Comparative assessment of the co-evolution of environmental indicator systems in Japan and China

Abstract This paper analyzes the evolution of environmental policies and the related indicator systems that have been introduced in both Japan and China. The findings reveal that the lack of both natural resources and space for the final disposal of wastes, resulted in Japanese policy placing special emphasis on, initially, waste treatment technologies with high capacities such as incineration, and more recently, on integrated resource management. This trend is also reflected in the recycling targets for specific waste policies proposed in the 1990s and the introduction of comprehensive resource management indicators in the early 2000s. In China, the impressive economic growth of the last decades has relied both on coal as the primary energy source and mostly small scale industries for production. However, the environmental impacts and low energy efficiency associated with both coal-power plants and small-scale industry forced the government to introduce emission reduction targets followed by energy efficiency and macro energy intensity indicators. While the importance of indicator systems and policies has been demonstrated for specific cases, such policies are not yet comprehensive. This is reflected by the finding that while Japan has improved both its resource productivity and reduced total direct material inputs into the economy, overall CO2 emissions and waste generation have increased. China also suffered a setback when its overall energy intensity started to increase in 2000 after 20 years of improvement. This study argues that a comprehensive sustainability policy is necessary in order to overcome the problems associated with production and consumption patterns and their impact on the environment. In this sense it is important to consider the different comprehensive assessment methods proposed by the scientific community in the policy making process. Finally the paper proposes that the experience of Japan and China in dealing with environmental issues could be an important reference for policy development in Asia.