Japan's response to global environmental problems and the role of telecommunications services in preserving the environment

To promote expansion of the economy without harming the environment, technology must be developed that can raise the efficiency of energy consumption, utilize new forms of energy, raise the efficiency of goods-distribution, reduce the amount of pollutants expelled into the environment, and monitor the causes of environmental destruction. Recognizing that mankind can both destroy the environment and help protect it, it is important that the consciousness and activities of both corporations and individuals change if environmental preservation is to become more effective from now on. Furthermore, although the power of telecommunications services in monitoring environmental factors has already been demonstrated, one must realize that telecommunications can play a big part in making the movement of people and goods more efficient. One must also be aware of how the development of multimedia communications may greatly change individual lifestyles. This paper provides an overview on how various corporations and industries in Japan are tackling environmental problems, and describes how telecommunications services can contribute to solving these problems, based on services now under consideration at NTT. It also presents NTT's views on the way future telecommunications services can contribute even more to global environmental preservation, and on where priority should be placed in research and development to this end.<>