Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2007
Next PageMain Text > Part II ODA DISBURSEMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2005 > Chapter 2 Details about Japan's ODA > Section 2. Measures for Each of the Priority Issues > 3. Addressing Global Issues > (1) Environmental Issues
(1) Environmental Issues
<Record for FY2006>
In FY2006, Japan's record in the environmental sector totaled approximately ¥413.5 billion, which includes grant aid, loan aid, technical cooperation and contributions to international organization, accounting for approximately 35.4% of total ODA. Of that amount, grant aid totaled approximately ¥20.0 billion (to 31 countries) and loan aid totaled ¥364.9 billion (to 12 countries), For technical cooperation, 3,786 trainees were accepted, while 161 experts and 470 volunteers were dispatched.
<Current Status>
Global warming and other environmental issues have been discussed in the international fora since the 1970s. Through discussions that were held at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, also called the Earth Summit) in 1992 and at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) of 2002, the importance of these issues has been increasingly recognized.
Japan has been focusing on environmental issues, acknowledging their potential for affecting the entire human race. Under the Environmental Conservation Initiative for Sustainable Development (EcoISD), which was formulated in 2002 on the occasion of the WSSD, Japan has been providing assistance to deal with global environmental issues. The Medium-Term Policy on ODA formulated in February 2005 addresses environmental issues under the heading of addressing global issues.
Measures to tackle climate change have attracted great attention on the part of the international community as well. Climate change was the main agenda item at the G8 Heiligendamm Summit held in June 2007, and will be discussed again at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit to be held in Japan in 2008.
Chart II-18. Implementation Status of the Environmental Conservation Initiative for Sustainable Development (EcoISD) (Sample)
<Japan's Efforts>
● Actions against Global Warming
Under the Kyoto Initiative42 which was launched in 1997 Japan has been working to transfer and spread technologies that contribute to actions against global warming in developing countries. In addition, Japan has been striving to enhance the capacity of these countries to address the problem from scientific, social, and institutional sides. In May 2007 then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe introduced a new proposal entitled "Cool Earth 50" to set out the principles for a new post-2013 framework. This proposal looks back at Japan's experience over the past 30 years in overcoming serious pollution and the oil shocks, during which time it had doubled its GDP while reducing oil consumption by 8%. Based on this experience, the proposal sets out measures to realize Cool Earth by 2050.
See Part I, Chapter 1, Section 3 for details
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)43 created by the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, contributes to reducing greenhouse gas and promotes the sustainable development of developing countries. It is also an important mechanism for Japan to achieve the emission reduction commitment. In the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan formulated in April 2005, Japan decided to use official aid to promote and activate CDM businesses while adhering to international rules and acting with the consent of the recipient countries. In June 2007, the first CDM project implemented using Japan's development assistance, Zafarana Wind Power Plant Project in Egypt, was registered with the United Nations CDM Executive Board.
● Pollution Control
Tackling its own pollution problems, Japan has accumulated a great amount of experience and technology. Making the most of such experience and technology, Japan cooperates with developing countries in addressing their pollution issues. Particularly, higher priority has been given to supporting pollution control and improving the living environment (air pollution, water contamination, waste management, etc.) in urban areas, mainly in the Asian countries achieving rapid economic growth.
In FY2006, Japan decided to extend loan aid for anti-pollution measures44 in Egypt's Greater Cairo Region45 and Alexandria Region.46 They are the two population and industrial centers in Egypt, where air pollution and water contamination are becoming more prominent. Although measures have been taken to address the issues on site, there is little technical know-how and financial support. Therefore these measures do not always result in the reduction of pollution. To address the situation, Japan will provide loan aid cofinanced by the World Bank and other financial institutions. By financing companies through local intermediate financial institutions47 in order to introduce environmentally-friendly facilities, Japan intends to reduce emissions of pollutants from factories. Furthermore, in collaboration with technical cooperation through JICA, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Government of Finland, and others, Japan provides guidance on operating and maintaining the facilities in order to develop the capacity of implementing agencies.
Environmental Conservation through Policy Dialogues
In order to build societies in harmony with the environment and to ensure sustainable growth in developing countries, Japan has been holding Green Aid Plan (GAP) policy dialogues with the Asian countries, and providing assistance aimed at developing economic systems aligned with environmental conservation and at facilitating the overseas expansion of Japan's environmental industries. As a result of the policy dialogues, some countries are now realizing the importance of environmental management. Under this cooperation, Indonesia and Thailand introduced systems similar to Japan's pollution control supervisor system. However, the reality is that the basic functions, such as the measurement, analysis, and forecast of the amount of pollutants emitted, have not been implemented, and the supervisors are not yet proficient in their skills. To improve their environmental management, Japan provides assistance focused on human resources development by such means as dispatching experts and accepting trainees.
In order to build societies in harmony with the environment and to ensure sustainable growth in developing countries, Japan has been holding Green Aid Plan (GAP) policy dialogues with the Asian countries, and providing assistance aimed at developing economic systems aligned with environmental conservation and at facilitating the overseas expansion of Japan's environmental industries. As a result of the policy dialogues, some countries are now realizing the importance of environmental management. Under this cooperation, Indonesia and Thailand introduced systems similar to Japan's pollution control supervisor system. However, the reality is that the basic functions, such as the measurement, analysis, and forecast of the amount of pollutants emitted, have not been implemented, and the supervisors are not yet proficient in their skills. To improve their environmental management, Japan provides assistance focused on human resources development by such means as dispatching experts and accepting trainees.
● Addressing the Issue of Water
In relation to environmental protection, Japan has been implementing support for water supply and sewage systems that take into account the characteristics of urban and rural areas and for water resource management and water quality control.
See Section 2 for details
● Conservation of the Natural Environment
Japan has been providing support to developing countries for nature reserve management, promotion of sustainable forest management, prevention of desertification, and natural resource management, while taking into account the poverty reduction of the residents. The National Strategy on Biological Diversity of Japan, approved by the Council of Ministries for Global Environment Conservation in March 2002, states that Japan needs to contribute actively to the conservation of biodiversity in the world and, in particular, the Asian region with which Japan has a strong relationship both in terms of the natural environment and socio-economics. Additionally, under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the "2010 Biodiversity Target" has been set to significantly reduce the biodiversity loss rate by 2010. Further efforts are being sought towards the realization of this goal.
Borneo Island of Malaysia is said to be the most biodiverse region on earth. However, the State of Sabah has experienced a rapid loss of forest land due to deforestation and plantation agriculture. This has not only influenced the people's lives, but also driven many species to the verge of extinction. Given this situation, Japan has provided assistance in the areas of research and education, park management, wildlife habitat conservation, and environmental awareness through technical cooperation projects from 2002 to 2007. In doing so, Japan aimed to establish a system and procedures for the all-inclusive conservation of the natural environment. As a result, environmental awareness increased among the people, as can be seen in initiatives like the additional establishment of wildlife reservations. Starting in October 2007, Japan's cooperation has entered the second stage, which focuses on support for the Sabah State Biodiversity Center.
Desertification caused by overgrazing, deforestation, and other factors has developed into a serious issue. Since 2004 Japan has been providing assistance to Burkina Faso in West Africa for transferring local indigenous technologies and simple technologies which utilize traditional knowledge (i.e., soil conservation technologies, livestock and crop farming technologies, and lifestyle improvement technologies) in order to combat desertification.
<Cooperation with the International Community>
The international community has been addressing environmental issues through setting up and running the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which is an international financial mechanism and the Multilateral Fund (MLF) which was established by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Japan has been utilizing these international funds and advancing active measures through international organizations like the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). For example, in FY2006 Japan extended approximately US$6.54 million in aid to 27 projects and scholarships, with a view to promote sustainable forest management in the tropical forests of Central and South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and other regions through ITTO. Japan is also tackling global environmental problems through the Multilateral Fund based on the Montreal Protocol. For example, it has approved projects aimed at eliminating the use of ozone-depleting substances in China, India and Mongolia, which include assistance for policy formation, introduction of alternative substances and technologies, and training of technicians. In 2001 the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) has started its activities on a regular basis and Japan has been working in concert with neighboring countries in taking measures against acid rain in this region.
Global Mapping Project
See Japan's ODA White Paper 2003 Column III-2 for details
In response to Agenda 21 at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), Japan proposed the Global Mapping Project in order to comprehend the current state and changes in the global environment. In 1996, the International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM), established with Japan acting as the secretariat, was approved as an international organization to participate in the framework of the Earth Observation Summit which was held from 2003 to 2005. ISCGM's approach was included in the reference material for the 10-Year Implementation Plan for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). The Global Map* is comprised of maps created by each country as certified data, and uses satellite data in some parts. Each country's national cartographic institution supervises the mapping: in Japan the Geographical Survey Institute takes that role. Global Map data is released through the Internet, and can be downloaded from the ISCGM website. As long as it is for noncommercial use, anyone may download this information free of charge.
As of June 2007, the Global Map has developed into an enormous project in which 156 countries and 16 regions (95% of all land areas) participate. Data from 35 countries and two regions (34% of all land areas) has been released. Japan supports the project via such means as technology transfer, and seeks to complete the map for all land areas in FY2007.
Meanwhile, since African countries are lagging behind in terms of participation, Global Mapping Seminars have been held since 2002 in Nairobi (Kenya) and Dakar (Senegal) to promote the project. Given this lag, in 2005 the 12th Meeting of the ISCGM was held in Cairo (Egypt).
The fully developed Global Map will be used for intense environmental monitoring as well as various forecasts on food supplies, water resources and land uses. It is expected to help developing countries realize sustainable development, as well as the rest of the international community.
* The Global Map is compiled from eight categories of data: land use, land coverage, vegetation, altitude, population density, water systems, transportation network, and borders.
See Japan's ODA White Paper 2003 Column III-2 for details
In response to Agenda 21 at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), Japan proposed the Global Mapping Project in order to comprehend the current state and changes in the global environment. In 1996, the International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM), established with Japan acting as the secretariat, was approved as an international organization to participate in the framework of the Earth Observation Summit which was held from 2003 to 2005. ISCGM's approach was included in the reference material for the 10-Year Implementation Plan for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). The Global Map* is comprised of maps created by each country as certified data, and uses satellite data in some parts. Each country's national cartographic institution supervises the mapping: in Japan the Geographical Survey Institute takes that role. Global Map data is released through the Internet, and can be downloaded from the ISCGM website. As long as it is for noncommercial use, anyone may download this information free of charge.
As of June 2007, the Global Map has developed into an enormous project in which 156 countries and 16 regions (95% of all land areas) participate. Data from 35 countries and two regions (34% of all land areas) has been released. Japan supports the project via such means as technology transfer, and seeks to complete the map for all land areas in FY2007.
Meanwhile, since African countries are lagging behind in terms of participation, Global Mapping Seminars have been held since 2002 in Nairobi (Kenya) and Dakar (Senegal) to promote the project. Given this lag, in 2005 the 12th Meeting of the ISCGM was held in Cairo (Egypt).
The fully developed Global Map will be used for intense environmental monitoring as well as various forecasts on food supplies, water resources and land uses. It is expected to help developing countries realize sustainable development, as well as the rest of the international community.
* The Global Map is compiled from eight categories of data: land use, land coverage, vegetation, altitude, population density, water systems, transportation network, and borders.