Saitama leads the way

NHK World reports that Saitama Prefecture plans to set up a fund in April, 2008 to engage in environmental activities, using some of the proceeds from the auto tax.

The local government plans to allocate 500 yen from each vehicle's auto tax revenue for the fund. It will appropriate about 1.4 billion yen or about 13 million dollars for the budget next fiscal year. The money will be used for preserving 3,000 hectares of forest and 100 facilities to be greened. Greening will involve planting grass at school gardens or covering the roofs of buildings with trees and grass.

This use of part of auto tax is the first of its kind.

The local government says it will enhance civic awareness of the need to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the source of global warming.

I'm suddenly feeling very proud to live in Saitama ;)