ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT POLICY INTEGRATION - THE CASE OF ENERGY-CONSERVATION POLICIES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN JAPAN

Among the OECD countries, Japan has achieved one of the lowest energy intensities and has been successful in reducing emissions of key air p ollutants and CO2 associated with energy use while maintaining a relat ively high rate of economic growth, indicating that in Japan energy an d environment policies have been able to address each other effectivel y. This study shows that in both policy domains, considerable importan ce was attached to the enhancement of energy conservation. The industr ial sector has been the most responsive in reducing energy intensity a s well as in controlling pollution. Aided by government fiscal measure s, the iron and steel, chemicals and automobile industries have pursue d both energy conservation and pollution control through suitable proc ess or product innovation. The recent response to global environment i ssues shows that both the government and the industrial sector are det ermined to enhance energy conservation and environmental amelioration through technological innovation, indicating that Japanese technologie s will continue to be 'environmentally competitive'.