At the United Nations General Assembly special session on the environment and sustainable development (UNGASS) in New York in June 1997, Prime Minister Hashimoto reported the results of environmental cooperation through ODA since UNCED and announced a comprehensive environmental cooperation policy for the future.

Prime Minister Hashimoto pointed out that Japan is playing an important role in promoting sustainable development in developing countries. Japanese ODA in the field of the environment has exceeded by more than 40% the target announced at UNCED, namely, increasing environmental ODA to between 900 billion yen and 1 trillion yen in the five-year period beginning in FY 1992. Japan's environmental ODA during this time period has in fact grown to 1.44 trillion yen (about 13.3 billion dollars).

On this occasion he announced the "Initiatives for Sustainable Development toward the 21st century," which comprehensively shows Japan's environmental ODA and other cooperation policy in the future. He spelled out five points in the action program; namely, measures to i) combat air and water pollution, ii) combat global warming, iii) deal with "fresh water" problems, iv) promote the conservation of nature and v) promote public awareness.

The details of the ISD have been distributed to each of the national delegations at the United Nations headquarters in New York and are available to the world on the Internet. (details)

Prime Minister Hashimoto speaking before UNGASS in New York.

Chart 2 Initiatives for Sustainable Development (ISD) toward the 21st Century (Summary)

TOPICS: Afforestation Plan for Rajasthan State - Afforestation Project in Aravalli Mountains