Global Environmental Issues and Drugs
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The Kyoto Conference on Climate Change (COP 3) was held in Japan, in December 1997. |
Japan's Basic Understanding of Global Environmental Issues
Japan has made global environmental issues a top priority in its foreign policy. Japan is contributing to this area by making the best use of its extensive experience and up-to-date technology.
Environmental issues are inextricably linked with economic and social development. It is sometimes said that developing countries are pursuing development rather than protection of the environment. Developing countries sometimes argue that the root cause of environmental problems lies in the economic activities of developed countries. These countries sometimes insist that developed countries should take the responsibility of providing financial aid and making technology transfers to developing countries.
For this reason, in order to take coordinated action to address environmental problems, diplomatic efforts, in addition to scientific and technical solutions, are needed to rectify differences in awareness and conflicts of interest between countries at different stages of development and with different economic situations. Japan is, therefore, making great efforts to obtain the understanding of developing countries with regard to the necessity for environmental protection and to encourage requests for environmental assistance projects.
Based on the understanding that environmental matters are vital issues with regard to global human security, Japan has been actively engaging in various efforts and discussions. At the June 1997 UNGASS, Japan announced the "Initiatives for Sustainable Development Toward the 21st Century (ISD)," which embodies Japan's environmental Official Development Assistance (ODA) and other cooperation policies. Furthermore, Japan announced the "Kyoto Initiative" in December 1997 to support developing countries' efforts to counter global warming under the ISD.
Japan's Approach to Global Environmental Issues
Strengthening an International Legal Framework
Japan has strengthened its commitment to an international legal framework. Since the 1992 UNCED, Japan has actively participated in the process of formulating treaties, which has so far led to the conclusion of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity. In April 1998, Japan signed the Kyoto Protocol, adopted in December 1997 at the third session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 3). Even before the 1992 UNCED, Japan had concluded several conventions: the Convention and Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the Ramsal Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, among others.
Enhancing Environmental ODA
Japan began to bolster its environmental cooperation in the early nineties. Environmental cooperation today follows the ISD announced in June 1997 at the UNGASS, which embodies Japan's environmental ODA policy and sets forth action plans in five areas: (1) combating air and water pollution; (2) combating global warming; (3) dealing with fresh water problems; (4) nature conservation and forests; and (5) promoting public awareness. During the COP3 held in Kyoto in December 1997, the Kyoto Initiative on aid for global warming programs in developing countries was announced by Japan. This initiative aims at assisting developing countries in taking steps during the development process to deal with the global warming issue, which threatens sustainable development on a worldwide scale. Under the initiative, Japan provides active support for global warming programs in addition to traditional environmental programs.
Contribution through the Global Environment Facility
Japan has channeled funding to the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a principal international multilateral funding mechanism set up in 1991, with a view toward contributing to solutions to global environmental problems. The fund is directed toward four areas: climate change, biological diversity, international waters, and the ozone layer. Japan made a financial contribution of US$ 84 million during the three-year pilot phase of the GEF starting in July 1991. Japan further contributed US$ 415 million in the four-year period from July 1994 to June 1998, an amount equivalent to 20.5% of the GEF capital. Japan's contribution was second only to that made by the United States. In 1998, Japan pledged to contribute US$ 412 million, which amounted to 20.0% of the GEF capital, in the four year period from July 1998 to June 2002. This amount is at about the same level as that contributed by the United States.
Human Resource Development through Environmental Centres
Furthermore, Japan has extended its assistance to developing countries through the transfer of environmentally sound technologies. Japan places great importance on improving the capacity of developing countries to respond appropriately to environmental problems. In 1992, upon Japan's invitation, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) set up an International Environment Technology Centre in Japan. Moreover, utilizing Japan's environmental ODA, the Japan-China Friendship Environmental Protection Centre in China, the Environmental Management Centre in Indonesia, and the Environmental Research and Training Centre in Thailand, among others, were established. These centres aim at improving the capacity of governments to tackle local environmental problems.
Toward a More Environmentally Conscious Life-Style
Environmental problems are a matter of mind-set and life-style. Not just governments, but individuals also need to pay greater attention to the environment. One of the most important initiatives taken by the Government of Japan is the enactment of its environmental legislation. In November 1993, the Basic Environment Law was set up. This comprehensive law provides for full-scale measures to deal with environmental problems on a global scale. Furthermore, in December 1994, the Government of Japan adopted the Basic Environment Plan. Based on the Basic Environment Law, this action plan is expected to lead to a comprehensive environmental policy. At the local level, on the basis of the Basic Environment Law, a local initiative called "Local Agenda 21" is also being implemented.
All these actions are significant for changing mind-sets and life-styles at the national, regional, corporate, and individual levels and are thus highly important in fostering an international approach to global environmental problems.
Kyoto Conference on Global Warming
Japan has contributed to promote discussions about global warming with the aim to an early entry-into-force of the Kyoto Protocol, which was adopted at the Kyoto Conference, the third session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 3), hosted by Japan in December 1997. At COP 4, just a year after the Kyoto Conference, the "Buenos Aires Plan of Action" was agreed upon, which stipulates the preparatory work for taking decisions on major issues contained in the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol at COP 6. Japan has actively played an important role on making progress in deliberations, in order to reach a final agreement by implementing the Plan of Action.
Japan has carried out a wide range of programs not only to assist developing countries with mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency improvement, technology transfer and joint research, but also to support countries vulnerable to climate change in their adaptation through advancement of weather forecast systems and human resource development. For example, Japan has taken the above-mentioned "Kyoto Initiative." As another type of example, Japan offers a financial assistance scheme for projects designed to meet the diverse needs of developing countries, known as the "Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Projects (GGP)." This scheme supports projects proposed by various bodies such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and municipalities.
In addition to the above international contributions, the Government of Japan has promptly taken measures to combat global warming. In December 1997, the Government of Japan established the "Global Warming Prevention Headquarters," chaired by the Prime Minister, to direct planning and implementation of the concerted actions of all ministers and agencies. Since then, Japan has been taking various domestic actions such as the adoption of the "Guidelines of Measures to Prevent Global Warming," enforcement of the "Climate Change Law," amendment of the "Energy Efficiency Law" and voluntary initiatives by industries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a view to address climate change.
Drugs
Today, drug abuse remains a critical problem, posing an increasingly severe challenge worldwide. A Political Declaration and Global Programme of Action were adopted at the 1990 UN General Assembly Special Session on Drug Abuse, which advocated enhanced international cooperation for the prevention of illegal traffic in narcotics. At a subsequent Special Meeting in 1993, Member States reaffirmed the high priority required to strengthen efforts to eradicate drugs and adopted a resolution aimed at fulfilling the Global Programme of Action. Another UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs was held in June 1998. This Special Session adopted a Political Declaration and six working documents, which will become the core of a new international strategy to prevent drug abuse as we move toward the 21st century.
Based on these international efforts against the drug problem, Japan has been actively supporting the activities of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), which plays a central role in the fight against drug abuse. Japan has extended its assistance to the operationalization of the Action Plan on amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) in the Far East/Southeast Asian Region to deal with the illegal manufacture of ATS. Japan has also made a contribution to an ongoing project to develop alternative crops as a substitute to the opium poppy in Myanmar. Additionally, together with the UNDCP and the Government of Myanmar, Japan convened the Seminar on Alternative Development Programmes in April 1998. Japan, with the UNDCP, organized the Asia Pacific Training Seminar on Maritime Drug Law Enforcement in October 1997. In these ways, Japan has annually contributed millions of dollars to the UNDCP's projects since 1991.
In addition, Japan is a member of the Dublin Group, a forum for consultations among developed countries on drug issues, and it presided several times so far over the Southeast Asian and Pacific Regional Meeting, playing a leading role in combating drug problems.
Japan also contributes funds to and supports the activities of the Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) of the Organization of American States (OAS).
In May 1998, Japan announced a Five-Year Strategy for the Prevention of Drug Abuse, which serves as a set of guidelines for medium-term measures against drug problems. As noted in the Five-Year Strategy for the Prevention of Drug Abuse, Japan is vigorously promoting every possible form of cooperation with other countries in combating this problem.
In February1999, Japan held the Asian Drug Law Enforcement Conference, Tokyo 1999, inviting the heads of drug enforcement agencies from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as the Executive Director of UNDCP, to discuss regional cooperation among national enforcement agencies and with the UNDCP on combating the drug problem.
In January 2000, Japan held the Anti-Drug Conferences, Tokyo 2000, where about 130 people from 37 countries and areas discussed the measures against the drug problem and the communique that announced international, regional and domestic cooperation among drug-related international organizations was adopted.
As noted above, Japan is vigorously promoting every possible cooperation with other countries in combating this problem.
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