Consumer Society, Market, and Sustainability in Eastern Asian Countries

Will the appetite of this expanding consumer society ever be satiable? Following Japan, South Korea and China paced into consumer societies successively. In 2005, China replaced the United States as the world leading consumer. Consumer society brings new pressure and challenge to natural environment. Market, combined with consumer society in the 21st century, maintains and strengthens its lasting influence on environment. But at the same time, driven by the pursuit of "the quality of life," more and more government and non-government organizations participate the camp of environmentalism. Especially in Japan, common consumers' environmental consciousness is growing rapidly. "Sustainable development" should not serve as a fashionable slogan, which instead requires more concern and activities to protect our nature.

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China

In the news:

• Country Analysis Briefs: China, Energy Information Administration, August, 2005

  "The People's Republic of China (China) is the world's most populous country and the second largest energy consumer (after the United States). Production and consumption of coal, its dominant fuel, is the highest in the world. Rising oil demand and imports have made China a significant factor in world oil markets. China also surpassed Japan as the world's second-largest petroleum consumer in 2003."

• China Replacing the United States as World's Leading Consumer, by Lester Brown, Earth Policy Institute, Feb. 16, 2005.

  "Among the five basic food, energy, and industrial commodities-grain and meat, oil and coal, and steel-consumption in China has already eclipsed that of the United States in all but oil."

Japan

In the news:

• Japan's Eco Market Takes Root, Japan Economic Monthly, September, 2005.

  "The creation of a sustainable society depends on the development of mechanisms by which resources can be recycled efficiently. For this to happen, however, environmental businesses must take root and flourish. According to the Ministry of the Environment 2004 Environmental White Paper, Japan's environment market is forecast to grow about 60 percent between 2000 and 2010, from 29.94 trillion yen to 47.23 trillion yen."

• Green Business Practices in Japan, compiled by Hari Srinivas, The Global Development Research Center.

  "Green business practices that maintain and sustain good environmental quality are increasingly becoming a vital component of economic competitiveness. Consumer awareness of detrimental effects of products on the environment, both direct and indirect, have promoted many companies to incorporate environmental measures in the manufacturing, administration, purchase, sale and other stages. Measures have concentrated on an expanded and inspired version of the original 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle."

On the web:

• The 2005 World Exposition held in Aichi, Japan
  This is the website for The 2005 World Exposition held in Aichi, Japan whose theme is "Nature's Wisdom."

  "EXPO 2005 AICHI JAPAN emphasized the close links binding humanity to nature in the 21st century through its theme of "Nature's Wisdom."
  The EXPO gave visitors a chance to experience at first-hand the leading-edge technologies, new social systems and future lifestyles that may provide solutions to the many serious issues now facing the entire world."