Sunday, December 14, 2008

The Prime Minister Observes International Seminar on the Environment in Kitakyushu City and Environmental Facilities in Wakamatsu Ward

Prime Minister Taro Aso visited the Eco Town Center and other facilities in Kitakyushu City. He also attended an international seminar on environmental models.

The first stop was the Kitakyushu Eco Town Center, where the Prime Minister received explanations about the recycling of automobiles and household appliances.

Next, the Prime Minister visited a treatment facility of PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) run by the Japan Environmental Safety Corporation (JESCO). There, he received explanations about the treatment procedures and the state of operation of the facility.

At the Shirashima Pavilion, the Prime Minister visited a large-scale wind-power-generation facility and received explanations about the Hibiki Nada Project, which was Japan's first wind power generation project in a port district. At the Higashida Eco Clubhouse, the Prime Minister enjoyed talks with people taking initiatives in the creation of low-carbon towns.

After completing the observation tour, the Prime Minister said, "While the environment is regarded as a kind of constraining factor, we can apply the concept of turning the environment into an industry and business. It was very worthwhile to observe sites in the first hand where the environment is being used for business."

In the afternoon, the Prime Minister attended the International Seminar on Promoting the Eco-Model Cities for the Low Carbon Society 2008 held at the Kitakyushu International Conference Center.

In his opening address, Prime Minister Aso said, "I have found Kitakyushu deserving to be a model city, as here each and every citizen is working to create an environmental city. In the viewpoint of the participation by all members, work is done by each individual in the whole community. Here I felt a sense of active participation and a common goal shared by each resident aiming to create an environmental city."

"And at the same time, nobody is trying too hard. People seemed to have a sense of doing what they can do, which I found favorable. I think that participation by all members will be a key concept for environmental measures from now on."

"The resolution of the global warming issue is a responsibility borne by each one of us living today. At stake is how we can reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases through the participation by all residents, like here in Kitakyushu, involving local companies, citizens, and non-political organizations (NPOs), and furthermore by the whole of Japan. Looking ahead, I have renewed my determination to exert Japan's leadership, aiming to create a framework participated in by all members including the United States, China, and India."