Social and Environmental Data Base
Social Data Environmental Data
Introduction of the Sub-Committee of Environment, the Association of North East Asia Regional Governments
Outline of the Association of North East Asia Regional Governments and the Sub-Committee of Environment
Outline of holding the Fifth Sub-Committee of Environment, the Association of North East Asia Regional Governments
Individual Projects in the Sub-Committee of Environment
International environmental cooperation
Scheme for Political Dialogue (Multilateral cooperation)
» The Northeast Asian Conference on Environmental Cooperation (NEAC)
Held annually since 1992, combines government representatives, research institutions, international organizations and NGOs from Japan, China, Korea, Mongol and Russia to participate in discussing the wide ranging environmental problems of the Northeast Asian Region.
» The Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting (TEMM)
Held since 1999, environment ministers from Japan, China and Korea gather to discuss various regional and global environmental issues and strengthen tripartite environmental cooperation. Currently new projects are in the process of formation.
» The Environment Congress for Asia and the Pacific (ECO ASIA)
Held annually in Japan since 1991, the aim of ECO ASIA is to strengthen environmental cooperation and to achieve sustainable development in the Asia Pacific Region through the free exchange of opinions among environmental ministers.
» The Asia-Pacific Forum for Environment and Development (APFED)
Approved at the ECO ASIA (October 2001), the first forum was held in Bangkok in January 2001 and topics such as freshwater resources, renewable energy, trade and funding were discussed.
» The ESCAP / Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development
Meeting every 5 years since 1985, the 4th conference was held at Kitakyushu City in 2000. The meeting reviewed the state of implementation of Agenda 21 in the Asia and Pacific region and discussed its future policies in regard to the environment and development of this region. Furthermore, to improve the urban environment of Asian cities the “Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment” was adopted to promote cooperation between cities and to strengthen environmental activities at local levels.
» The ESCAP / Meeting of Senior Officials on Environmental Cooperation in Northeast Asia
Held since 1993, focuses on the development of a framework for regional environmental cooperation between the 6 Northeast Asian countries (Japan, China, Korea, Russia, Mongol and North Korea). Through this meeting and funding from ADB four projects mainly related to air pollution are currently in progress.
» The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Environment Ministers’ Meeting
The first ASEM was held in Beijing in January 2002. The Chairman’s Statement, which called for early implementation of the Kyoto Protocol as well as cooperation and dialogue amongst members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) forum, was adopted.
Bilateral cooperation in the Northeast Asia region
» Cooperation between Japan and China
• Supporting the activities of “The Japan -China Friendship Environmental Protection Center” through ODA (Grant aid).
• Supporting the “Environmental Model City Project” (ODA loan assistance) by adopting Chongqing, Guiyang and Dalian as model cities as well as supporting the installation of a computer network between 100 cities for the efficient exchange of environmental information (ODA grant aid).
• Implementing joint surveys and research programs through the “Japan-China Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection” (concluded in March 1994).
» Cooperation between Japan and Korea
• Launched the “Action Plan for Japan – Korea Partnership” in September 1999 which includes environmental cooperation.
• Technical cooperation such as ”Project for Development of Water Quality Renovation System in Korea” through ODA (currently non ODA project).
• Implementing joint surveys and research programs through the “Japan-Korea Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection” (concluded in June 1993).
» Cooperation between Japan and Russia
• Prepared the “Japan-Russia Cooperation Plan for Environmental Protection” through the “Japan-Russia Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection” (concluded in 1991).
• Conducting scientific and technical cooperation through the “Japan-Russia Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement” (concluded in September 2000).
Environmental protection in specific fields
» The Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP)
Part of the UNEP “Regional Seas Programme”, this plan focuses on environmental conservation in enclosed international sea areas through regional cooperation. NOWPAP was adopted by Japan, China, Korea and Russia in 1994 and incorporates the waters of the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea.
» The Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET)
EANET’s objectives are to create a common understanding of the state of the acid deposition problems in East Asia. This is achieved through the promotion of common monitoring methods in order to provide useful inputs for the decision making of the 11 participating countries. Main activities commenced in 2001 with the Acid Rain Research Center in Niigata being designated as the network center.
» The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN)
Established in 1995, APN promotes global change research and cooperation in science and policy making in the Asia-Pacific Region. The Japan Ministry of Environment is the APN secretariat, organizing workshops and aiding regional research organizations. APN is currently conducting joint projects with the International Geosphere and Biosphere Programme (IGBP).
» Asia-Pacific Environmental Innovation Strategy Project (APEIS)
The objective of APEIS is to develop scientific knowledge-based tools and innovative strategy options as a common asset to promote informed decision-making by policy makers for the sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific region.
Environmental cooperation by local governments
The Association of North East Asia Regional Governments (NEAR)
NEAR was established in 1996 and aims to create networks for exchange and cooperation in the fields of administration, economy and culture amongst all of the regional governments within the Northeast Asia region. Furthermore NEAR strives to develop trust based on mutual understanding and to contribute to the overall development of this region as well as to that of world peace.
Currently the 6 countries of Northeast Asia region and 40 local governments are members of NEAR. Main activities include: collection and distribution of economic, technological and developmental information in regard to the region and its association members as well as support and execution of projects related to exchanges and cooperation amongst North East Asia regions.
Table 1 List of local governments in the Association of North East Asia Regional Governments
Country No. of local governments Local government
Japan 10 Aomori Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, Fukui Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture, Shimane Prefecture
China 5 Liaoning Province, Heilongjiang Province, Henan Province, Shandong Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous region
Mongol 2 Tuv Province, Selenginskiy Aimak
Korea 10 Busan Metropolitan City, Gangwon-do Province, Kyonggi-do Province, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, Cheju-do Province, Jeollabuk-do Province, Jeollanam-do Province, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, Chungchognam-do Province
Russia 10 Republic of Buryatia, Republic of Sakha, Primorsky Territory, Khabarovsk Territory, Amur Region, Irkutsk Region, Kamchatka Region, Sakhalin Region, Chita Region, Ust-Orda Buryat Autonomous Okrug
North Korea 2 Hamgenbuk-do Province, Radzhesh-Sobon City
Other environmental cooperation
Various exchange programs including training courses and dispatch programs are being conducted with active exchange of environmental technologies and information.
Environmental cooperation by private organizations
A wide range of environmental protection projects from government level to grass root level are being conducted by NPOs and other voluntary organizations. Also, various symposiums, lectures and seminars on environmental issues are frequently held promoting environmental cooperation in many places.
Table 2 Examples of environmental cooperation activities by private organizations in Japan
Project Main organization Outline of activities
Japan-China Environmental Cooperation Program AEON Environment Foundation Hold symposium on Japan-China environmental problems every two years. Conduct joint surveys at Fushun City and Shanxi Province, Yuanquan City.
Japan-China Committee on environmental conservation Japan-China Science Technology Culture Center Invite delegates from State Environment Protection Administration and hold lectures and information exchange programs regarding Japan-China environmental problems. There are plans for technical cooperation with Chinese environment research institutes.
Research on Global Environment Strategies Institute for Global Environment Strategies Conduct policy-oriented and practical strategic research on global environmental issues.
Study on Clean Development Mechanism projects Global Environment Center Foundation Conduct feasibility studies for proposed Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) projects.
Environmental cooperation projects for energy use in developing countries Global Environment Center Foundation Promoting conversion of energy use from coal to natural gas. Currently conducting joint development and research projects of natural gas with Chongqing City.
Japan-China environmental information exchange program Overseas Environment Cooperation Center Hold monthly information exchange programs to strengthen the relationship between various organizations of Japan and China.
Afforestation project Nippon Keidanren Promoting sustainable development in China through afforestation projects.
Japan-China Environment Cooperation
Environment Committee		 — Manufactures of environmental equipments organizing seminars and sending delegates to China. Also receiving delegates from China.
Japan Fund for Global Environment
 Japan Environment Corporation Jointly established by the government and private sector, it funds environmental conservation activities of private organizations (NGOs).
Others
 The Toyota Foundation Supports various research projects of different fields, such as environment, education and social welfare.
Global Environment Japan Fund Supports research on environmental conservation project in developing regions.
AEON Environment Foundation Supports various national and international environmental conservation activities, such as prevention of desertification, wildlife conservation and ecosystem protection.
Informational Interchange on Environmental Protection among Local Governments in North East Asia Region Links