The 7th International Workshop for ECO ASIA Long-term Perspective Project

22-23 February 2000
Shonan Village, Kanagawa, Japan


CHAIR'S SUMMARY

 

  1. The Seventh International Workshop on ECO ASIA Long-term Perspective Project (LTPP) took place in Shonan Village, Kanagawa, Japan, from 22 to 23 February 2000. The Environment Agency of Japan organized it and 44 participants from 13 countries and 7 international organizations attended it (refer to the Participants List attached). The Opening addresses of Mr. Hironori Hamanaka, Director General of the Global Environment Department, Environment Agency of Japan was read, and Mr. Kazuo Matsushita, Acting Vice-President of Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) made his address. Mr. Saburo Kato, President of the Research Institute for Environment and Society, chaired the Workshop.

  2. The objectives of the workshop were:

  3. Five presentations on the following two topics were made for concurrent studies under the work plan for Phase II (refer to the Agenda):

  4. Participants actively discussed the above topics. The main points of discussion were as follows:

  5. Two presentations were made mainly focusing on environmental effects of the Asian economic / financial crises in the later 1990's by the following 2 participants;

  6. Participants actively discussed the two presentations on the above topic. The main points of the discussions were as follow:

  7. According to the Agenda of the Workshop, the following three presentations by 7 participants were made at the Workshop regarding way for LTPP to contribute to the 4th ESCAP Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development (MCED-4) in 2000:

  8. Active discussion took place with regard to the above three presentations. The main points of the discussions were as follows:

  9. For the purposes of facilitating the work of Phase II of the project in close cooperation with various activities in the region aimed towards the MCED-4, and the towards the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2002 (Rio+10), the participants expressed their appreciation of the efforts made by ECO ASIA/LTPP members to contribute to the preparation of the Regional Action Programme (RAP) and State of the Environment Report in 2000 and formulation of the Kitakyushu Initiative as possible outcomes of MCED-4. Participants also agreed to submit the Policy Paper drafted by the IGES project teams as a contribution of ECO ASIA/LTPP to the MCED-4 as background /information documents.

  10. Participants shared the same view that the Rio+10 Conference is to be hosted in Asia and the Pacific region, since the region was the focus of environment and development in the 21st century.

  11. As the secretariat of the project, the Environment Agency of Japan announced that it would report the outcome of this Workshop and the progress to date on the Long-term Perspective Project at the ECO ASIA Congress to be held in Kitakyushu City, Japan, on 3 September 2000, and that the steering committee would meet again after the ECO ASIA congress as appropriate.

  12. Participants expressed their appreciation to the Environment Agency of Japan for hosting the Workshop and to Mr. Kato for his excellent chairing of the Workshop.

 


The 7th International Workshop for ECO ASIA Long-term Perspective Project

22-23 February 2000
Shonan Village, Kanagawa, Japan


Agenda

 

22 February (Tuesday)

10:30-10:50 Opening
The representatives of Environment Agency of Japan (EAJ) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) will make opening Addresses
10:50-11:30 Election of Officers and Adoption of Agenda
Discussion papers, participants' status and change of members and other matters including the member of the Steering Committee, will be confirmed by participants.
11:30-12:00 Review of LTPP-related activities and the preparation for ESCAP/MCED4
(a) Report from the Secretariat on the results/decisions of the previous workshop and ECO ASIA '99, as well as two former steering committees for the Project.
(b) Briefing on the status of the preparation for the fourth ESCAP Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development (ESCAP/MCED4) by ESCAP
12:00-13:30 Lunch (Room: Dazai)
13:30-15:15 Report of the Progress since the Previous Workshop
(a) Report from the leaders of Eco-Consciousness projects
(b) Report from AIM model team
15:15-15:45 Coffee Break
15:45-17:30 Free discussion on Environmental Effects Caused by Asian Economic /Financial Crises in late 1990s.
(a) Presentation by Dr. Saksit TRIDECH, OEPP/MOSTE, Thailand
(b) Presentation by Mr. Kazuo MATSUSHITA (An Overview of Environmental Policies in the Changing Asia-Pacific Political, Economic, and Social Climate)
(c) Following the two kick-off speeches, participants will make discussion on the above theme.
18:30-20:30 Reception, hosted by Co-Organizers (Room: Isshiki)

23 February (Wednesday)

8:00-9:00 Breakfast Meeting of the Steering Committee
The Committee may wish to discuss LTPP's input to the fourth ESCAP Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development (ESCAP/MCED4) to be held on 4-5 September 2000, proceeded by its Senior Officials-level Meeting during 31 August - 2 September and the 9th ECO ASIA on 3 September 2000.
9:30-12:30 Possible Contributions of LTPP/ ECO ASIA to ESCAP/MCED4
(a) Report of the Progress of Strategic Paper to be prepared by IGES, with the integration of 4 Eco-concepts:
-   Climate Change;
-   Urban Environmental Pollution (e.g. Waste, Water, Transport);
-   Forest Ecology / Bio Diversity;
-   Environmental Education; and
-   International / Regional Cooperation.
(b) Linkage between the output of AIM model and Strategic Papers to be prepared by IGES.
12:30-13:30 Lunch (Room: Isshiki)
13:30-15:00 Other Matters, especially on the Preparation for ESCAP/MCED4
(a) Participants may wish to discuss the following major expected outcomes of ESCAP/MCED4 and their linkages to LTPP activities and etc.
-   Revised Regional Action Programme;
-   Ministerial Declaration;
-   State of the Environment Report '2000;
-   Kitakyushu Initiative; and
-   Others.
(b) Adoption of Chair's Summary
15:00 Adjournment of the Session.

Notes:
The final version of Chair's Summary shall be editted by the Secretariat after the Workshop under the responsibility of the Chairman and be sent to the participants as soon as possibl
e.


Appendix: Presentation Detail of Agenda Items

Issues on Eco-Consciousness

There are some key steps to cope with global environmental degradation: i) information dissemination of global environmental circumstances, ii) legal regulation, iii) economic measures, iv) international cooperation and support to increase the capacity of solving environmental problems in developing countries, v) establishment of strong environmental ethics among individual citizens. The fifth element is the most fundamental since all other four elements are based upon it. The establishment of environmental ethics should come from a process of analyzing eco-consciousness embedded in each traditional culture. Such strong environmental ethics should be applied to socio-economic framework of the 21st century, which will be characterized by a globalized market economy and the exponential growth of science and technology. Japanese examples on environmental ethics will be presented and discussed. In addition, progress made by the Sub-Project on Eco-consciousness in the Asia-Pacific region will be reported, including preliminary results of research on environmental risk perception in Japan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. The focus will be on different risk perceptions between the general public, and leaders of businesses and governments. Understanding public perceptions of environmental risks is vital to the formulation of policy changes that will receive broad public support. Copies of the first publication produced by this sub-project will be distributed.

Issues on Eco-policy Linkage using the AIM model

Revised Scenario of the Asia-Pacific Future Trend: the AIM team has assessed the future trends of economic activity and environmental burdens in Asia-Pacific region. The current social conditions in the Asia-Pacific region and the recent discussions in IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) on the future Asia-Pacific economic and environmental trends will be reflected in the revised economic trends and greenhouse gas emissions projections.

Eco-policy Linkage of Water Resources Management: Water resources management efforts, such as providing irrigation systems to improve agricultural productivity and building dikes to prevent flood, have been carried out to accomplish relatively short-term achievements. Taking global warming impacts into account, the AIM team will evaluate policies on water resources management from the viewpoint of long-term perspective.

Eco-policy Linkage of Forest Management: The clean development mechanism (CDM) is proposed for enabling cooperative projects among developing countries and developed countries for greenhouse emissions gas reduction and/or carbon sequestration in the Kyoto Protocol. The AIM team will evaluate the potential economic benefits for China derived from an assumed joint CDM afforestation project between Japan and China.

Issues on Environmental Policies in the Changing Asia-Pacific Political, Economic, and Social Climate: An Overview

Surveys on population trends, poverty, economic growth, land-use change, energy and governance structure will be conducted to examine the political, economic, and social climate of the Asia-Pacific region. The surveys will enable effective proposals on changes in legal framework, economic policies, and ways of cooperating with private sector. In addition, discussions will also focus on measures to promote the transfer of environmentally sound and sustainable technology to developing countries and increase capacities of these countries to attain sustainable development. Based on the discussions and analyses, efforts will be made to identify important issues to be picked up at the comprehensive review of Agenda 21 in the year 2002 ("Rio+10").

Issues on Climate Change

Among various international cooperative efforts to cope with Climate Change, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in the Asia-Pacific region will be examined as the means to facilitate fund and technology transfer from developed to developing countries. Discussion will further examine the linkage between the financial support mechanisms, economic effects of CDM and other Kyoto Mechanisms (namely 'Emissions Trading' and 'Joint Implementation').

Issues on Urban Environment

Focusing on East Asian cities, current issues and major challenges in improving urban environmental management will be examined through case-studies. Discussion will focus on four issues: urban transportation system, urban water resources management, waste treatment and urban environmental planning system. Japan's experience and its policy implication will also be discussed.

Issues on Forest Ecology / Bio Diversity

Developing forest conservation strategies has been one of the key environmental issues in the Asia-Pacific region, and the participation of local people in its process needs special attention. Structural analysis on deforestation and degradation of forest has been conducted. The impact of timber trade on sustainable management has been examined to prepare comprehensive strategies. Research efforts on global, regional, national and local levels will be introduced and discussed.

Issues on Environmental Education

Implementation of environmental education is proposed as one of the approaches to conserve environment in the Asia-Pacific region. Issues, such as how environmental education is perceived, what activities are currently conducted, and which type of difficulties are being confronted in implementing environmental education in each country, will be discussed.

Issues on International / Regional Cooperation

Ongoing efforts of implementing regional / subregional environmental cooperation frameworks in East and South-East Asia will be examined. They include: the North-East Asian Sub-regional Programme on Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC), ASEAN Strategic Plan of Action on Environment, Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) and the ECO ASIA forum itself. Thereafter, the presentation will explore the problems and possibilities for further strengthening regional / subregional environmental cooperation toward sustainable development in Asia-Pacific region.


The 7th International Workshop for ECO ASIA Long-term Perspective Project

22-23 February 2000
Shonan Village, Kanagawa, Japan


Participants List

 

BANGLADESH

Mr. Rabi Gopal BISWAS
Deputy Director
Department of Environment

CAMBODIA

Mr. SOVANNORA IENG
Advisor to Minister of Environment
The Ministry of Environment

CHINA

Dr. Guang XIA
Deputy Director
Policy Research Center
State Environmental Protection Administration

FIJI

Mr. Bhaskaran NAIR
Deputy Secretary
Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Environment

INDONESIA

Dr. RTM SUTAMIHARDJA
Advisor
Ministry of Environment

KOREA

Mr. Chang-Heum LEE
Deputy Director
Office of International Affairs
Ministry of Environment

Mr. Seungjae LEE
Deputy Director
Environment and Labour Committee of the National Assembly

MALAYSIA

Mr. Heng Keng LEE
Director
Department of Environment

MONGOLIA

Dr. Ts. Borjigdkhan ADIYASUREN
Counselor to the Minister
Ministry of Environment

PHILIPPINE

Mr. Ramon PAJE
Undersecretary
Department of Environment and natural Resources

SINGAPORE

Mr. Kim Sung Joseph HUI
Chief Engineer
Strategic Planning and Research Department
Ministry of the Environment

SRI LANKA

Mr. Sanath WEERAKOON
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Plantation Industries

THAILAND

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

 

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

ESCAP

Dr. Rezaul KARIM
Chief, Environment Section
Environment and Natural Resources Development Division
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

EWC

Dr. Terry RAMBO
Senior Fellow
East-West Center

IGES

Dr. Bishnu BHANDARI
Environmental Education Project
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Dr. Hiroji ISOZAKI
Professor
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Iwate University

Ms. Aki MARUYAMA
Climate Change Project
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Mr. Kazuo MATSUSHITA
Acting Vice-President
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Ms. Wakana TAKAHASHI
Environmental Governance Project
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

SPREP

Ms. Audrey DROPSY
Training Officer
Information and Capacity Building Division
South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

UNEP/IETC

Mr. Yoshiro MORINO
Senior Liaison Officer
United Nations Environment Programme
International Environmental technology Center (UNEP/IETC)

UNEP/ROAP

Mr. Mahesh PRADHAN
Environmental Affairs Officer
United Nations Environment Programme
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP/ROAP)

UNU

Dr. Motoyuki SUZUKI
Vice Rector
United Nations University

 

JAPAN

Mr. Saburo KATO
President
Research Institute for Environment and Society

Dr. Midori AOYAGI
Senior Researcher
National Institute for Environmental Studies

Dr. Ryo FUJIKURA
Professor
Faculty of Economics
Ritsumeikan University

Dr. Hidefumi IMURA
Professor
Institute of Environmental Systems, Faculty of Engineering
Kyushu University

Dr. Mikiko KAINUMA
Head of Global Warming Response Team
National Institute for Environmental Studies

Dr. Hiroshi KOJIMA
Director
Department of International Research and Cooperation
National Institute of Population and Social Security Research

Dr. Toshihiko MASUI
Researcher
National Institute for Environmental Studies

Mr. Takaaki MOROTO
Corporate Auditor
ITOCHU Corporation

Dr. Kazuo TAKAHASHI
Director
International Development Research Institute
Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development (FASID)

Dr. Kiyoshi TAKAHASHI
Researcher
National Institute for Environmental Studies

 

SECRETARIAT

Mr. Mitsuo USUKI
Senior Advisor to Director General
Global Environment Department
Environment Agency

Mr. Toru NAGAYAMA
Planning Division
Global Environment Department
Environment Agency

Ms. Naoko OGAWARA
Planning Division
Global Environment Department
Environment Agency

Ms. Patricia ORMSBY
Association of International Research
Initiatives for Environmental Studies

Ms. Yoshimi SHIGETA
Association of International Research
Initiatives for Environmental Studies

Mr. Kazuhiko YOSHIDA
Head of Administrative Section
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Mr. Takashi OTSUKA
New Development Patterns Project
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Ms. Naoko MIYAZAKI
New Development Patterns Project
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

 

OBSERVER

Dr. Xuemei BAI
Urban Environmental Management
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Mr. Robert HOPPAUS
IPCC Technical Support Unit
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Mr. Shuzo KATSUMOTO
New Development Patterns Project
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Mr. Yuji MIZUNO
Consultant
Environment and Energy Systems Research Department
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.

Mr. Martinus NANANG
Forest Conservation
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Dr. Yong REN
Urban Environmental Management
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Ms. Rie SUGIYAMA
New Development Patterns Project
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Mr. Masahiro TAKAHASHI
Environmental Education Project
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)