WATERLOO, CANADA – Japan’s experience sets an example for other nations facing tough standards set by the Kyoto Protocol, finds new research released this month from the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).

In CIGI’s newest Working Paper, Green Japan: Managing the Intersection of National Politics and Global Environmentalism, CIGI Senior Fellow Carin Holroyd reviews Japanese government policies and initiatives that are enabling the country to meet targets set by the Kyoto Protocol. Measures discussed in the paper include initiatives to combat global warming, production and use of low emission technologies, recycling laws, and “Eco Towns.”

The Kyoto Protocol established firm guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions to decrease the impacts of global warming on the environment. Canada and other signatories acknowledged the need to change their national policies. Many governments, however, have treated the Protocol as an aspirational document, providing a guideline and targets to be balanced against national economic and social realities.

Japan, on the other hand, has taken the guidelines seriously. Dr. Holroyd’s paper provides a detailed description of the many government programs launched in that country with considerable support from the population.

According to Dr. Holroyd, Japan has been successful in moving toward a sustainable environment through a combination of national, governmental leadership and a commitment to public engagement. Rather than focusing on punitive restrictions and costly regulations, Japan has emphasized changes in behavior that can be taken by every person, family, company and community. This position has drawn support from business and citizens.

Dr. Holroyd notes that Japan’s government has been proactive in adopting new, environmentally-friendly technologies and that this in turn has encouraged the private sector to undertake “green” product, service and process development, examples of which are described in her study. Japan’s corporate sector is becoming more environmentally conscious and is discovering new business opportunities in the process.

In Japan, academic, government and commercial research scientists have all been mobilized to develop solutions to environmental challenges, the paper states.

The amount of carbon dioxide emissions by GDP of Japan is the least among major industrialized countries in the world and public transportation accounts for 47% of all movements of people in Japan. The country emerged as a global environmental leader after the oil shocks of the 1970s, and has pursued a reliance on clean energy, particularly nuclear power, resulting in a number of major reclamations projects and conservation measures.

“International protocols are the primary currency of global governance,” argues Dr. Holroyd. “Japan’s approach to environmental protection and awareness is worthy of study because it demonstrates that the effort of a single government can bring the imperatives of Kyoto Protocol to bear on the national scene and provide a measure of guidance to other national seeking to tackle the same challenge.”

For more information and to download this and other CIGI Working Papers, please visit: http://www.cigionline.org/publications.

The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is a think tank that addresses international governance challenges and provides informed advice to decision-makers on multilateral governance issues. CIGI supports research initiatives by recognized experts and promising academics; forms networks that link world-class minds across disciplines; informs and shapes dialogue among scholars, opinion leaders, key policy-makers and the concerned public; and builds capacity by supporting excellence in policy-related scholarship. CIGI was founded in 2002 by Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM (Research In Motion), and collaborates with and gratefully acknowledges support from a number of strategic partners, in particular the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. For more information, please visit www.cigionline.org.

The MIR project – conceived by Pitt and a group of experts in New Orleans – is a large-scale redevelopment project for affordable housing that incorporates innovative design to be stronger, safer, and environmentally friendly. MIR’s goal is to construct 150 homes in the low-income neighborhood of New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, the area hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina in which more than 80 percent of homes were completely destroyed by flood waters. The name comes from a former resident’s plea to help “make this right.” Groundbreaking is scheduled for January 8, 2008.

The MIR core team is a partnership between William McDonough + Partners, a world leader in environmental architecture; Cherokee Gives Back Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Cherokee, a firm that specializes in remediation and sustainable redevelopment of environmentally impaired properties; Graft, an international leading architecture firm that collaborates with Brad Pitt on projects around the world; and the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, a charitable institution established to aid humanitarian causes around the world.

A key aspect of the project is its ability to be replicated. MIR is developing a panelization system in which structural insulated panels (SIPs) common to all designs are constructed and stored off site. This standardized system will maximize efficiency and minimize cost, allowing the housing design to be replicated throughout the neighborhood as well as promoting a new universal paradigm of affordable, environmentally responsible home design.

Alcoa Foundation will also support a community-based artistic event in New Orleans designed to raise MIR project funding on a broad scale. The “Make It Right Art Installation Project”—held from December 2, 2007, through January 8, 2008, and symbolically located at the site of the Industrial Canal levee break—is intended to raise local, regional, and national awareness of the issue and maximize overall fundraising to help MIR extend homebuilding benefits beyond the initial goal of rebuilding 150 homes.

More details about MIR can be found at www.makeitrightnola.org

About Alcoa

Alcoa is the world’s leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa’s businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components including flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, Alcoa also markets Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, structures and building systems. The company has 116,000 employees in 44 countries and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.

About Alcoa Foundation

Alcoa Foundation is a separately constituted nonprofit U.S. corporate foundation with assets of approximately $534 million. The second largest asset-based corporate foundation in the United States, its mission is to actively invest in the quality of life in Alcoa communities worldwide. Throughout its history, the Foundation has been a source of positive community change and enhancement, with nearly $437 million invested since 1952.

The Foundation’s grants address global and local needs in over 30 countries by partnering with Alcoa communities around the world to make a difference. Global and local grantmaking is responsive to the needs and aspirations of Alcoa communities and marshals the combined expertise, energies, and values of Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation to provide a world-class standard of excellence in corporate citizenship.

In 2006, Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation invested a combined total of $42.3 million in community programs in 32 countries, focusing on four areas of excellence: conservation and sustainability, global education and workplace skills, business and community partnerships, and safe and healthy children and families.

In addition to grantmaking, Alcoa Foundation offers two employee programs to encourage volunteerism. Bravo! recognizes individual employees who spend a minimum of 50 hours per calendar year doing volunteer work for an approved nonprofit/non-governmental organization; in recognition of the employee’s effort, Alcoa contributes $250 to the nonprofit organization. ACTION (Alcoans Coming Together In Our Neighborhoods) recognizes the team efforts of at least five Alcoa employees who spend a minimum of four hours on a community service project for a local nonprofit/non-governmental organization; in recognition of the team’s effort, Alcoa contributes either $1,500 or $3,000 to the nonprofit organization, depending on the size of the team.

For more information, visit www.alcoa.com, under Community.

The prestigious international awards for liveable communities are backed by the United Nations Environment Program and focus on the management of the environment and leadership in the enhancement of quality of life.

Oshawa participated in the final stage of LivCom’s Whole City Awards 2007 held in Westminster, London on November 22-26. Oshawa is one of nine finalists in their category and competed against communities from Australia, Canada, England, Hungary, Japan, Spain and the United States.

“I am so very proud of our city,” said Mayor John Gray. “To compete on a global stage and win a gold award at these highly esteemed international awards is a testament to the dedication, ongoing commitment and achievements of the City of Oshawa and our community.”

An international panel of world-renowned judges listened to presentations from more than 50 countries over three days. Oshawa’s delegation included Mayor John Gray, Development Services Commissioner Tom Hodgins and Manager of Parks, Bill Slute.

The Oshawa delegation delivered an impactful and comprehensive multi-media presentation. A video featured two local student ambassadors who provided a virtual tour of Oshawa through the eyes of our youth. The PowerPoint presentation that followed contained over 350 engaging photos which further showcased the community. It also highlighted the City’s dedication and success with respect to the judging criteria: enhancement of the landscape, heritage management, environmentally sensitive practices, community sustainability, healthy lifestyles and planning for the future.

For more details about the awards, visit www.livcomawards.com. For more information about the City of Oshawa, visit www.oshawa.ca.