Tsutomu Kanai
Chairman
In 1972 Hitachi established the Environmental Pollution Study Center to promote a correct awareness and understanding of the environment through research relating to environmental issues and problems. In 1976 this became the Environmental Research Center, which in 2001 underwent another name-change, to the Hitachi Environment Foundation.
Thus, in its original form, the foundation was established during a period of rapid national economic growth, when the remarkable expansion of the industrial economy and development of science and technology produced spectacular improvements in the life of the nation. However, polluting substances released in the course of production and consumption had become a source of extensive environmental pollution in many parts of the country, to the extent that pollution was having a serious effect on people’s health and living environment.
Although this situation was followed by a major reduction of such pollution, the natural beauty of our environment is still being eroded by the large amounts of waste, and the air and water pollution that comes with high levels of production and consumption. In addition, problems that effect the global environment such as acid rain, global warming, destruction of the ozone layer, ocean pollution, desertification, erosion of the rain forests, and the destruction of ecosystems are becoming increasingly serious, casting a shadow over the future of the Earth, the home to all humanity.
The 21st century is being called the century of the environment. Governments around the world as well as companies and private citizens are showing increasing concern over the problems of the global environment, and are using a number of approaches to respond to the problems and find solutions. These include a growing focus on recycling, environmental conservation businesses, the implementation of environmental laws and regulations, and international cooperation. A fundamental requirement for all these approaches is a deep awareness and understanding of the environment itself, and to move forward with a view to building a sustainable society in which recycling is the norm.
The mission of the Hitachi Environment Foundation is to deepen the awareness and understanding of environmental problems, and help to achieve a recycling, sustainable society.
The Hitachi Group is working to enrich people’s lives and to make the world a better place, as symbolized by our corporate motto, "Inspire the Next." The activities of the Hitachi Environment Foundation are a part of these broad-based endeavors of the Hitachi Group.
