In an effort to lead by example, the Cabinet approved a plan Friday that commits the national government to cutting greenhouse gas emissions at ministries and affiliated bodies by 7 percent of fiscal 2001 levels by fiscal 2006.
"Greenhouse gas reduction efforts have not necessarily shown adequate results," Environment Minister Hiroshi Ohki said after the Cabinet meeting. "This is one way for the government to take the lead and show what should be done."
Under the plan, fuel consumption by official vehicles will be cut by at least 15 percent, energy and water used per square meter of office space are to be pared by at least 10 percent, waste will be reduced by 25 percent and combustible waste slashed by 40 percent. Consumption of paper and fuel for buildings will be held at 2000 levels.
The government will replace its nearly 7,000-car fleet with lower emission vehicles by fiscal 2005 and hopes to introduce the first of the fuel-cell powered automobiles scheduled to come off assembly lines next year.
In terms of energy, the government will look to supply buildings with solar cells and adopt more energy-saving actions, including reusing water from dining halls for toilet water and increasing the purchase of energy-efficient products and reused items.
With this in mind, government buildings are to undergo a "green diagnosis" by the end of the year to determine how operations can be streamlined and energy saved, thus cutting the amount of greenhouse gases released.
The plan was presented to the Council of Ministers for Global Environment Conservation and the Task Force for Promotion of Measures to Arrest Global Warming at the prime minister's residence later Friday.