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1. Top |
2. Recycling of Resources |
3. Water Recycle |
4. Global Environment |
5. Traffic Environment |
6. Hazardous Chemical Substance |
7. Preservation, Restoration & Creation of a Natural Environment |
The problem of heavy environmental pollution caused by industries has been reduced.
The problem of sulfur dioxide (So2) in the air and cyanide and cadmium in the rivers and the Osaka-Bay have been greatly reduced by decreasing the concentration of such chemical materials to meet environmental quality standards.
There still remain problems with environmental pollution caused by daily life and business activities in urban areas.
The amount of nitrogen dioxide (No2) and suspended particulate matter (Spm) in the air are caused mainly by car exhaust. The amount of biochemical oxygen demand (Bod) and chemical oxygen demand (Cod) in rivers and the Osaka Bay are caused mainly by domestic wastewater and therefore, environmental quality standards have not yet been met in some areas.
There still remain several other environmental problems that need to be resolved in the Osaka region.
There remain several problems that need to be resolved such as the unsuitable disposal of wastes or illegal dumping, global warming, and the heat-island phenomenon in urban areas. Furthermore, there is also the influence of dioxins and environmental hormones on humans and on ecology.
To Improve the Environment in Osaka
To improve the environment in Osaka and to make Osaka a more comfortable place to live, several environmental issues need to be improved one at a time.
Osaka Prefecture established
"The Comprehensive Plan for the Environment in Osaka for the 21st Century "
A new comprehensive environmental plan introduced in March, 2002.
The Comprehensive Plan for the Environment in Osaka for the 21st Century
The keyword of the plan:
Construction of an Environmentally Advanced City, Aiming to Establish a Recycling-based Society
Directions for the future
Main Subjects
Information on Environmental Policy and Technology | State of Environment
Industrial Waste
The amount of discharged industrial waste is decreasing every year and the rate of recycling appears to be increasing.
However, 17.7 million tons of industrial waste was discharged in the Osaka region in 2001, among which 1.47 million tons of industrial waste was reclaimed and disposed of in the final waste disposal site, and therefore further decreasing the capacity of the site by this amount.
Change in the amount of discharged industrial waste and the rate of recycling ![]() |
Number of illegal disposal of industrial waste (Number of complaints) ![]() |
Furthermore, unsuitable disposal of industrial waste, such as illegal dumping or leaving appears to be increasing. The way the crimes are being committing are becoming worse and are being exercised in extremely short periods of time. They especially occur during the night, early in the morning or on holidays, when supervision by the administration is not as strict.
Domestic Waste
The amount of discharged domestic waste (all waste except industrial waste, e.g. home, office, etc.) is decreasing year by year. However, the average amount of discharged waste per person for a day is 1.3 kg in the Osaka Region, which is more than that of Japan, 1.1 kg. The amount of recycling tends to be increasing and is 8.3% in the Osaka region, but the rate is still much lower than that of Japan's average percentage of (13.1%).
Change in the amount of discharged domestic waste ![]() |
Change in the rate of recycling ![]() |
Measures taken by Osaka prefecture during fiscal 2001
Eco Shop" is the nickname for the shops that work to reduce wastes and promote recycling.
The number of shops registered at the end of March, 2002 was 1,747
A supervising patrol car departs to prevent illegal disposals of industrial waste
Countermeasures to manage industrial and domestic waste
Based on the "Waste Management Plan in Osaka Pref," the "Reduction," "Reuse" and "Recycle" (3R in all) are to be promoted to reduce the amount of the final waste disposal by half.
The "Osaka Eco-Area Plan" is to be established, which will utilize the former final waste disposal site, arrange recycling facilities by mainly private enterprises and create a "Symbiotic Forest" where people can come in contact with nature.
Environment of Rivers
Environment of the Osaka Bay The concentration of Cod which indicates the degree of pollution of the sea(Osaka-Bay), has not improved yet, and the rate of achievement of the Cod environmental quality standard was 47 % in 2001. The main cause for the pollution was due to the delay in taking measures on improving domestic wastewater and from the accumulation of colloidal sediment at the bottom of the sea. Measures taken by Osaka prefecture during fiscal 2001
Countermeasures for domestic wastewater The rate of sewage treatment in 2001 was 81.2%, and failed to achieve the goal set for 100% in the former plan. Therefore, the new action plan that is to be established, will comply with the condition of local areas in order to treat 100% of domestic wastewater by 2010. | ||
Amount of CO2 Emissions
The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 1999 has decreased in the industrial section, because the operation of power stations and steel industries have decreased. The amount has decreased by 0.8% since 1990, the basis year of the Kyoto Protocol. However, the amount of emission of CO2 in the transportation and welfare section has been increasing and the focus is on how to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions in these sections in order to keep in line with the regulation of the Kyoto Protocol.
The amount of emission of carbo dioxide
Measures taken by Osaka prefecture during fiscal 2001
Facilities for generating photovoltaic power at the Murano filtration plant
Countermeasures for global warming
Continually making efforts to introduce new energies, to save energy and to promote various voluntary activities in order to reduce greenhouse gases by 9% (1990 to 2010).
Concentration of No2
The annual average concentration of No2 (Nitrogen Dioxide) has remained at a stable level, but the rate of achievement of environmental quality standards has had a tendency to improve in the last several years.
Change of the annual average concentration of No2 ![]() |
Concentration of Spm
The annual average concentration of Spm (Suspend Particulate Matter) tends to be improving, but the rate of achievement of environmental quality standard was unfavorable, because the high concentrated condition continued for 2days.
Change of the annual average concentration of Spm ![]() |
Measures taken by Osaka prefecture during fiscal 2001
Made efforts to popularize low-pollution vehicles and low-emission vehicles (Lev-6), by reducing the tax on purchases of those vehicles and arranging fuel supplying facilities and subsidizing freight companies when they changed their vehicles to low-pollution vehicles. And furthermore, took the lead in introducing and using them as business cars at the Osaka Prefectural Government.
Introduced one of the Traffic Demand Management (TDM) systems criteria where buses are given priority on Route 170 and began a "Park and Ride" system whereby, fifteen parking lots of large marketing facilities can be used for public parking.
Countermeasures for exhaust gases
We would like to formulate the "Total volume of Automobile emitted nitrogen oxides and particulate matters Reduction Plan in Osaka Prefecture" to satisfy environmental quality standards of No2 and Spm by the end of fiscal 2010 and to promote the popularization of low-pollution vehicles and Lev-6 and countermeasures of diesel vehicles.
What is the Traffic Demand Management (TDM) system ?
TDM is a system designed to decrease traffic congestion at urban and regional levels by changing traffic movements such as time, route, the selection of traffic means and the way we think about using our cars. Establishing smooth traffic promotes the revitalization of the region and improves the environment.
Measures taken by Osaka prefecture during fiscal 2001
What is Prtr ?
Pollutant Relea Register (Prtr) is a method for accurately assessing, aggregating, and disseminating data on the sources from where diverse hazardous chemicals are released, amounts released to the environment, and amounts transferred off-site from industrial establishments via waste products.
It is said that there is little greenery in Osaka, however the Osaka region is blessed with rich nature, history and culture, since the region is surrounded by three ranges of mountains, called the "Green-Belt bestowed by heaven." Examples include the Hokusetsu, Kongou-Ikoma and Izumi-Katsuragi mountain ranges. Precious Creatures living in the Osaka region
Space for greenery in urban areas Because there is little space for greenery in urban areas, adjustment of urban parks are promoted, but the area of parks per resident in Osaka prefecture is only 4.8m2, which is about half that of the national average. In addition, the area of urban parks has increased by 860ha in the last ten years, while the area of the forests have decreased by 840ha and agricultural land has decreased by 2,800ha. Measures taken by Osaka prefecture during fiscal 2001
We all act to protect and create nature in Osaka We carried out preservation activities for rice terraces, which play important roles such as preserving various kinds of ecologies and helps in the adjustment of floods by making use of the "Fund for Preserving rice terraces and the countryside."
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