Official Development Assistance (ODA)
6. Initiatives for Sustainable Development (ISD) toward the 21st Century (Summary)
June 1997
1.Achieving UNCED Targets for Environmental ODA
At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992, Japan announced to the world that it would increase its environmental ODA in the next five years, starting from FY1992, to an amount between ¥900 billion and ¥1 trillion. In the five years from FY1992 to FY1996, Japan's environmental ODA has grown to ¥1.44 trillion, actually exceeding the target by more than 40 percent. Japan will continue to strengthen its efforts in environmental cooperation, mainly through its ODA programs.
2.Philosophy of ISD
1)Global Human Security
Environmental problems threaten human existence, and constitute a security issue in a broad sense.
2)Ownership
Developing countries assume the primary responsibility for development. In promoting environmental cooperation, there needs to be a strong and responsible commitment from developing countries.
3)Sustainable Development
The objective of assistance should be to realize sustainable development, paying attention to the different economic and social situations of each developing country.
3. Program of Actions (main points)
1)Air and Water Pollution, Waste Disposal
- Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia
- Assisting Capacity Development in Environment through "Environmental Centers" (in Beijing, Jakarta, and Bangkok)
- Financial and Technical Cooperation (for pollution control and recycling; development of appropriate technologies through "Green Aid Plan")
2)Global Warming
- Diffusion of technologies for energy saving and new energy
3)Nature Conservation, Afforestation
- By assisting the "Indonesia Biodiversity Center," Japan will promote building a biodiversity information network in East Asia.
- Japan will establish a coral reef conservation and research center in the Asia-Pacific region, pursuing a regional research network in the future.
- Japan will promote its assistance for social forestry projects, and participatory afforestation projects covering large areas through ODA loans. Japan will strengthen its support for the ITTO (International Topical Timber Organization).
4)"Fresh Water" Problems
- Japan has been extending active assistance to developing countries in the areas of water supply, sewage systems, and well-digging.
5)Public Awareness, Strategy Building
- Japan will further promote policy dialogue through such conferences as
"Japan-China Comprehensive Forum on Environmental Cooperation"
(a bilateral dialogue process with the participation of national/local governments and private institutions), and "Eco-Asia" (a conference of environmental ministers in the Asia-Pacific region). - Japan will assist environmental education projects through grant assistance for grassroots projects.
- Japan takes the initiative for building an international network on strategy development for addressing global environmental issues through "The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies."