Strengths and Limitations of Governmental Support for Environmental Technology in Japan

In recent years, Japanese government and industry have initiated a wide range of policies, programs, and investment strategies responsive to the growing agenda of domestic and global environmental problems. For the most part, these actions have not been due to any significant domestic environmental political pressure but primarily because of the perception that ``green`` products and manufacturing methods are simply good business. These strategies have, therefore, been closely linked to export and foreign aid policies of long-term benefit to the Japanese economy. A strength of the Japanese approach to environmental policy is the government`s ability to bring together a range of business to create a climate for long-term investment in promising new technologies such as fuel cells and electric vehicles.