We are now faced with environmental problems that are occurring on a global scale: climate change, depletion of the ozone layer, and destruction of tropical rain forests. Regardless of whether we live in developed or developing countries, the economic activities that support our societies have not only caused to an abuse of resources on occasion but have also made a large impact on the environment, the foundation for our livelihoods. Moreover these problems not only influence our local environment but also they cross national borders into neighboring countries and are connected to the destruction of the environment on a global scale. Environmental problems cannot be solved only by the power of one nation, one region, one company, nor one individual alone. To alleviate the global environmental crisis and to create a sustainable society, it becomes essential to collaborate internationally.
Under these circumstances, the environmental consciousness of the public has increased rapidly. Furthermore, the roles of non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations that act independently are attracting more international attention.
In 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, over 100 heads of state and government representatives of over 180 nations attended the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) for the conservation of the environment. In that same year in Japan before the Earth Summit, the Eminent Persons Meeting on Financing Global Environment and Development (Eminent Persons Meeting on Global Environment) was held. During these developments, the Japanese government, in addition to ODA-type cooperative aid between nations, expressed policies to support environmental conservation activities of NGOs.
Then the revision of the Japan Environment Corporation Law was performed, and the Japan Fund for Global Environment (JFGE) was established in 1993. After that, the JFGE, Japan Environment Corporation, has been enacting various projects for the promotion and support of environmental conservation activities by NGOs. Later, JFGE is transferred to The Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency from Japan Environment Corporation in April, 2004.
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