..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date 26 June 2007
Press Release No: G/26/2007

Asian-Pacific mayors exchange experience on greening cities

Fourth Meeting of the Kitakyushu Initiative Network took place in Japan

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) – Mayors and administrators from around 25 Asia-Pacific countries have come together in the Japanese city of Kitakyushu to share experience of mitigating pollution and improving environment.

The event of 25-26 June 2007 brought together more than 30 cities. Organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment of Japan and the host city, the meeting was part of the Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment. The Initiative was adopted by the 4th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific, held in Kitakyushu in 2000. It emphasizes the vital role of local governments in improving urban environmental quality and human health.

This fourth meeting of the Kitakyushu Initiative Network aimed to shape innovative actions for simultaneously addressing urban environmental issues and promoting local socio-economic livelihood. It came at a crucial time as the size of world’s urban population is expected to overtake that of rural areas for the first time in the next few months. Continuing rural to urban migration is putting greater strains on cities in dealing with a variety of issues, including solid wastes management.

“The challenges are immense but not insurmountable”, noted an organizer from the host city. “Kitakyushu was one of the most polluted cities in Japan during 1960s and early 1970s due to industrial pollution. But it was able not only to clean its act up but also integrate the experience into the city’s long term strategy for economic growth”.

The city succeeded in improving its air and water quality through the application of innovative technologies, development of effective policies, and forming strong partnership amongst stakeholders, including citizens and the private sector. Among the highlights of the two-day meeting was a visit to Kitakyushu’s Eco-town, which was founded on the concept of "zero-emissions” -- reducing waste generation to zero by recycling.

Since the adoption of Kitakyushu Initiative, a range of activities has been carried out under the auspice of UNESCAP with participation of local, national and international partners. Amongst them is IGES which has played a key role using its Kitakyushu Office as secretariat to the Kitakyushu Initiative Network of local governments.

More information is available at www.iges.or.jp/kitakyushu, www.greengrowth.org, and www.unescap/esd/environment.

For further information on the Fourth Meeting of the Kitakyushu Initiative Network, please contact:
Mr. Masakazu Ichimura
Environment and Sustainable Development Division
UNESCAP
Tel: (662) 288 – 1770
E-mail: escap-esdd-evs@un.org