Based on the Act on Promoting the Treatment of Marine Debris Affecting the Conservation of Good Coastal Landscapes and Environments to Protect Natural Beauty and Variety 2009, coordination in Japan was developed in the form of a council for promotion of measures against marine litter. Table 1 lists the ministries and agencies under the council and their responsibilities.
Table 1. Ministries and Agencies Under the Council and Their Responsibilities
Ministry and Agency | Responsibility |
|---|---|
Ministry of the Environment | Act as the Secretariat of the council, manage council affairs |
Assume main responsibility on marine litter and waste management | |
Comprehensively and effectively formulate basic policy to promote measures against marine debris | |
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | Manage fishery-based litter |
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism | Table 1. Ministries and Agencies Under the Council and Their ResponsibilitiesMinistry and AgencyResponsibilityMinistry of the EnvironmentAct as the Secretariat of the council, manage council affairsAssume main responsibility on marine litter and waste managementComprehensively and effectively formulate basic policy to promote measures against marine debrisMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesManage fishery-based litterMinistry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and TourismManage riverside, port, and sea route litterMinistry of Economy, Trade and IndustryManage industrial activities related to industry-based litterJapan Meteorological AgencyConduct research on marine plastic debrisJapan Coast GuardRaise awareness on marine environment conservationSource: Government of Japan (2009); Ministry of the Environment (2018). Manage riverside, port, and sea route litter |
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry | Manage industrial activities related to industry-based litter |
Japan Meteorological Agency | Conduct research on marine plastic debris |
Japan Coast Guard | Raise awareness on marine environment conservation |
Source: Government of Japan (2009); Ministry of the Environment (2018).
Article 12 states that coordination shall also be enhanced within local governments, business entities, the public, and private organisations, not only in coastal areas but also in all regions. The coordination mechanism is based on the basic policy formulated by the national government.
On 31 May 2019, Japan reinforced its commitment to lead global collaboration through the Ministerial Council on Marine Plastic Litter. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated that Japan will exercise leadership in resolving the marine plastic litter issue (Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet, 2019). ‘We intend to lead worldwide efforts strongly by fully utilising our experiences and technologies in our efforts to contribute to the world, such as extending support to capacity building of developing countries, and to understand the actual situation both domestically and globally,’ said Prime Minister Abe in a speech. The Prime Minister mandated the relevant ministries to work on this issue thoroughly, following the approved action plan.
Government of Japan (2009), Act on Promoting the Treatment of Marine Debris Affecting the Conservation of Good Coastal Landscapes and Environments to Protect Natural Beauty and Variety. http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/jap174308.pdf (accessed 21 November 2019).
Ministry of the Environment (2018), Progress in Addressing Marine Litter in Japan. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/26454/Progress_ML_JPN.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (accessed 21 November 2019).
Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet (2019), Ministerial Council on Marine Plastic Litter. https://japan.kantei.go.jp/98_abe/actions/201905/_00059.html (accessed 25 November 2019).
Based on the Act on Promoting the Treatment of Marine Debris Affecting the Conservation of Good Coastal Landscapes and Environments to Protect Natural Beauty and Variety 2009, coordination in Japan was developed in the form of a council for promotion of measures against marine litter. Table 1 lists the ministries and agencies under the council and their responsibilities.
Table 1. Ministries and Agencies Under the Council and Their Responsibilities
Ministry and Agency | Responsibility |
|---|---|
Ministry of the Environment | Act as the Secretariat of the council, manage council affairs |
Assume main responsibility on marine litter and waste management | |
Comprehensively and effectively formulate basic policy to promote measures against marine debris | |
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | Manage fishery-based litter |
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism | Table 1. Ministries and Agencies Under the Council and Their ResponsibilitiesMinistry and AgencyResponsibilityMinistry of the EnvironmentAct as the Secretariat of the council, manage council affairsAssume main responsibility on marine litter and waste managementComprehensively and effectively formulate basic policy to promote measures against marine debrisMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesManage fishery-based litterMinistry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and TourismManage riverside, port, and sea route litterMinistry of Economy, Trade and IndustryManage industrial activities related to industry-based litterJapan Meteorological AgencyConduct research on marine plastic debrisJapan Coast GuardRaise awareness on marine environment conservationSource: Government of Japan (2009); Ministry of the Environment (2018). Manage riverside, port, and sea route litter |
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry | Manage industrial activities related to industry-based litter |
Japan Meteorological Agency | Conduct research on marine plastic debris |
Japan Coast Guard | Raise awareness on marine environment conservation |
Source: Government of Japan (2009); Ministry of the Environment (2018).
Article 12 states that coordination shall also be enhanced within local governments, business entities, the public, and private organisations, not only in coastal areas but also in all regions. The coordination mechanism is based on the basic policy formulated by the national government.
On 31 May 2019, Japan reinforced its commitment to lead global collaboration through the Ministerial Council on Marine Plastic Litter. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated that Japan will exercise leadership in resolving the marine plastic litter issue (Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet, 2019). ‘We intend to lead worldwide efforts strongly by fully utilising our experiences and technologies in our efforts to contribute to the world, such as extending support to capacity building of developing countries, and to understand the actual situation both domestically and globally,’ said Prime Minister Abe in a speech. The Prime Minister mandated the relevant ministries to work on this issue thoroughly, following the approved action plan.
Government of Japan (2009), Act on Promoting the Treatment of Marine Debris Affecting the Conservation of Good Coastal Landscapes and Environments to Protect Natural Beauty and Variety. http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/jap174308.pdf (accessed 21 November 2019).
Ministry of the Environment (2018), Progress in Addressing Marine Litter in Japan. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/26454/Progress_ML_JPN.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (accessed 21 November 2019).
Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet (2019), Ministerial Council on Marine Plastic Litter. https://japan.kantei.go.jp/98_abe/actions/201905/_00059.html (accessed 25 November 2019).
