Japan's postal regulator will financially support the Universal Postal Union's activities on the environment and is ready to second a national expert to work in Berne, Switzerland.
The Japanese vice-minister for policy coordination (international affairs) at the ministry of internal affairs and communications made the announcement during a recent visit to the UPU.
In discussions with Guozhong Huang, the UPU's deputy director general, Vice-Minister Akira Terasaki said his ministry would make a voluntary contribution towards sustainable initiatives to reduce the postal sector's negative impact on the environment. The donation's value is 340,000 Swiss francs.
Huang and Terasaki also discussed regulatory matters, including the Acts of the Union, the future role of postal services and postal reform in Japan.
Green post
Japan Post has boosted its commitment to the environment in recent years. Environmental activities form a key pillar of its corporate social responsibility. One goal is to reduce its total carbon dioxide levels by 15% by 2013 (compared with 2007 levels). The Post is also participating in the Japanese government's Team Minus 6% programme, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the country.
For its part, the UPU's Greenhouse Gas Global Overview and Mitigation Project, launched in 2008, is assessing the impact of postal operations on climate change. Work with countries and their postal operators to reduce their carbon footprint is ongoing.