JapanYouth Vision 2015

March 2002

We, about 80 youth who hope that WSSD will succeed, gathering at Chiba on March 2002, Japan, make the “Youth Vision 2015” as an idealized vision of future society.It is the most important issues in the world to alter the society of mass production, consumption and disposal in the North covering many developed countries and eradicate poverty in the South covering many developing countries. To solve both issues it is absolutely essential to keep the public informed and create the “recycling-oriented society” with a partnership with each government, citizen and company in each community based on citizens' decision making. When the time comes, “true affluence” must emerge. For the future the international society needs to support the youth who play an important role in leading 21st century.

We call upon the society in which the international society including international organizations, government agencies, municipalities, business enterprises and citizens guarantee the following rights:

・ The right to acquire environment-friendly food and clean water.
・ The right to choose a job by people who make an effort despite the social background.
・ The right to know how individuals influence other people, other communities and global environment through products that individuals have, buy or consume.
・ The right to choose consumption pattern to avoid excessive consumption.
・ The right to education that esteems diversity of each individual and
community. (Succession of regional traditions and cultures in each community)

If with the “Youth Vision 2015” concrete actions succeed and these rights are exercised, following events will find a shape in the international society.
・ International cooperation contributes to development of citizens at large in the South.
・ Trade switches from profit-oriented economy to eco-development.
・ Municipalities that can take advantage of characters or specialties in each community work.

We think that when these rights are guaranteed and social unfairness is improved, we can create the society in which people love each other and live safe and actively with a smile. For this purpose we would like to propose the following concrete visions.

1: Vision as Citizens
Citizens at large have to be concerned with social issues and participate
in politics to have economic activities and lifestyle reach more sustainable
level in 2015. So, we would like to divide four categories: consumers,
investors, labors and civil activities (NGO/NPO) to make a vision in 2015.
・ Change of Consumption
1-1
Consumers choose products that are able to be recycled and durable. Consumer
behavior has the consumption pattern to extend renting businesses or repair services.
1-2
Consumers are allowed to access to social information related with products.
Fair Trade is promoted both home and abroad.
1-3
Park and Ride or car-sharing service is used to lessen the burden on the
environment and to improve energy efficiency.
1-4
The concept of slow food prevails. As a result, Japanese food
self-sufficiency ratio reaches 50 percent.
1-5
To improve energy efficiency consumption of electricity at home halves by
avoiding using air conditioners or carpets using electricity
1-6
Renewable resource is used at the maximum. Timber in each community or
timber that sustainable forest businesses manage is used positively.
1-7
Regional currency prevails and is used at a rate of one seventh in household expenditure.
Change of Investment
1-8
A sense of social responsibility is enhanced. And investors are able to access to information related to environmental protection by companies or social responsibility. As a result, SRI (socially responsible investing) accounts for 50 percent of all financial products.
1-9
Financial institutions that don't require interest become available in each
community with a form of funding that doesn't charge interest.

2: The Change of National Policy
The government is the existence which should do the responsibility for job security, environmental protection, and protection of individual freedom, and should urge participation of the citizen to government positively further. Therefore, information disclosure must be put into practice, by respecting the opinion of a citizen, so that a disintegrated administrative system is eliminated and the partnership of administration, a citizen, and a company is built.

2-1
Information related to social responsibility of companies can be informed to citizen by the neutral organization for accountability. The information disclosure of the social responsibility of a company is institutionalized.

2-2
The influence of the environment and the human body on goods is displayed with justice, and a citizen can choose.

2-3
Taxation system which supports promotion of NPO activity is introduced, and the contribution to NPO comes to be deducted.

2-4
The regulation of a harmful substance is tightened up so that the production of harmful substance will not exceed the speed of the natural step to recover.

2-5
A positive policy to which renewable energy is made to increase to 10% or more of the amount of energy consumption is taken. 2-6 It is made not to extend a nuclear power plant. It has a concrete target for abolishing a nuclear power plant gradually.

2-7
A policy which will cut down the amount of discharge of greenhouse gas 15% or more by the ratio for 90 years is introduced.

2-8
The farmland near a city, and Satoyama and a copse are preserved and a taxation system etc. is improved.

2-9
A fixed tax is introduced to cut consumption of energy and water for use of massive production. (A carbon tax, water resource tax, etc.)

2-10
The environmentally harmful public works such as huge dams or high ways are abolished through partnership with a citizen.

2-11
The government advances a policy by respecting the opinion of a citizen. A public comment and environmental assessment are performed with justice.

3 The change of regional government
Advance district sovereignty with decision-making by the citizen by legal system, information disclosure, and environmental education, and partnership with a citizen.
3-1
A local district performs positively a policy for circulating resources, such as energy and food, in an area as much as possible.
3-2
The source of revenue of a local district is increased from the 30 present percent to 50 percent, and the policy which suited the request of the citizen of the community is implemented.
3-3
A referendum is legislated and legal binding force is given to a result.

4 The changes to international policy
International organizations must be able to secure equal access to required information so as to enhance the transparency of decision-making processes. In addition, Multi-stakeholders should be able to participate in a decision-making process, and the International organizations and the government in each country should work to ensure that all opinions are recognised. International organizations and the government of each country should consider the environment and society regarding issues of development or trade.

4-1
Every country should strengthen their antimonopoly laws, and should take action multinational against companies which perpetuate monopolies. An international conference is started for this purpose.

4-2
Each country should attach importance to "sustainable development" within the WTO.

4-3
Every country should accept import restrictions of agricultural products by developing countries which act in the interests of market access and biodiversity.

4-4
Every country should ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity. 'Living thing' resources are excluded from the TRIPS of WTO.

4-5
The export and import of LMO are regulated by the Convention on Biological Diversity.

4-6
All countries must ratify the Kyoto Protocol, and restrict the emission of greenhouse gases.

4-7
An international committee to perform comprehensive assessments of development is established.

4-8
ODA (Official Development Assistance) is planned and done with participation of citizens in developing countries as a mail force of development..

4-9
Developed countries allot at least 0.7% of GNP to ODA to developing countries.

4-10
Advanced nations carry out all ODA by grants-in-aid.

4-11
The debt of the HIPCs is totally cancelled under a transparent and fair process.

4-12
An international exchange trading tax is initiated, and becomes a fund for the development of developing countries

4-13
The United Nations prepares minimum standards, such as safe food standards, and a standard of a chemistry substance. Each country should respect the international minimum standard and establish better national standards.

4-14
The United Nations establishes a U.N. environment organization, in order to strengthen international environmental governance.

5: Changes to TNCs
Companies have a responsibility to consider social and environmental issues when making business decisions.

5-1
Companies should invest in the development of alternative energy sources,
and other 'green' technologies.
This should be carried out as social responsibility, rather than as an advertising strategy.

5-2
Companies should consider environmental issue with repect to transportation, and should aim for maximum efficiency.

5-3
Companies should cooperate with the consult with local communities as part of their decision-making process.

5-4
Companies release which was purchased in an area or domestic in the purchase of primary resources, such as food and energy.

5-5
Companies should rent or repair products rather than produce disposable goods.

5-6
NPOs which produce goods increases and the quality of the goods which NPO produces improves.

5-7
Companies should utilise renewable energy resources as much as possible.

Conclusion
Environmental problems are closely connected to economic issues. Sustainable development cannot be achieved if the load on the environment is too great. We, the youth, call for a reform of the economic system of to reduce the load on the environment.