JICA experts teaching agricultural techniques in Afghanistan (National Agricultural Experiment Stations Rehabilitation Project) (photo: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA))
2. |
Promotion of International Cooperation and Response to Global Issues |
In 2010, the international community further accelerated its response to poverty, starvation, infectious diseases, environmental problems, and other global issues. As for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular, various international efforts were made including the holding of a summit conference on the MDGs, given only five years remain until 2015, the target year for achieving MDGs. At the G8 Muskoka Summit held in Canada in June, the G8 members announced the Muskoka Initiative to give strengthened support for maternal, newborn and under-five child health, where progress toward the MDGs has been particularly slow. In September, with leaders from around 140 countries, at the United Nations High-Level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (the UN MDGs Summit) the progress and the way forward for the achievement of the MDGs where discussed. Moreover, at the G20 Seoul Summit in November, development issue was taken up as a main G20 agenda item for the first time. The summit announced the principles and the action plan whereby the G20 will work for the advancement of developing countries through economic growth.
Japan has actively contributed to a variety of efforts by the international community based on the understanding that ensuring peace and prosperity of the international community upholds security and prosperity of Japan, and that ODA and other forms of international cooperation are important means to such ends. In working toward achievement of the MDGs, Japan is advancing efforts particularly centered on the fields of health and education, based on the concept of human security. At the G8 Muskoka Summit, Japan announced an additional commitment of up to ¥50 billion (approximately $500 million) for maternal and child health under the Muskoka Initiative over five years beginning in 2011. Furthermore, at the UN MGDs Summit, Prime Minister Naoto Kan announced the “Kan Commitment” to provide $5.0 billion in assistance in the field of health (including contribution to $800 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in the coming years) and $3.5 billion in assistance in the field of education over five years beginning in 2011. Moreover, the 10th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD/COP10) was took place in Nagoya City (Aichi Prefecture) in October. As the presidency, Japan made major contributions to the success of the conference and announced the “Life in Harmony Initiative” to support efforts by developing countries to conserve biological diversity. As science and technology plays a significant role in addressing issues such as sustainable economic growth, climate change, infectious diseases, energy, water, and food, Japan is also promoting “science and technology diplomacy” and “space diplomacy,” which link Japan’s world-level science and technology and space capabilities with its foreign policy.
|
JICA experts teaching agricultural techniques in Afghanistan (National Agricultural Experiment Stations Rehabilitation Project) (photo: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)) |
The peace and stability of Afghanistan and Pakistan remain important issues for that of the international community. Japan emphasizes efforts for the peace and stability of both countries, and it is steadily implementing support in cooperation with the international community, based on the “New Strategy to Counter the Threat of Terrorism” announced in November 2009.
The understanding and support of the Japanese people is essential for Japan to play a positive role toward international peace and development. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs carried out a review of Japan’s ODA in order to implement ODA more strategically and effectively with the understanding and support of the Japanese people, and it released a final summary in June. This summary clarifies the principle for international cooperation as “Enhancing Enlightened National Interest”, and it specifies the three pillars of (1) reducing poverty (contribution to achieving the MDGs), (2) investing in peace, and (3) supporting sustainable economic growth, as priority fields for development cooperation. It also calls for measures including strategic and effective aid, cooperation with a wide range of concerned parties, and promotion of public support and understanding.
Bringing vitality to trade, investment, and other private-sector activities is crucial for the sustainable economic growth of developing countries. In order to advance economic diplomacy to secure natural resources, energy, and food and to promote deployment of integrated infrastructure systems, efforts must be made to improve the environment for Japanese enterprises to pursue their activities in developing countries. By enhancing public-private partnership, or collaboration between the activities of private enterprises and ODA and other official flows, Japan aims to bring forth development effects on a scale that could not be gained from public funds alone, promoting the sustainable growth of developing countries as well as Japan’s economic diplomacy.
Global environmental problems such as climate change and the loss of biodiversity threaten life on earth and pose serious threats to the existence of humanity. Japan has positioned its efforts to address global environmental problems as a priority diplomatic issue and is taking the initiatives in global deliberations, based on the recognition that conservation of the global environment is a responsibility for the future of the Earth.
In addressing the climate change issues, Japan has exhibited leadership in the international negotiations toward the early adoption of a new single comprehensive legal document constructing a fair and effective international framework in which all major economies participate. In October, Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara co-chaired the Aichi-Nagoya Ministerial Meeting of the REDD+1 Partnership together with Samuel Abal, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration of Papua New Guinea, and set out a direction to accelerate measures for forest conservation which is an important pillar in the efforts to tackle climate change. Then at the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP16) held in Cancun, Mexico in December, Japan cooperated closely with the presidency Mexico and other participants, and contributed greatly to the adoption of the Cancun Agreements which serve as a basis toward constructing a comprehensive international framework with the participation of all major economies including the United States and China.
Furthermore, Japan is actively supporting developing countries in the area of climate change. Japan has announced the assistance of approximately $15 billion including public and private financing up to 2012 for developing countries which are taking measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as those which are vulnerable to the negative impact effects of climate change. More than $7.2 billion has already been implemented as of the end of September 2010.
Japan is also actively working for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The 10th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) and the 5th Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP5) took place in Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture) in October 2010.
Under the slogan “Life in Harmony, into the Future,” COP10 achieved important results such as adopting the “Aichi Targets” (Strategic Plan 2011-2020) as a global goal for effective implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as the “Nagoya Protocol” on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization. As the presidency, Japan led the discussions at COP10 -MOP5 toward achieving important results including the adoption of the “Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol” on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, following over six years of debate on liability and redress for damages resulting from the movement of living modified organisms..
Concerning the Arctic region which is being affected by climate change in recent years, there has been a growing international debate on such issues as environmental problems, opening of shipping routes, and development of natural resources in that region. Recognizing the need to be involved in such debate in an appropriate manner, Japan is strengthening its participation in international discussions regarding the Arctic region, such as submitting its formal application for a permanent observer status in the Arctic Council in July 2009. In September 2010, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs established the “Arctic Task Force” in order to make cross-sectoral approach towards the foreign policy on the Arctic, and to take appropriate policy measures.
The Antarctic Treaty adopted in 1959 stipulates Antarctica as the area south of 60 degrees South Latitude and introduces basic principles such as (1)the use of Antarctica for peaceful purposes, (2)international cooperation and freedom of scientific investigation, and (3)freeze on territorial rights and claims. Japan is promoting research and observation activities in Antarctica in accordance with these basic principles. Japan is striving to preserve the environment of Antarctica based on the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty adopted under the Antarctic Treaty in 1991, and is contributing to the maintenance of the Antarctic Treaty System.
―――――――――――――――――――――
1 Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks
