Asia-Pacific Seminar Archives

CONTENTS MENU

1. Objective of the Seminar
2. Opening Addresses
3. Election of officers
4. Keynote Speeches
5. IPCC/OECD Methodology
6. Regional Strategies
7. Recommendations

The Third Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change was held in Osaka, Japan from March 28 - 30, 1994 just a week after the entry into force of the UNFCCC, with participants from 16 countries including Australia, People's Republic of Bangladesh, People's Republic of China, India, Republic of Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Republic of Maldives, Mongolia, Kingdom of Nepal, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of the Philippines, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Kingdom of Thailand, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and international and regional organizations including International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and the Climate Institute. A number of observers from various Japanese national and local organizations were also in attendance. The Seminar was sponsored by the Environment Agency of Japan, Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City. It is noteworthy that 8 of the 16 ~ participating countries have already ratified the UNFCCC and the others have indicated that they are in the advanced stages of doing so.

1.Objective of the Seminar

The objectives of the Seminar were:

1. to provide an opportunity for the Asia-Pacific region to acquire the know-how for developing national inventories of emission and removal of GHGs, in assisting the participating nations to implement the convention in the Asia-Pacific region.
2. to foster cooperation among countries in the region for development of possible regional strategies.

2.Opening Addresses

Mr. Tsutomu Yamamoto, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Environment Agency of Japan in his opening address emphasized the need for environmentally sound socioeconomic system, strengthening the research capacity and importance of international cooperation. Welcome addresses were delivered by Mr. Kazuo Nakagawa, Governor of Osaka Prefecture and Mr. Masaya Nishio, Mayor of Osaka City. The Governor mentioned about the revised basic local environmental law. He also emphasized international cooperation at the local level for transfer of technology. The Mayor in his address expressed support for the UNEP Center for Technology Transfer which has been established recently. He mentioned the action plan on the environment in the form of a local Agenda 21.

3.Election of officers

The Seminar elected Mr. Saburo Kato (Japan) as Chairperson. Mr. Peter Tin Tai Cheng (Australia), Dr. R. Tjang Mushadji Sutamihardja (Indonesia) and Dr. J. R. Bhatt (India) were elected Vice Chairpersons. Dr. Ata Qureshi (Climate Institute, USA) was elected Rapporteur for the Seminar.

4.Keynote Speeches

Prof. Ding Yihui, Vice Chair of IPCC WG I in his keynote address highlighted the structure and activities of the IPCC, status of the assessment reports and the guidelines for GHG emission inventories. ESCAP representative Dr. Rezaul Karim's keynote address focused on climate change implications, regional strategies and actions in the Asia-Pacific Region.

5.IPCC/OECD Methodology

Mrs. Jan Corfee-Morlot from the OECD and Mr. Craig Ebert from ICF, presented details of IPCC/OECD national greenhouse gas inventory guidelines and methodology covering the following areas:

1. Fuel combustion and industry
2. Methane from energy production
3. Methane from waste management
4. IPCC reporting instructions for national GHG inventories
5. Methods for emissions from agriculture, land use changes and forestry

This seminar, with a primary focus on emissions inventory methodology, was enthusiastically received by the participating countries as it was very timely in view of UNFCCC coming into force and in assisting them in requirements of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Overall, the inventory methods provided by IPCC/OECD were considered useful by the participants. Need for updating guideline was also expressed during the discussion. Some participants, provided feedback to the IPCC/OECD representatives for improvement of methodology. This feedback included such questions and suggestions as;

1. There is too broad a range for default values and emission factors, which need to be narrowed down. Emission factors specific to regional conditions would be useful
2. Several country representatives voiced their concern over a broad range of emission factors for paddy rice and emphasized the need for site specific research to develop realistic ranges of default values. Sustainability of rice agriculture over centuries was emphasized.
3. The emission factors applicable specifically to developing country situations such as open firewood places for domestic cooking and kerosene lighting should be developed.
4. It was suggested that appropriate emission factors and ranges for default-values should be exhibited for various types of soils.
5. Importance of including sinks was recognized in the calculation of national inventories.
6. Consideration for storage of CO2 in wood products needs to be given.
7. Differentiation in emission inventory work between anthropogenic and natural emissions of GHGS Such as forest fires vs. savannah burning should be considered.

6.Regional Strategies

The keynote address, "The Next Steps to Cope With Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific Region," was presented by Dr. Shuzo Nishioka illustrating the international and regional cooperation needed to respond to climate change. The keynote address placed an added emphasis on the following:

1. We already have gained some understanding of the implications of climate change. Our next priority should be to undertake planning and implementation of plausible response strategies.
2. Networking is an essential element of this process, and this Seminar serves as one of the vital parts of regional networking.
3. The Consultative Meeting on the Development of a Regional Strategy on Climate Change held at ESCAP in October, 1993 confirmed the important role of the Regional Strategy. It can assist each country in providing common facilities and methodologies specific to the region, while also providing input at the global level from the regional specific aspects.

7.Recommendations

It was apparent during the discussions at the Third Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change that some countries are already well advanced in undertaking the emission inventories, while others are in the inception stages. However, all participating countries have shown willingness to comply with provisions of the FCCC. Some of the points raised during the participant presentations include:

1. All countries and international agencies welcomed this series of Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar to continue and the Japanese Government indicated their willingness to sponsor the 4th Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change.
2. There is a need for fulfillment of the special commitments of the developed countries to assist the developing countries under provisions of FCCC in financial, technical and technological areas.
3. Several countries expressed the importance of monitoring various sinks for GHGS and the development of a suitable methodology for their appropriate quantification.
4. It was expressed that separate regional workshop should be organized for providing step by step procedures of emission inventories specifically addressed to the experts of the countries of the Asia-Pacific Region.
5. In order for the countries to meet the expectations of the Framework Convention, institutional strengthening including indigenous capacity building would be highly desirable.
6. Currently there is only one central location at the OECD headquarters for dissemination of emission inventory methodology. It was proposed that regional centers might be established to serve as contact points for this purpose.
7. Regional climate evaluations and development of regional climate change scenarios were emphasized.
8. Some countries expressed the need for financial and technical assistance to improve research capabilities in order to undertake the inventories and other such activities.
9. It was proposed to establish a regional environmental fund for the Asia-Pacific Region to support capacity building at the national level in the region.
10. Regional strategies on climate change specific to the small island nations of the region should be identified and implemented.
11. It was stressed that the initiatives by local authorities could play an important role in reducing GHG emissions and in forming sustainable cities and communities.