CHAIRMAN'S CONCLUSION
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP
ON
ECO ASIA PROJECT

March 16 and 17,1994
Tokyo, Japan

  1. INTRODUCTION

    1. The workshop on "A Long-Term Perspective on Environment and Development in the Asia-Pacific Region" was held in Tokyo, Japan, on 16 and 17 March, 1994. It was organized by the Environment Agency of Japan with the participation of representatives from 12 governments and 9 international organizations and research institutes, as well as many other distinguished guests. (See the attached list of participants.) Ms. Wakako Hironaka, the State Minister, Director General of the Environment Agency welcomed the participants.

  2. BACKGROUND

    1. The Asia-Pacific region has more than half the world's population and its rate of economic growth is the highest in the world. It is predicted that the region's consumption of energy and natural resources will increase sharply. Without proper policies and management, the amount of pollutants and wastes will increase to critical levels, natural resources will be depleted, and consequently the quality of life of the region's inhabitants will deteriorate.

    2. Bearing this in mind, "A Long-Term Perspective on Environment and Development in the Asia-Pacific Region" (hereafter referred to as "the Project") was proposed by the Environment Agency of Japan at ECO ASIA '93, and welcomed by participants. It was understood that the Project would be useful in providing decision makers in this region with a scientific basis for proper policy formulation. There was agreement that the project would be conducted with the active cooperation of ECO ASIA participating countries and organizations such as research institutes and international organizations.

    3. This workshop was held to discuss important elements of the project including objectives, implementation arrangements, and the work plan.

  3. DISCUSSION ON THE PROJECT

    1. While the broad orientations of the draft work plan were welcomed, points made included:

      Objectives
    2. The objectives of the Project are:

      1. to identify options for environmental policies that promote the long-term sustainable development of the Asia Pacific Region by

          -identifying the major environmental issues confronting the region,
          -examining their links with social economic issues, and
          -forecasting the future social, economic and environmental issues that can be expected from different development scenarios in the region.

      2. to enhance the human resources and institutional capacities of participating countries to address the issues identified by the Project, and

      3. to contribute toward the pursuit of global sustainable development within the context of political, economic, social and environmental factors, by providing an example of regional action.

      Implementation arrangement
    3. Details of implementation will depend to some extent on the analytical work as it develops. Thus it may be expected that tasks, schedules, and arrangements will be adjusted in accordance with the procedures outlined below.

    4. The Project is a Japanese initiative. Japan will provide the Secretariat and be responsible for report preparation. However, in the preparation of these documents, the input of ECO ASIA participants will be sought at all important stages throughout the project to ensure consideration of relevant viewpoints. Reports will be made available periodically to "ECO ASIA" for comments and suggestions as the process advances, and finally at ECO ASIA '97 for possible endorsement.
    5. The roles of the Secretariat will be:

      1. to prepare reports for ECO ASIA;
      2. to organize necessary activities for that purpose; and
      3. to secure a financial base for these activities.

    6. It is suggested that a process of peer review be established early in the project to ensure opportunities for input are provided throughout the work programme. In particular, such reviews would be sought on project methodology, data interpretation, and policy options, but would not be limited to these. It is proposed that the peer review process would be conducted through relevant peer review groups drawn form ECO ASIA participants, but would not be confined to members of those groups. The opportunity to have input would be open to all ECO ASIA members and interested organizations. It is the intention of the Government of Japan to extend invitations to the Pacific island nations to participate in the Project.

    7. Each ECO ASIA participant will be invited to nominate a contact person responsible for providing feedback to the Secretariat for consideration and input into its reports.

      Work plan
    8. Participants made suggestions and comments along the following lines:

      1. Schedule
          A detailed work programme including a time table will be prepared by the Secretariat so that relevant groups can coordinate their activities with this Project.

      2. Cooperation and coordination
          -Results of the Project should be available to all participating countries, research institutes, and international organizations.
          -UNCRD may be able to contribute to the compilation of supplementary information, participation in formulating alternative scenarios, and organization of training programmes.
          -The activities of all relevant forums including ESCAP, APEC, SPREP, ASOEN, and SACEP should be taken into consideration, especially in relation to data collection.
          -Duplication, in particular collecting data, must be avoided.

      3. Project coverage
          -The Project should draw on all relevant information from international conventions and protocols.
          -There should be some prioritization of the sectors and issues to be considered based on environmental effect. Attention should also be given to marine pollution, coastal zone management, the impact of sea level rise and to those countries in the region which are vulnerable to natural disasters.
          -Mechanisms are necessary to facilitate technology transfer / enhancement, to ensure provision of sufficient funds, and to promote capacity building.
          -Improving education levels will have a positive long-term impact on sustainable development.
          -Industrial waste, deforestation, and biodiversity should receive careful attention.

      4. Evaluation of environment and development
          Detailed evaluations should be both short- and long-term as well as national and regional.
          Emphasis should be also given to social aspects, the results of actual studies and qualitative evaluations. There should not be an over-reliance on modelling.
          The meaning of sustainability at both the national and the regional levels should be clarified.


      5. Alternative scenarios
          Alternative scenarios should be based on achievable objectives.
          The alternative scenarios should lead to concrete plans of action that incorporate such things as cooperative programmes and regional environmental policies/agreements.

      6. Policy options
          Policy options must be able to be translated into practice. These options should be compatible with national objectives.
          While the Project is based on national information and action programmes, regional environmental policies should be developed.

    9. It was agreed that the Draft Work Plan would be revised, taking into account the results of the discussion. The revised draft would be submitted to ECO ASIA '94 for comments and suggestions.

  4. WORKSHOP REPORT

    1. The report of this workshop will be prepared and distributed to all participants. The report will include papers describing the initiatives and policies on environment and development of' participating countries. research institutes. and international organizations.


  5. CONCLUSION

    1. The Environment Agency of Japan announced that ECO ASIA '94 would be held in June 1994 in Saitama, Japan, and formal invitations from the State Minister, Director General of the Environment Agency, Government of Japan, will be sent through diplomatic channels shortly.

    2. Participants expressed their appreciation to the Environment Agency of Japan for organizing this workshop.

Final

AGENDA

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP
ON
ECO ASIA LONG-TERM PROJECT

Room Aurora (B2F)
Hotel Takanawa
Tokyo, Japan

Wednesday, March 16
9:30 - 10:00 a.m. Opening Session
9:30 - 9:45 a.m.
9:45 - 10:00 a.m.

10:00 - 10:45 a.m. Session (1): Work Plan

Presentation on Draft Work Plan of ECO ASIA Long-Term Project by Mr. KazuhikoTakemoto, Program Director of Eco-Asia Project

10:45 - 11:00 a.m. Coffee Break

11:00 - 12:30 a.m. Session (2): Presentations by National
(a)Australia
(b)Bangladesh
(c)China
(d)India
(e)Malaysia
(f)Korea

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch (Buffet): Room Scarlet (B2F)

1:30 - 2:45 p.m. Session (2): (continued)
(g) Indonesia
(h) New Zealand
(i) Pakistan
(j) Singapore
(k) Thailand

2:45 - 3:00 p.m. Coffee Break

3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Session (3): Presentations by International Organizations
(a) UNEP/ROAP
(b) ESCAP
(c) UNCRD
(d) UNU
(e) ITTO
(f) IBRD
(g) ADB

5:30 p.m. -
Reception by Mrs. Wakako Hironaka, State Minister, Director-General, Japan Environment Agency: Room Tropical (1F)


Thursday, March 17
9:30 - 10:00 a.m. Session (3): (Continued)
10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Coffee Break

12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Lunch (Buffet): Room Scarlet (B2F)

2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Session (5): Chairman's Conclusion

3:00 - p.m. Closing
Participants List

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP
ON
ECO ASIA LONG - TEAM PROJECT

Tokyo, Japan
March 16 and 17, 1994


Australia
Mr. Tony Fleming
Assistant. Secretary,
Environment Information Science and Reporting
Department, of the Environment Sport: and Territories

Bangladesh
Mr. Md. Fazlul Huq
Joint Secretary,
Ministry of Environment.

China
Mr. Zhijia Wang
Deputy Director,
Foreign Affairs Office,
National environmental Protection Agency

India
Mr. Alok Jain
Joint Secretary,
Ministry of Environment R Forest

Indonesia
Dr. Roehajat E. Soeriaatmadja
Special Assistant to the Minister
in charge of Global Environment;
Ministry of State for Environment

Korea
Mr. Deok Gil Rhee
Director,
Global Environment. Division,
Ministry of Environment

Malaysia
Mr. Raman Letchumanan
Director,
Conservation and Environmental Management Division,
Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment

New Zealand
Mr. John Gilbert
Deputy Secretary
Ministry for the Environment

Pakistan
Mr. Akhtar Iqbal Jarral
Joint Secretary,
Environment & Urban Affairs Division,
Government of Pakistan

Philippines
Mr . Reynaldo P. Alcances
Officer-in-Charge,
Environmental Impact Assessment Unit,
Environmental Management Bureau,

Singapore
Mr. Yeo Boon Leng
Chief Engineer (Strategic Planning)
Strategic Planning & Research Department
Ministry of the Environment

Thailand
Dr. Saksit Tridech
Deputy Secretary-General,
Office of Environmental Policy and Planning,
Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment

Japan
Mr. Hiroshi Sawamura
Director-General,
Global Environment. Department,
Environment Agency

Mr. Kazuhiko Takemoto
Director,
Research and Information Office
Global Environment Department,
Environment Agency

Mr. Saburo Kato
Director,
Research Institute for Environment 8 Society

Mr. Shigeaki Fujisaki
Researcher,
Development Studies Department,
institute of Developing Economies

Dr. Hidefumi Imura
Professor,
Institute of Environmental Systems,
Faculty of Engineering,
kyushu University

Mr. Takaaki Moroto
General Manager,
Department of Global Environment,
Itochu Corporation

Dr. Shuzo Nishioka
General Manager
Department of Global Environment
National Institute for Environmental Studies,
Environment Agency

Dr. Moriyuki Oe
Director,
Department of Population Structure Studies,
Institute of Population Problems,
Ministry of Health and Welfare

Dr. Kazuo Takahashi
Programme Director,
Sasakawa Peace. Foundation

UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
Dr. Richard Meganck
Regional Director and Representative for
Asia and the Pacific

ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the pacific)
Mr. Guangchang Shi
Chief,
Environment and Natural Resources Management Division

UNCRD (United Nations Centre for Regional Development)
Mr. Hideki Kaji
Director

Mr. Kenji Oya
Environmental Management Planner

UNU (The United Nations University)
Dr. Fu-chen Lo
Senior Academic Officer

Dr. Akihiro Watanabe
Visiting Scholar

ITTO (International Tropical Timber Organization)
Dr. B.C.Y. Freezailah
Executive Director

IBRD (The World Bank)
Ms. Jean Aden
Institutional Specialist,
Environment & National Resources Division,
Asia Technical Department

ADB (Asia Development Bank)
Dr. Bindu N. Lohani
Acting Manager,
Environment Division

EWC (East -- West. Center)
Mr.James Nickum
Senior Fellow,
Program on Environment

WRI (World Resources Institute)
Dr. Rob Coppock
Director,
2050 Project