(194a) Philosophical Background of Green and Sustainable Chemistry and Its Metrics in Japan

The environmental problems in Japan started to occur in a way that is different from the other advanced countries. It took the form of pollution from chemical industries in 1950-60s with an example of Minamata disease in Kumamoto, Kyushu. The year of 2006 is the 50th anniversary of official recognition of Minamata disease.

Why did such severe pollution case occur? It seems there are several factors. Not enough knowledge on the limitation in the capacity of environment and extremely high promotion of rapid economic growth are definitely such factors. But more serious factor is the neglect of the importance human lives.

The prevention of the occurrence of serious damages caused by chemicals by 2020 is the goal shown by the plan of implementation of 2002 WSSD held in Johannesburg. Apparently, this is the direction of ?Green?.

What is ?sustainability?? The plan of implementation also asked every advanced country to leave from unsustainable ways of manufacturing and consumption. Sustainability is currently defined in more than 50 ways, with the most famous one in ?Our Common Future? prepared by Brundtland committee in 1987.

The chemical industry of Japan tries not to cause pollutions in local areas and then aims at the sustainability in the earth level by minimizing the emission of global warming gases and consumption of fossil fuels. The most important keywords for Green and Sustainable Chemistry will be the maximization of efficiency for the time being and the utilization of renewable resources as a long-term goal.

Metrics for GSC is now under development to satisfy the basic philosophical concept of ?Green? and ?Sustainability?.