Japanese Pattern Camellia Vol.9 March 2015 Feature Current topics The 8th Meeting of the Regional Environmental Sustainable P. 4 Transport (EST) Forum in Asia P. 2 Revision of the Fluorocarbons The Leading Low-carbon Technology (L2-Tech) List (Draft) in Law P. 5 Fiscal 2014 The Invasive Alien Species List of Japan and The Invasive P. 6 Alien Species Control Action Plan Relay Column National Parks Voice of MOE of Japan Family in the World P. 7 JCM Project Underway in Mongolia Harmonious Coexistence of People and Nature, Bonn – Evolving Tackling Marine Litter through International P. 8 Aso-Kuju National Park, P. 8 International City P. 7 Network Aso Area Revision of the Fluorocarbons Law In order to further strengthen the emission control of fluorocarbons that cause ozone depletion and global warming, the Fluorocarbons Recovery and Destruction Law was revised in June 2013 and will be put in force from April 1, 2015. This revision is intended to provide measures to promote efforts towards emission control over the entire life cycle of fluorocarbons by significantly expanding the scope of regulation from the existing framework that ensures proper treatment of used ÀXRURFDUERQVWKURXJKWKHLUUHFRYHU\DQGGHVWUXFWLRQ Therefore the name of the law has also been changed to "the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons." chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochloro- Background to the Revision of the fluorocarbons (HCFCs) are restricted under the Fluorocarbons Law - Fluorocarbons Control as Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the a Central Issue in Tackling Global Warming - Ozone Layer, and their production in the developed Fluorocarbons are substances that are utilized countries is scheduled to be completely abolished in for various operations such as refrigerants in air 2020. conditioners and refrigerators or foaming agents 2QWKHRWKHUKDQGWKHHPLVVLRQVRIK\GURÀXRUR for heat insulators because they are chemically carbons (HFCs), non-ozone-depleting substances, very stable, easy to handle, and less toxic and thus have been on the increase as a result of rapid shift deeply-rooted in our everyday lives. from ozone-depleting CFCs and HCFCs to HFCs. Moreover, it has been revealed that the amount The production and import of ozone-depleting Figure1 Outline of the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons (scheduled to be effective from April 2015) Covering the entire life cycle of fluorocarbons (2) Promotion of shift to alternative refrigerants (shift to FluorocarbonF producers non-fluorocarbon/low-GWP products) (1) Reduction of new Refrigeration Air conditioner Low-GWP/ showcase using using a Products using low-GWP/ production of natural refrigerants a CO2 low-GWP natural refrigerants fluorocarbons by refrigerant refrigerant conversion / recycling Fluorocarbons thereof Non-fluorocarbon Non-fluorocarbon heat insulator dust blower Manufactures of products Product users (5) Proper recycling containing fluorocarbons Periodic Partial operation; confirmation inspection recycling of completion of (3) Proper management of recycling/recovery by refrigerants used in issuance of a certificate commercial equipment Inspection/ Report of (reduction of in-use leakage) filling in the event of leakage malfunction amount Filling/recovery operators (filling) Obligation to Destruction operators/ Filling/recovery (4) Proper filling operation destroy fluorocarbons recycling operators operators (recovery) Feature , QRUGHUWRIXUWKHUVWUHQJWKHQWKHHPLVVLRQFRQWURORIÀXRURFDUERQVWKDWFDXVHR]RQH depletion and global warming, the Fluorocarbons Recovery and Destruction Law was revised in June 2013 and will be put in force from April 1, 2015. This revision is intended to provide measures to promote efforts towards emission control over the entire life cycle of fluorocarbons by significantly expanding the scope of regulation from the existing framework that ensures proper treatment of XVHGÀXRURFDUERQVWKURXJKWKHLUUHFRYHU\DQGGHVWUXFWLRQ of HFCs emissions is expected to be more than Law to the Cabinet in 2013, which was enacted and double the current amount in 2020 unless additional promulgated in June of the same year (See Figure 1). measures are taken. )XUWKHUPRUHZKLOHÀXRURFDUERQHPLVVLRQVKDYH Outline of the Revised Law - Emission Control increased, the government's existing framework and over the Entire Life Cycle of Fluorocarbons HIIRUWVIRUÀXRURFDUERQVFRQWUROKDYHWXUQHGRXWWR The revised Fluorocarbons Law intends to EHLQVXI¿FLHQW strengthen the measures for emission reduction Under such circumstances, the Central Environ- by promoting fluorocarbon-free in designated ment Council made recommendations to the products and fluorocarbon substitutes which have Minister of the Environment that a comprehensive lower greenhouse effect. This approach to focus on review of fluorocarbons control measures was PDQXIDFWXULQJSURFHVVLVYHU\VLJQL¿FDQWDVDORQJ needed. The Ministry of the Environment and the term and fundamental measure which aims for a Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry jointly ÀXRURFDUERQIUHHVRFLHW\ submitted a bill for the revision of the Fluorocarbons Also, other big features in the Revised Law are Figure2 Report of Calculated Leakage Amount the short- and mid-term measures as described in Filling/recovery operators the following two new efforts aimed at promoting SURSHUPDQDJHPHQWRIÀXRURFDUERQVUHIULJHUDQWVIRU Issuance of certificate of refrigerant filling/recovery commercial refrigerating/air conditioning equipment that are already commonly-used, and at preventing ,QIRUPDWLRQ Place of business A Place of business B in-use leakage. 3URFHVVLQJ &HQWHU 1. Formulation and publication of criteria for DWD judgment concerning measures that should be'٘ DJJUHJDWLRn XWLOL]LQJ taken by users of commercial refrigerating and air WKH&HQWHU LVSRVVLEOH conditioning equipment 2. The publication system for reporting on calculated Report of filled amount (leakage amount) by refrigerant type ÀXRURFDUERQOHDNDJHDPRXQW VHH)LJXUH Headquarters Conclusion (adding up the reported amount from all places of business) Global warming is a threat that has a serious %HORZD $EXVLQHVVHQWLW\ZKHUHWKHWRWDOOHDNDJHDPRXQWQDWLRQZLGH FHUWDLQ LVDERYHDFHUWDLQOHYHO LPSDFWRQWKHJOREDOHQYLURQPHQWDQGÀXRURFDUERQV OHYHO Items to be included in the report control is a very crucial part of global warming ・Name and address of the business entity ・Calculated leakage amount of fluorocarbons (amount, CO2 equivalent, nationwide mitigation measures. We will therefore continue our total and total amount by prefecture, place of business with leakage above a certain level, etc. Subject efforts to ensure that the new obligations under the to 5HSRUWDQQXDOO\ An entity which operates two or more businesses Revised Law are performed properly. shall report the same obliga- Minister Having Jurisdiction over the Business contents to all relevant tion Ministers having jurisdiction over the to 1RWLI\ businesses. report Minister of Environment & Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry the leak- age 1RWLI\ SXEOLFL]HWKHWRWDOUHVXOWVRIHDFKSUHIHFWXUH amount Motoyuki KUMAKURA Not subject to obligation to Prefectures Director report the leakage Office of Fluorocarbons Control Policy amount Global Environmental Bureau Current topics The 8th Meeting of the Regional Environmental Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum in Asia Next Generation Solutions for Sustainable Transport The Ministry of the Environment (MOE), in cooperation adopted the Addendum to Kyoto Declaration towards with the United Nations Centre for Regional Development Realizing Resilient, Smart, and Livable cities in Asia. (UNCRD), the Ministry of Environment & Renewable MOE will, in close cooperation also with relevant Energy and the Ministry of Transport of Democratic organizations such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and Clean Air Asia co- Transport and Tourism, actively continue to work on the organized the 8th Regional EST Forum in Asia in Colombo, realization of EST with the focus on Asia. Sri Lanka from November 19 to 21, 2014. This time, the meeting was integrated with the International Conference on Better Air Quality 2014 (BAQ2014) and attended by approximately 1,000 participants. The Regional EST Forum in Asia was established by MOE and UNCRD in 2005, which has been successfully promoting cooperation towards the realization of Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) in Asia through policy dialogues with Asian countries. The 8th Forum adopted the Colombo Declaration for the promotion of next generation low-carbon transport solutions in Asia, with the participation of about 230 LQGLYLGXDOVLQFOXGLQJVHQLRUJRYHUQPHQWRI¿FLDOV HJIURP environmental and transport related Ministries) of 21 Asian countries, academic experts in the fields of transport and ̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶ the environment, and those involved in intergovernmental More Information: organizations. In the forum, the Special Event of Asian Regional EST Forum (UNCRD) Mayors was held which the mayors and city representatives http://www.uncrd.or.jp/index.php?menu=384 Chihiro NAKAGAWA Researcher Environmental Transport Policy Division Environmental Management Bureau Current topics The Leading Low-carbon Technology (L2-Tech) List (Draft) in Fiscal 2014 The L2-Tech List for Initiating of "the Best Standards" system for industrial use. Plug-in hybrid cars that can charge batteries directly from domestic power sources can increase the proportion of electrical driving. Such information will be utilized mainly for the MOE's measures for technology implementation assistance,