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Asia-Pacific Seminar Archives
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1.Introduction
The Asian-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change was held in Nagoya, Japan from 23 to 26 January 1991 with participants from 18 countries in the Asian Pacific Region (Australia, Bangladesh, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, USSR and Vietnam), international organizations (Asian Development Bank (ADB), East-West Center, South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and World Bank), resource persons from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Japan and USA. A number of observers from research institutes as well as NGOS also attended.
The objectives of the Seminar were to support the effort on global environmental issues, with special attention to the increased greenhouse effect, and enhanced awareness of the implications of climate change in the Asian Pacific Region. This Seminar was the first opportunity in the region to review and examine the findings of IPCC as well as those of the Second World Climate Conference (SWCC), in the context of emerging interests in the region, towards developing regional and international cooperation in responding to the challenge posed by rapid climate change. In addition, this seminar was intended to help participating nations develop cooperative regional approaches on climate change in advance of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
The seminar was inaugurated by Mr. Kazuo Aichi, the Director General of the Environment Agency, followed by a welcome address by Mr. Reiji Suzuki, the Governor of Aichi Prefecture, and Mr. Takeyoshi Nishio, the Mayor of Nagoya City.
After the opening ceremony, keynote speeches were delivered by Prof. Bert Bolin, Chairman of the IPCC, and Dr. Yasushi Kitano, and presentations were made by Dr. G. J. Jenkins of IPCC WGI, Prof. Yu. A. Izrael, Chairman of IPCC WGII, and Mr. Saburo Kato of the Environment Agency of Japan. Major findings of the IPCC and SWCC were introduced and reviewed in an Asian Pacific regional context, followed by country presentations and statements by international organizations on this issue. Intensive discussions occurred on three topics, namely, research and monitoring cooperation, formulation of response strategies, and cooperation within the region.
2.Implication of Climate Change in the Asian Pacific Region
Despite wide diversity in environmental and socioeconomic conditions, we are aware that the Asian Pacific nations have special concern for climate change from the following three view points.
- Regional climate phenomena such as the monsoons, the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and tropical cyclones have crucial importance in the region.
- Climate change and associated sea level rise could have severe adverse impacts on many Asian Pacific countries, especially on small island nations and low lying areas, with effects possibly including coastal inundation, decrease of agricultural production, and harm to human health.
- The Asian Pacific nations, which contain more than half of the earth's population, are crucial in any global effort to limit the rate of climate change, as the Asian Pacific region currently produces almost a third of global greenhouse gas emissions and is experiencing rapid growth in both population and economic activity. Per capita emissions and economic resources differ widely among countries in the region.
3.Monitoring and Research
Participants discussed the strengthening of research and monitoring arrangements. They noted that interdisciplinary dialogue should be facilitated, existing programmes should be utilized, and international and regional coordination mechanisms should be enhanced.
There are a number of ongoing research and monitoring programmes, such as the World Weather Watch (WWW), World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), and World Climate Impacts Study Programme (WCIP), which are dedicated to improving the understanding of global climate change. Such organizations as the IPCC have assessed the science and global impacts of climate change. Yet, the data and reports from many of these institutions are not easily accessible to developing countries. Furthermore, at a time when there is a need for improved climate data, the basic meteorological monitoring network in the region is shrinking. There is little monitoring of the state of climate-sensitive terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. To date, studies on the potential impacts of climate change have addressed only a limited number of countries and issues, and impact assessment methodologies are not yet well established. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the impacts on the Asian Pacific region is lacking.
Participants agreed about the need for improving climate change research and monitoring institutions. Where possible, existing institutions should be utilized. If need be, the establishment of new institutions should be considered.
It was concluded that research and monitoring institutions should address the following needs:
- Monitoring : Monitoring of national and regional climate, greenhouse gas emissions, and impacts should be strengthened. In some cases, existing monitoring networks, such as those for sea level rise, should be coordinated. Monitoring stations should be added to existing networks, such as the Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW). In addition, arrangements should be made to increase more active participation of developing countries in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other climate research bodies. One possibility would be the formation of cooperative regional organizations.
- Regional Climate Chan e Scenario Development : Australia, China, and Japan have active programmes to develop the capability to produce regional scenarios of climate change. These programmes should cooperate with each other and efforts should be made to disseminate information on regional scenarios among the countries of the region. There should be better understanding of the implications of global warming for such regionally important climate phenomena as monsoons, ENSO, and tropical cyclones.
- Data Exchange : It was noted that there are a multitude of organizations studying climate change. It is difficult to be aware of and digest all of the information available on climate change. Efforts should be made to collect and organize this information for the Asian Pacific countries. For example, data files on climate observations and impact assessments for the Asian Pacific countries should be created and disseminated in a standardized format.
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Impact Assessments : The seminar participants agreed that coordination and training are needed for conducting assessments of climate change impacts. Training of scientists and professionals in other relevant disciplines from developing countries in the use of impact assessment methodologies is a priority. Baseline information on the state of agroclimatic and ecological resources and socioeconomic conditions should be developed. In some cases, information can be gathered inexpensively through citizen networks.
Impact assessments should be conducted on a number of climate-sensitive resources in the Asian Pacific region, including islands and low lying areas, mountain ecosystems, tropical forests and mangroves, coral reefs, terrestrial flora and fauna, agriculture, fisheries, water resources, and on human health.
These assessments should not just examine physical impacts, but also the socioeconomic implications of climate change.
4.Formulation of Response Strategies
In the discussions concerning priorities in developing response strategies, some participants emphasized the need for clear targets related to emission levels before national priorities could be meaningfully discussed. Others emphasized that targets are not really meaningful given the current state of knowledge about the costs of impacts and responses for the global warming phenomenon. Some developing countries opposed setting targets. Continued analysis and monitoring is thus required while at the same time, environmental impact assessment procedures should generally include implications of greenhouse gas emissions and vulnerability to climate change or sea level rise as a standard operating procedure of development projects, so that growth could continue without jeopardizing environmental quality.
In reviewing regional, sub-regional, and country policies, the participants raised a number of country- specific initiatives, such as developing tree species that are salt-water resistant (Tonga), the integration of environmental issues into National Development Plans (Thailand), raising energy efficiency (China), having a national holiday for planting trees (Republic of Korea), and becoming a model environmental city through clean fuels such as natural gas for power generation and possibly electric propulsion for the transport sector (Singapore). The Philippines and Tonga have emphasized emergency preparedness programmes to address climate change issues.
A most important example of local authorities cooperating with business and residents was presented by Aichi Prefecture, introducing their successful experience in environmental management. Its efforts to cope with global environmental issues were also reported. Such approaches are of important application to the global warming problem, through local action and public awareness leading to concerted actions at the national level.
It was the consensus of the seminar that each country in the region should develop a national action programme seeking to monitor changes in environmental and climatic factors, to take adaptive measures to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change, and to implement measures to limit the emissions of greenhouse gases. Countries within and outside the region should share their experiences in formulating and implementing such programmes, recognizing that each country faces different climatic, geographic, and socioeconomic f actors.
Measures to limit the increase of global concentrations of greenhouse gases could include increasing efficiency of energy use in the industrial, residential, and transportation sectors, development of new, no- greenhouse-gas-emitting energy supply systems, enhancing carbon sinks through limiting deforestation, promoting reforestation and afforestation and improving forest management, improving agricultural practices, better waste treatment practices, and changing life styles. In developing their national action programmes, countries should evaluate the cost effectiveness and public acceptability of such measures.
Countries in the region should also develop analyses of the potential implications of climate change and associated sea level rise for the residents. Such analyses are essential for establishing practices or strategies to reduce adverse effects of climate change. Such studies can also reveal what is at risk in each country from rapid climate change, thus enabling decision makers to assess the priority they should give to this issue.
Successful implementation of national action programmes to limit adverse effects of climate change and the increase of greenhouse gas emissions will require the active involvement of both local governments and the general public.
5.Cooperative Activities, Technical and Financial Assistance
The cooperation among nations and institutions to reduce uncertainty through research and monitoring, and to promote measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation measures was strongly endorsed.
There was a consensus that regional programmes need to be encouraged, and that organizations such as the World Bank, UNEP, UNDP, and ADB should be mobilized to address climate change. Recent initiatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to protect the environment in this region were highlighted. There is a need to establish a relevant regional and international climate research institute. In Japan, the Center for Global Environment Research was established in the National Institute for Environmental Studies, and the UNEP Global Environmental Technology Center has been proposed. These institutions would be of particular benefit to the Asian Pacific countries.
The Asian Pacific region is quite diversified in terms of country size, population, economic development, natural resources, etc. It is rather difficult to formulate the regional activities from which all countries would receive benefits. At present, sub-regional environment programmes such as the ASEAN Environmental Programme (ASEP), SACEP, and the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) have actively collaborated in promoting sub-regional cooperation in the field of environmental conservation. Such countries in each sub-regional group shared rather similar or homogeneous characteristics, and these initiatives, which were made in accordance with the urgent need to solve serious environmental problems, should be encouraged in arresting global warming.
Many countries in the region lack skilled manpower and financial resources for coping with climate change. Thus, strengthening national and regional institutions and capabilities along with development of human resources in the region were emphasized.
The necessity of additional funding was stressed in order to strengthen existing institutions and to introduce new programmes without impairing existing programmes for economic development. A new initiative of the Global Environmental Facility by the World Bank was noted. Areas for cooperation were suggested to include limiting deforestation, promoting reforestation/afforestation, and improving forest management, coastal and marine protection, energy conservation, and the transfer of technology for sustainable development commensurate with climatic considerations.
It was agreed that preparation of national response strategies for global warming will form the basis for establishing priorities and necessary measures to deal with global change such as technology transfer, financing arrangements, and monitoring and research.
The participants supported the initiative of the IPCC to review and create awareness of climate change by holding briefings for ministerial and high level officials in the Asian Pacific countries.
A proposal made by the Environment Agency of Japan to strengthen the follow-up activities of this seminar in collaboration with international organizations in the region was welcomed by participants. Some organizations such as ADB, ESCAP, and UNCRD expressed their willingness to support such efforts. Such follow-up activities to evaluate progress in building a comprehensive national and regional approach to climate change should be initiated as quickly as possible at the latest before the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, and then follow-up activities should be reviewed regularly.