Japan has the second highest plastic management index (PMI) in the world, thanks to its advanced waste management system and high levels of local cooperation. On the other hand, Japan’s per capita plastic consumption is also quite high. Innovative policies, strategies, and action plans are required for Japan to promote the circulation of resources and build a sustainable lifestyle and society.
Japan has set an ambitious target of attaining carbon neutrality by 2050. However, the government seems unwilling to abandon nuclear and fossil-fuel options, alongside with prolonged recession, many view climate change as a preoccupation of the elite rather than a pressing issue. To give substance to climate policy, the climate movement needs to be galvanised, to better inform the public and challenge the ruling party to implement its promises.
In autumn 2021, the Covid-19 global pandemic lingers on even though vaccinations are getting pace. The 10th issue of Heinrich Böll Stiftung (hbs)'s serial publication Perspectives Asia takes a look at how the pandemic is reshaping state/society relationships in different Asian countries; it also shares down-to-earth Covid-19 experiences from different regions and cultures, on issues as diverse as trust in government institutions, the situation of migrant workers, and gender relationships.
