Multi-stakeholder Forum
for an Equitable and Environmentally Sustainable Society
Message from the Asia-Pacific:
A New Era for Sustainable Development and a Knowledge Network

This event took place on 27 March, 2005 and formally launched the Final Report of the Asia-Pacific Forum for Environment and Development (APFED). It was attended by one hundred twenty five participants, including, among others, representatives of international organizations, heads of research institutes in Asia-Pacific region and APFED members, including the Chairperson Mr Ryutaro Hashimoto.

The event confirmed support for APFED’s advocacy of a drastic shift to a new paradigm in the way we view the economy, society, and the environment, where quality of life, human contentment and environmental sustainability, not economic growth and material wealth, will be the prime concerns for all. Next steps to implement the APFED recommendations were discussed, focussing on the creation of a knowledge-based network linking strategic research institutes in the region. In concluding the event, the participants adopted an “APFED Appeal to MCED2005” which consolidated the crucial components of the APFED message, associated with the highlight of its recommendations with particular relevance to the MCED main theme, “Achieving Environmentally Sustainable Economic Growth”. This message was delivered to Ministers attending the Ministerial Session of the MCED.

This event was sponsored and organized by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in collaboration with UN/ESCAP and UNEP with assistance from ADB and UNU. In addition, the organization of the event was fully supported by Dr. Kim Myung-Ja, APFED Member from the MCED2005 host country, Republic of Korea, as well as the Member of the Republic of Korea National Assembly.

For more information and to download the APFED final report, visit the IGES event website at http://www.iges.or.jp/en/news/topic/0504apfed.html.