coal remain the largest sources for electricity generation in Japan, the energy conversion sector was the main polluting sector, causing the majority of carbon dioxide emissions.Another environmental issue that is caused by human activity is waste pollution. Japan represents one of the largest producers and consumers of plastic products, resulting in large amounts of plastic waste. With a rate of 75 percent, incineration is the most widely used waste treatment method, as it can easily reduce the volume of waste. Despite filtering technologies, the incineration process produces greenhouse gases that contribute to air pollution and global warming.
Measures to reduce pollution
Following the increasing number of marine pollution cases alongside rapid industrialization, the Japanese government enacted the Water Pollution Control Law in 1970. The law prohibits the discharge of wastewater that does not meet the effluent water quality standards.To improve the air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the country focuses on increasing its use of nuclear and renewable energy. Nevertheless, there was international criticism that Japan is too slow in abandoning fossil fuels.
As a measure to reduce waste pollution, the Japanese government promotes the so-called 3R initiative, which encourages businesses and citizens to focus on the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. However, Japan's waste recycling rate has remained low at around 20 percent over the past decade.
As the awareness of environmental issues is rising and the effects of pollution and global warming are becoming more apparent, the majority of Japanese people deem environmentally friendly actions important. Many already try to reduce waste, for example, by using refillable products. However, the Japanese government has so far failed to reach the citizens with its initiatives to promote waste reduction and recycling, as the share of people who know about 3R remains low.
