2,095 billion for Environment

Japanese Ministry of the Environment announced that Japanese government plans to spend 2,095 billion Yen (18 billion USD) for the environment.
This figure is the sum of the environmental spending listed in the Japanese government budget of 2007. This amount is 39 billion Yen less than last year. It is 1.8% decline.
Major items of 2,095 billion are

820 billion: Water and Soil
491 billion: Terrestrial environment
285 billion: Natural environment
280 billion: Atmosphere
132 billion: Waste and recycle

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69.0% is ISO14000 certified

Ministry of Environment released a survey report about CSR,last month.
The survey was held in 2005 and tells those figures.

69.0%: Companies which hold ISO14000.
          18.6% UP from 40.4% in 2000.
49.6%: Companies which act to prevent Global worming.
           7.6% UP from 42.0% in 2000.
29.4%: Companies which release CSR reports
           9.4% UP from 20.0% of 2001

Equal Opportunity for Women in Japan

There are 530 first grade managers in TOYOTO Japan. They are very top of 65,798 TOYOTA and 285,977 TOYOTA group employees. All of them were male employees until last month. The first female entered this top 500 of TOYOTO this month. She is promoted as the chief of CSR promotion department.
This is the equal Opportunity for Women in Japan.

Environment or Safety

Japan Railway Corporation (JR) released a new model of train, last month.
The new model replaces 25 years old model used in Chouo Line in Tokyo.
JR was focusing on the weight of a train, because a lighter train requires less power to run. It means less CO2 emission.
However this new model is 10% (3 tons) heavier than others. JR makes it heavy to give more protection to passengers.
In April 25th 2005, 107 passengers died in the train crush in Amagasaki City. JR learned from the crush, and makes a train stronger and result in a heavy train.
It is good for passengers but not for the environment.

Popularity of CSR in Japan

According to Fuji Sankei Business’s poll, 40% of Japanese knows noticed the term, CSR.
The term is less popular in younger generations. Only 30% of females in twenties notice the term
Beside, 60% of business enterprise understand CSR.
CSR driver is not citizens but business in Japan.