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This policy brief explores opportunities to improve Japan’s strategy for promoting and strengthening green markets across East Asia by addressing both Japan’s domestic strengths as an environmental leader and also the emerging needs for green market development in other East Asian countries. Responding to a diversity of factors, this brief proposes...

In the last two decades policies based on extended producer responsibility (EPR) have been implemented for a wide range of products, especially in industrialised economies. Now, an increasing number of Asian economies similarly find themselves facing increasing amounts of difficult-to-treat waste and associated health, social and environmental...

The natural forests of many Asia-Pacific countries are rapidly degrading or disappearing, threatened by a complex array of forces and appropriate measures for sustainable forest management are urgently required. Japan, as a major importer of tropical timber, has considered revising the basic principle for the promotion of eco-friendly products in...

The Asian region is experiencing a rapid expansion of the cross-border market for recyclable materials (recyclables). As a consequence of rapid economic growth in the region, the demand for resources has increased. On the other hand, there are also negative impacts on the environment and human health, especially in developing countries, because of...

Partly due to the worldwide upsurge in industrial demand for timber, the number of planted forests has increased ten-fold in the last 20 years. These planted forests currently comprise only about 5% of the world’s forest area, but supply 35% of industrial logs and have critical roles to play in releasing pressure on natural forests, mitigating...

Developing countries in Asia are struggling to cope with the negative impacts of concentrated industrial activities. Inspired by the theory of industrial ecology, eco-towns or eco-industrial parks are frequently promoted in many localities as a strategy for reducing the environmental burden of industry in a way that is consistent with economic...

The East Asia region has been a hot spot of economic growth, and a substantial amount of energy input is essential to fuel this growth. Given the diverse conditions of economic, demographic, physical and natural resources in this region, a harmonised and integrated energy market will be beneficial to secure an affordable and reliable energy supply...

The global community is expecting local governments to play an increasingly important role in promoting sustainable development. However, the ability of local governments to do so, especially in some developed countries, may be weakening due to a possible decline in citizen interest and support as well as worsening fiscal and other constraints...

The low-carbon technology transfer is a key to achieve environmentally sound development in Asia. This policy brief provides several options on how to promote this process. Remarks: Japanese version: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/view.php?docid=3979

Current waste management practices in cities in developing Asia are a threat to human health and to the environment. This policy brief focuses on biological methods with lower emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), and argues that national and local governments have key roles to play in mainstreaming these methods. It also recommends policy packages...