Search

The Government also promotes conservation and restoration of the Japanese marine environment (breeding and nursery areas) and of fisheries resources (including through the large-scale release of juveniles/seedlings). Despite management and conservation efforts, 40% of Japan's fisheries resources (34 stocks) are at low levels, according to the 2010 stock assessment, and resource recovery plans have been developed for resources in urgent need of recovery (66 plans for 77 species). Japan is acting against illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing in its EEZ, with both the Fisheries Agency and the Coast Guard involved in the monitoring and enforcement measures.

Japan is a member of the five regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) regulating international tuna fishing (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission – IOTC; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission – WCPFC; Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission – IATTC; International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna – ICCAT; and Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna – CCSBT).

In its 2011 subsidy notification to the WTO, Japan notified the Fisheries Modernization Fund Interest Subsidy (¥4.5 million in FY2009) for advanced equipment and modernization of management of fisheries and related sectors; and the Fund for the Measures to Supply Fishery Products Stably (¥3.0 billion in FY2009) for comprehensive programmes implemented by non-governmental organizations, for the promotion of sustainable management of fishery resources, promotion of stock enhancement and aquaculture, restructuring of fishing entities, conservation of coastal environments, recruitment of fishers, for promotion of distribution, processing, and consumption of fishery products, aimed at the stable, safe, and efficient supply of food

The Electricity Business Act and the Gas Business Law were amended in 2012 with a view to relaxing regulation on tariffs in order to, inter alia, incorporate a feed-in-tariff system for certain renewable energy. Against the background of the severe accidents at nuclear power plants in north‑eastern Japan in March 2011, the Government is reviewing whether to adopt any regulatory reform in the energy and utilities sector.

In 2012, the Electricity Business Act and the Gas Business Law were amended with a view to relaxing regulation on tariffs in order to, inter alia, incorporate a feed-in-tariff (FIT) system for certain renewable energy both amendments replaced the approval requirement with a notification requirement on certain tariffs.

"Green" public procurement rules.
The Law Concerning the Promotion of Contracts Considering Reduction of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases and Others by the State and Others Entities, obliges the national government and other entities to promote environmentally friendly contracts and to publish and to notify the results of such contracts to the Minister of the Environment. Five contract types are subject to this law, 2 of which relate to construction services.

Law Concerning the Measures by Large Scale Retail Stores for Preservation of Living Environment (1998 Law No. 91)

Legislation on the establishment of large-scale stores: 2000 Act on the Measures by Large-Scale Retail Stores for Preservation of the Living Environment”. No economic needs test (article 13) designed in order to protect the living environment surrounding large-scale stores by defining the procedures to establish and operate them. In addition, since 2007 local governments judge a location of large-scale commercial facilities from a city planning standpoint.

Despite huge hydro potentiality, Nepal being one of the richest countries in water resources with the Himalayan, Nepal is facing severe energy crisis at present and aims to pursue development of its hydro resources in a cost efficient manner in order to be able to completely transform the economy

Nepal bound all but 54 tariff lines at the HS 8-digit level for revenue collection and environment protection reasons