Digest

During his last interview with the JIPR(on June 11, 1996), Akio Nakajima said that a "Carbon Tax" must be introduced by the start of the 21st century. But in his most recent interview, Mr.Nakajima stated, "Because the Hashimoto administration is protecting the vested interests of Keidanren, the Liberal Democratic party and the petroleum industry, progress on a carbon tax will probably be delayed."

He continued, "Considering the financial crises we presently face, the introduction of an environment tax or carbon tax towards environmental resource preservation is a topic which cannot be seriously entertained. It is impossible for us to predict how long it will be delayed."

He also stated that, "in the future, the level of interest in pollution-free automobiles and electric automobiles will rise in Japan too as a means of eliminating exhaust gases which cause carbon dioxide emmissions....the fact that their cost is expensive is a bottleneck, but domestic improvements in development technologies will lead to their rapid popularization."

Moreover, he stated that," in order that the Prime Minister might demonstrate leadership on such occasions as summits and international conferences,an aide in charge of global environmental problems should be installed under the immediate control of the Prime Minister."

The past system, which favors existing interests, is not able to resolve the present problems we face. Bureaucrats, who wish only that as little trouble as possible be created during their terms, assume a stance of self-defense. In addition, even politicians appointed to posts such as minister, secretary or parliamentary vice-minister cannot demonstrate adequate leadership during their terms due to the political nature of their appointments. The introduction of an aide in charge of global environmental problems is proposed by Mr.Nakajima based upon this experience in the administration.

[JIPR]
In our last interview (June 11, 1996), you mentioned that introducing Carbon tax would be considered by the 21st century for ensuring fiscal resouces from environment. What do you think that how they will deal with Carbon tax at the present state of the Hashimoto government ?

[Nakajima]
I think that there are some obstacles for the present government to promote introducing Carbon tax. First of all, the Economic Organaization Union and the business world strongly object to it. And there is a barrier of the vested rights and interests of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party or each ministry and agency.

Prime Minister Hashimoto has experienced the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, so he has no choice but to give priority over interests of the trade and industry world. Therefore the debate on introducing Carbon tax may be stagnant.

So the possibility of positive promotion to introduce Carbon tax is small at present.
As what I said in the last interview of JIPR, in Northern Europe countries they finally decided after many debates to deal with Carbon tax on a policy.

In Japan althougt a clamor for an administrative reform has been raised and we are in the face of financial craisis, it is important to debate on an "Environment tax" and so forth for ensuring fiscal resources from environment. This debate is also important for dealing with environment problems positively in the international aspect.

The present Hashimoto government is not the only case, but the style, which was established in the Parties System Since 1955, that takes priority over ixisting interrests again woldn't solve any problem. Nevertheless, the present coalition government has no choice but to keep the style. Anyway, I think that the Carbon tax issue must be debated widely from the side of its system before long.

[JIPR]
In our last interview you mentioned several trials of the Environment Agency as the measures against the CO2 emission problem. What is your opinion of them from time on ?

[Nakajima]
The Environment Agency has been appealed for stopping idling, that is to awitch off engines while we are stopping, for example, waiting for the traffic lights to change. And to get rid of harmful exhaust gas, interest in pollution-free or electric cars will get deeper rapidly in future, also in Japan.

They are planning to introduce electric cars to pic up the participants at the Kyoto Summit meeting, which is to be held in December, and to deepen people's interest in the performance of the cars. To prevent the global warming and to popularize the pollution-free cars, it will be a good oppotunity for the public opinion to rise.

But while the improvement of technology is required, the fuel expences and the cost of the cars are still relatively expensive. When these drawbacks are dissolved, they will become popular rapidly.

As to the pollution problem, our country started strict controls in quite early time, such as the exhaust gas control. But I'd like to say with my experience, that there are still many problems on what these controls should be. The making process of theenvironment assessment bill is a good example.

In Japan it is usual to set up assessment bills in consideration of expected trobles, like a possibility of dispute or conflict after some project is ready. It is nonsense to practice assessments after projects are ready. It could lead to overlooking the hotbed of right in dam constructions or public enterprises by major general constructors.

As ISO (International Organization for Standerdization) indicates, to bear the responsibility before starting enterprise is the order when we think of controls on environment problems, it is always required to have an idea that we should get strict controls and develop better technology or offer better service.

But such idea must be converted radically that controls can be made indifinite and we can go on with undertakings through the openings.

[JIPR]
You have experienced the parliamentary vice minister of the Environment Agency, could you give your thoughts on the environment administration ?

[Nakajima]
As to the position of the Agency, the Environment Agency is the one that has given priority over dealing with pollution problems, especially of industrial pollution and urban pollution. Therefore as compared with the other Agencies, I can say that they started the policy in a severe condition.

While the government officials who deal with public undertakings make their influence felt ; such as the Ministry of Transport, Construction, Health and Welfare or Agriculture, Forestry and Fishries ; the Environment Agency has been gathering and accumulating information within a small budget. In the socially severe situation of pollution problems, the examination on the bill and controls have been being required all the while.

I came from the Ministry of Education, and througt the educational administration I believe that I have experienced a bit of the reakities in the bureaucrat society. From my point of view, in the Environment Agency they study on the controls and the environmental adoministration very well. Though the environmental adoministration has been made remarkable progress, the position of the politicians who direct it looks very low.

I think that at least the politicians and the experts who has been working on environmental problems should be invited as leaders of the environmental administration.

An international conference is to be held in New York in June and the Environmental Summit is to be held in Kyoto in December. Interrest in the global environmental problems is getting deeper througt these big events. If we direct these opportunities successfully, Japan will be able to take the initiative in dealing with environmental problems.

But even there is a possibility that we might miss these biggest oppotunities. Since the time of the previous government it has been discussed to strengthen the function of the Prime Minister's Official Residence, as the result of it an aide for Prime Minister has been decided to be posted. But I'd like to promote the idea that a special assistant who takes charge of the Prime Minister, and an expert should be appointed to the post of adviser and authorized, at the same time, the Prime Minister should take the initiative to the world in regard to environmental problems.

In the last interview I mentioned the establishment of an institute of global environment strategy as a study system for the strategic global environment policy which aim at the maintenance and the continuous development of the global environment, and at to the details, it has been decided to establish the institute at Shonan International Village on Hayama-chou in Kanagawa prefecture.

In future, througt this institute we will be able to accumulate information for the environmental problems, promote the study and prepare the system for Japan to take the initiative.

We must deepen the interest in environmental ploblems in the large pollution, among manufacturers, consumers, families, schools local governments, Citizen Organizations, NGO, major business and also Government, as a form of a national movement. To deepen the interest, it is needed to have the basics from childfood.

In last November a seminar on environmental education was held for the first time, it was by the teamwork of the Environment Agency and the Ministry of Education. It is very meaningful to make studies to deepen children's awareness of environment by such a teamwork. I think it is rather too late.

It may be needful to deepen the awareness of the global environmental problems from childfood taking up familiar subjects or questions with the information, but should work in closer cooperation with one another and hold the information in common.

But I think the most important things are that our country is to show leadership in Asia and to send the information of protecting the earth from the front position of Asia.

[JIPR]
For the last, would you like to send any message from JIPR's members.

[Nakajima]
At present every political party claims the reformation of governments finance, but when we take the problems seriously, we should not only claim but also think out some drastic measures. The Liberal Democratic Party has been depending on the bureaucracy for everything.

There are obstacles in everywhere, because they carry out the administrations on the basis of the law which were established in 20's or 30's of Showa. Of course it is impossible to dissolve them right away. And the politicians of the bureaucratic structure. Therefore there is no tense atomospher among them.

And yet they are making desperate efforts to ensure the budget that is given to their own sectiona or departments. I've never heared that any chief of any bureau, during his own term, has never submitted a budget bill which is to be cut down in the matters for which he is responsible.

While I was a member of the Diet I played the chairperson of the the administrative reform project to the Government party (the Liberal Democratic Party, the New Party Sakigake, and the Social Democratic Party), such reality became more definitely.

The bureaucrats are controled by the idea that the idiom of administrative and financial reform is just like a storm, so be patient until it blows over, at least try not to be cut down our budget and not cause any trouble. And they least try not to be cut down our budget and not to cause any trouble. And they result in the idea that everything will be the business of the successors when thier term is over.

I think the bureaucrats have got fewer who can control themselves and consider the entirely national budget or the interests which are bigger than the ones in their sections or departments.

Now I am in the position of observing the sessions of the educational administration, and I see the riality that the budget gets swelled in the style of adjusting to problems after listening to the arguments of the related groups.

This case is not only in the educational administration, but also in the other departments or the Agencies, and the same thing can be seen also in the budget distribution.

It depends on what issue we deal with, but with more important issues. I believe that the leaders should make rather drastic decisions. The global environmental problem is the only subject that our country is able to show leadership, and the politicians should have deep understandings more than before to put the information and the technology sufficientry to practical use.