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Associated Events
The following events were held in association with the
Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific
2000:
NGO Symposium on Developing Partnership
Strategies for Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Symposium on Promoting Public - Private Partnership for
Environmental Management in Asia and the Pacific
Media Symposium: The Role of the Media in Achieving
Sustainable Development
Clean Tech 2000:Exhibition of Environmentally Sound
Technologies
Asia Pacific Regional Youth Caucus
The Global 500 Forum
Women's Conference on Environment and Development
NGO Symposium on
Developing Partnership Strategies for Sustainable Development
The
NGO Symposium was held from 1 - 2 September 2000 in Kitakyushu, Japan. The
Symposium was divided into eight working groups dealing respectively with the
following issues:
Environmental Management, Sustainable
Development and Poverty Reduction
Governance Institutions and Capacity Building
Participatory Approaches to Projects for
Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Financial Mechanisms and Resources for Civil
Society Participation
Advocacy, Environmental Education, Public
Awareness and Training
The Role of Civil Society for Regional
Cooperation on Transboundary Environmental Issues
Equity and Social Inclusion
Globalization and Policy Integration
The Symposium expressed its
firm commitment to the attainment of the goals of the regional action programme
for environmentally sound and sustainable development, 2001 - 2005 (RAP)
for sustainable development and poverty reduction in the region. The Symposium
further affirmed its willingness and commitment to a dynamic, equitable,
transparent and effective partnership with other stakeholders and players that
can successfully reach the goals of the RAP. The Symposium expressed concern
over civil society's inadequate involvement in the drafting and finalization of
the RAP. In this connection, the Symposium made the following recommendations
for the Ministerial Conference:
1. The Governments of
the member countries of ESCAP should, in the spirit of partnership,
institutionalize partnership of the non-governmental organizations, in the
formulation, decision making, implementation and evaluation of sustainable
development strategies, plans, programmes and projects. For this purpose,
governments are urged to establish and strengthen multi-stakeholder
mechanisms, including NGOs and civil society, to serve as the formal forum
for such partnerships. A similar multi-stakeholders forum should be
established at the regional level to link the efforts of countries in the
region.
2. The draft RAP has not
identified the role of the judiciary and other legal institutions. We
recommend for the consideration and adoption by the ministerial meeting, to
recognize and uphold the role played by the judiciary and other legal
institutions in the conservation of environment and promotion of equitable
and sustainable development.
3. The ESCAP secretariat
should, with civil society, organize a series of joint workshops for
government officials, NGO leaders and representatives of other major groups
to learn about partnership and participatory approaches and capacity
building for sustainable development and poverty eradication, utilizing
existing case studies of exemplary practices on multistakeholder
cooperation.
4. The Asian Development
Bank should establish a fund to enable NGOs to develop multistakeholder
partnership projects for sustainable development and poverty eradication
within the framework of the RAP. An initial amount of US$ 1 million should
be earmarked specifically for the fund. This may be reviewed technically and
financially on an annual basis for possible increases to appropriate levels.
5 The mechanism to be
elaborated by ESCAP for review and evaluation of the RAP should undertake,
as an integral part of its work, the selective review of the partnership
projects mentioned above, inviting the representatives of the NGOs
concerned.
6. In relation to the
above recommendations, women should be at the center of efforts towards achieving
intended goals. This principle should also be applied to vulnerable groups
including children, indigenous peoples and displaced peoples
Symposium on Promoting Public -
Private Partnership for Environmental Management in Asia and the Pacific
The Symposium on Promoting Public - Private
Partnership for Environmental Management in Asia and the Pacific was from 31 to
1 September 2000 and was jointly organized by the Asian Development Bank, ESCAP,
the City of Kitakyushu, and the United Nations Environment Programme. The
purpose of the Symposium was to review the role of the private sector in the
implementation of the Regional Action Programme for Environmentally Sound and
Sustainable Development, 2001-2005. The Symposium noted that meeting the
challenge of sustainable development requires the full cooperation and
involvement of all parts of society, including the private sector. While
governments are responsible for providing the general framework and guidance for
business operations, the private sector has a central role in substantiating
these operations and is thereby uniquely positioned to effectively address
them.
In this connection, the Symposium identified
specific areas where government and private sector action is seen as a
necessity:
Actions by the Private Sector
1. Encourage voluntary use of Environment Management
Systems, such as ISO 14001.
2. Co-operate on internationally recognised eco-labeling
schemes and green procurement practices.
3. Support improved production and resource utilisation
efficiency, e.g. by promoting energy and water audits and by
facilitating Cleaner Production / Waste minimisation programs.
Expedite technology transfer of realistic (readily
available and affordable) technologies through the Clean Development
Mechanism and other mechanisms.
Promote a hierarchy of waste management by source
reduction, segregation at the source, reuse, recycling, and recovery
before final treatment and disposal.
Promote minimum efficiency standards and labelling of
energy products, as well as demand side management and integrated
resource planning of energy systems.
Encourage private-sector "adoption" (of
responsibility) for managing and/or restoring individual eco-systems,
including the restoration of tropical rain forests.
Promote closer co-operation between the Private Sector
and Non-Governmental Organisations for environmental enhancement and
resource conservation.
Actions by Governments
Promote common waste/pollution treatment facilities for
small and medium scaled enterprises in order to enable them to meet
their environmental obligations.
Introduce environmental curricula in primary and
secondary education to enhance public knowledge and opinion about
environmental issues.
Provide clear directions and enforcement of industrial,
domestic and commercial zoning directives, to facilitate joint
strategies for environmental management and to promote industrial
symbiosis.
Promote regulation controlling the use of toxic
substances, e.g. pesticides, to prevent second-stage environmental
impact, such as land degradation and ground and surface water pollution.
Develop appropriate regulations, policy and pricing of
water resources to support increased efficiency of water supply and use.
Joint actions by the Private Sector and
the Governments
Support internalising of environmental costs to enhance
environmentally sound investments.
Avoid policies that encourage export of environmental
externalities, e.g. import of wood from countries facing uncontrolled
deforestation.
Develop and promote comprehensive water management
strategies in co-operation with the private sector and seek to make use
of alternative approaches, such as rainwater harvesting.
Mandate and implement, in co-operation with the private
sector, laws on separation of municipal solid waste at the source.
Enforce legislation as appropriate while also
encouraging self-regulation by the private sector.
Promote fiscal incentives for energy efficiency and
renewable energy equipment, promote life cycle cost accounting for
energy management, and discourage use of fossil fuels.
Media Symposium - The Role of the Media in
Achieving Sustainable Development
The Media Symposium was held from 31 August - 1 September 2000
in Kitakyushu, Japan. The Symposium noted that development activities undertaken
by governments, NGOs or other organization lose their significance unless people
are made aware of such activities. This is where the media plays an important
role. The Symposium affirmed its commitment and determiniation to help attain
the goals of the Regional Action Programme for Environmentally Sound and
Sustainable Development 2001 - 2005. In this connection, the Symposium called
upon Ministers to help ensure easy access to vital environmental information and
to recognize the watchdog role.
In this connection, the Symposium called upon governments in
the regions, as well as ESCAP and the ADB to support initiatives that:
1. Help strengthen existing media
networks such as the Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists,
including its respective national fora, in upgrading their professional
skills through training and exchange programmes to raise environmental
awareness and education and capacities to promote sustainable development
2. Set up environmental training
institutes in the region
3. Organize regular joint workshops for
officials, leaders of the media, NGOs, the judicary and the private sector
to help build effective civil society partnerships for bringing positive
changes in the practices and behaviours of people toward sustainable
llivelihoods.
Clean Tech 2000: Exhibition of Environmentally Sound
Technologies
Clean Tech 2000 was held from
31 August to 6 September in Kitakyushu, Japan. The exhibition was organized by
ESCAP in cooperation with the City of Kitakyushu, the Kitakyushu International
Techno-Cooperative Association (KITA) and the West Japan Industry and Trade
Exhibition Association.
This event exhibited
innovative technologies from the Asia-Pacific region and raised awareness on the
availability of such technologies in the region. The event also included an
Eco-motor show as well as an Eco-Consumer festival
Asia-Pacific Regional Youth Caucus
The Asia-Pacific regional Youth Caucus was held
from 1 - 4 September 2000 in Kitakyushu, Japan. The Caucus adopted the following
appeal which was presented to the Ministerial Conference:
We, the youth of the Asia-Pacific region, sincerely thank
the assembled governments for giving us the opportunity to express ourselves
today.
To begin, we would like to remind you of certain facts:
 | that at least one in three Asians has no access to
safe drinking water, |
| that over half have no access to sanitation, and, |
| that climate change and sea level rise are already
occurring, causing severe problems in the Asia-Pacific Region. |
In spite of the Asia|-Pacific region being rich in
diversity, both in its natural and cultural heritage, we all share a common
dream.
| We dream of living in an environment that brings us
joy, not anxiety, |
| We dream of having clean、fresh
drinking water and not turning our rivers into sewers |
Above all, we dream of living - not existing.
So, we stand here, embodying this dream as the youth of
today, to appeal to you to help us.
We have been working with international organizations,
governments and NGOs in tackling environmental problems while increasing youth
awareness and strengthening the network among us.
Moreover, in December last year we drafted the Singapore
Declaration and the Regional Action Plan for Youth to affirm our commitment to
act on pressing regional environmental issues
As you can see we are doing what we can. However, we also
need your help.
We appeal to you to give local support to young people by
focusing on:
| Environmental education, both in school curriculums
and extra-curricula activities, |
| Capacity building by conducting training workshops, |
| Funding by creating links between governments and the
private sector. |
We appeal to you to increase the involvement of young
people in environmental decision-making by:
| Giving recognition to and respect youth ideas by
establishing youth consultancy processes, |
| Including at least one young person on your
delegations, with a commitment to include a young person on every
delegation at RIO+10 and the CSD. |
Finally, we appeal to you to uphold your responsibilities
as environmental policymakers by:
| Enforcing your environmental laws and accepting
responsibility for your actions, |
| Promoting appropriate technology transfer and
cooperation, both locally and globally, |
| Moving towards sustainable production and consumption. |
According to Agenda 21, Chapter 25, to which all of you
agreed, you said, "It is imperative that youth from all parts of the
world participate actively in all relevant levels of decision-making processes
because it affects our lives today and has implications for our future."
We hope that you will act upon your words. A timely
proclamation of this would be the inclusion of a commitment to working with us
in your Ministerial Declaration.
We want to be your partner in this process by
contributing our energy and enthusiasm.
We are an untapped, unlimited and invaluable resource.
Believe in us, young people – a force for change.
The Global 500 Asia Forum
The Global 500 Asia Forum was held on 2 September
2000 in Kitakyushu, Japan. The Forum was designed to share experiences as well
as exchange knowledge and idea between the Global 500 Laureates of Asia and the
youth of the region. Discussions were held in two group sessions: "The Path
to Sustainable Development" and "Education for a Sustainable Future in
Asia and the Pacific". The following recommendations emerged from these
discussions:
1. It would be helpful to hold meetings
such as the Global 500 Asia Forum on a periodic basis, in order to enhance
activities for protecting the global environment through international,
inter-generational, and inter-organizational discussions. We expect similar
networks to be formed in other countries and regions, and for the Global 500
Laureates and institutions concerned to support these types of activites.
2. In order for youths, such as members of
the UNEP Youth Caucus, to have access to information necessary for
considering sustainable development, the Forum participants expect an
information center for youths to be established within the Asian Information
Database outlined in the "Kitakyushu Initiative for Clean
Environment" proposed to ESCAP/MCED.
3. In order to promote environmental
education in the Asia-Pacific region, the compilation of an information
database for capacity building, as well as the creation of networks, is
expected to begin through related institutions such as the Institute for
Global Environmental Strategies.
4. The global internet environmental fund
system proposed by Global Environmental Action, which is a system to raise
funds from the public through the internet to support NGO activities
financially, will be most helpful. Forum participants expect institutions
concerned, including the Government of Japan, to establish such a system as
soon as possible.
5. The governments are expected to pay
attention to the quality and the targets of environmental education, and to
ensure that these factors are taken into account when considering indicators
for sustainable development. It was also expected that the governments will
make commitment to invest in education for sustainable development, in order
to enhance the environmental awareness of the people with a global
perspective.
6. The transfer of technology is most
important for developing countries to achieve sustainable development. In
order to realize this, we encourage each government and institution to make
every effort to promote the transfer of technology.
Women's Conference on
the Environment
The Women's Conference on Environment was held on
3 September 2000 in Kitakyushu, Japan. It was organized by the Kitakyushu Forum
on Asian Women (KFAW) and the Japan Women's Global Environment Network
International (GENKI). The Conference developed the following proposal which was
presented to the Ministerial Conference:
We
call for the governments in Asia and the Pacific to reconfirm and to renew
their commitment to Agenda 21, especially Chapter 24, and the Beijing
Platform for Action, particularly Section K on Women and Environment, and
the so-called Outcome Document adopted at "Women 2000", the Twenty
Third Special Session of the UN General Assembly.
We
propose that gender equality and gender perspectives are essential to
protect the environment in Asia and the Pacific. We believe that women’s
participation in decision-making processes at all levels is crucial to solve
the environmental problems. Women’s environmental rights should be always
at the heart of environmental policies.
We
advocate ensuring citizen’s access to information on advanced
technologies, such as genetic engineering. We encourage increasing women’s
literacy about sciences and advanced and traditional technologies. Equal
rights to information should be guaranteed for men and women.
We
value women’s traditional and customary knowledge and skills to protect
the environment and human health. We recognize women as managers of natural
resources and biodiversity. However, their labor in natural resource
management should not be treated as cheap or unpaid, but should be used for
their own benefit and well-being. We support organic agriculture as a tried,
tested, and environmentally sound way to meet people’s need for adequate
and safe food, which should not be extinguished by corporate rights to
profit and markets.
We
stress that environmental impacts are different for men and women, so data
should collected by sex respectively. We demand that women’s health rights
should not be compromised. This includes the right to health services and
sexual and reproductive rights.
We
advocate integrating gender perspectives into environmental education and
training programs for educators. We request the governments to support
people’s efforts to build and strengthen international networks for
sustainable consumption and recycling of resources.
We
call on the world community to take actions against the adverse impacts of
globalization on economic, environmental and health rights of women,
especially reproductive health rights. We are particularly concerned about
the destitution of women and the sexual trafficking in women and children
due to economic and environmental displacement. The forces of globalization
and the gender blind privatization of vital resource accelerate this
tendency.
We
emphasize that priority should be given to women in poverty, especially in
developing countries. We urge donor governments to increase their access to
resources for empowerment and basic human needs in the international
cooperation for development, mainstreaming gender perspectives. We propose
to construct a new economic system, based on fair trade and people’s
needs, so that women, children and the earth are protected.
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