別添3

Comments of Japanese Government to "The framework for capacity-building 
in countries with economies in transition(EITs) "

JAPAN
July 5, 2000


General Comments
1. Japan recognizes capacity-building as an essential component of steady implementation of the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. Therefore we should thoroughly discuss this issue among the parties in a cooperative manner in order to make progress toward COP6.
 
2. Environment-related capacity-building including that for climate change, has been one of the priority areas in Japan's development assistance. Japan has already enhanced its support for capacity-building in developing countries in many areas related to climate change including energy, industry, transport, forest, natural resource management, monitoring of emissions and sequestrations, etc, and will continue such efforts steadily.
 
3. As many ANNEX II Parties stated, huge efforts and assistance toward capacity-building in developing countries and EITs have been undertaken since the entry into force of the Convention. Japan believes that such current efforts and experiences should be properly recognized and should be treated as a basis on which to make further improvement.
 
4. The question of a framework for capacity-building has been discussed since COP 5, but principles, which constitute the basis for the framework, have not been consolidated yet. Principles of the framework for capacity building should be consolidated first, and under such principles, effective and practical detail of the framework, which might include items of scope and implementation, should be discussed. In this regard, ideas on technology-transfer, including needs assessment and information, produced in the consultative process for technology transfer might be useful for considering the framework for capacity-building.
 
5. The framework for capacity-building will be complex as it will involve a wide range of stakeholders and has broad linkage to several items of development agenda. Therefore it is advisable to carefully analyze what should be capacity-building without making haste.
 
6. Japan would like to express its position on principles again in the following on the assumption a new text will be prepared by the chairman and secretariat based on Parties' comments.
 
Japan's position on Principles
7. Recall decision 11/CP.5 - Capacity-building is very important for the effective participation of EITs in the Convention and Kyoto Protocol processes and must be comprehensively addressed.
 
8. Capacity-building should be clearly designed to contribute to and result in the further implementation of the Convention and Kyoto Protocol. Scope of capacity-building should be carefully considered in order that capacity building should function effectively.
 
9. Special Status of 
EITsThe special status of EITs have to be taken into account. 
(Special status)
:EITs are ANNEX I Parties which have the obligations to adopt national policies and take corresponding measures on the mitigation of climate change and to make national communications,
::EITs are ANNEX I Parties with quantified emission limitation or reduction commitments. 
Importance should be attached to such assistance as to help them meet their targets and other obligations under the Convention and the Protocol.
 
10.  Linkage to sustainable development
(a)  Activities related to climate change is one aspect of broad sustainable development efforts, so that capacity-building for climate change should be incorporated into national sustainable development strategies and programs, and involve a broad range of stakeholders in a manner appropriate to the circumstances of each country;
(b)  Comprehensive approach should be taken in EITs for introducing and sustaining capacity-building, e.g. coherence among the policy, administration and implementation stages, and between national and local levels.
 
11.  Country-drivenness
(a) Ownership
 Capacity-building should be driven by EITs themselves with their ownership. It is primarily to be undertaken by EITs in partnership with ANNEX II Parties;
(b) Needs assessment
 Capacity-building needs should be primarily assessed and determined by EITs themselves;
(c) Diversity
 Capacity-building needs are different from Party to Party. There is no "one size fits all" formula.
(d) Large efforts of EITs
 It should be stressed that capacity-building requires large efforts from EITs themselves. In other words, EITs must have a sense of ownership, although ANNEX II Parties will provide support for such efforts in the spirit of partnership.
 
12. Partnership between EITs and ANNEX II Parties
 Needs assessment should clearly identify both activities to be undertaken by recipient country itself and activities to be assisted by ANNEX II Parties, taking into account close and cooperative partnership between two sides.
 
13. Long-term process with flexibility
(a) Capacity-building cannot be achieved overnight. Rather, planning for capacity-building requires a long-term perspective, which also includes the post-assistance program period;
(b) Capacity-building needs could not be identified fully at the initial period. It should be designed and implemented in a flexible manner to take into account emerging needs and unique circumstances of each country;
(c) Capacity-building should be result-based and designed so as to produce clearly identified results.
 
14 Coordination -
Capacity-building will be more effectively implemented;
(a)if it is coordinated at the country, regional and subregional levels;
(b)if it is effectively coordinated with other sustainable development agenda;
(c)if it is built on past and existing efforts;
(d)if needs for projects under Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol driven by EITs are 
taken into account.
 
15.  Capacity-building is achieved through "learning by doing"; it should not wait until needs assessment by EITs is completed.

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