OUTLINE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE KITAATKYUSHU INITIATIVE
AND THE KITAKYUSHU INITIATIVE NETWORK

MR. MASAKAZU ICHIMURA, ESCAP

(Summary from proceedings)

I would like to express my great appreciation to the host institutions, the City of Kitakyushu and IGES for providing excellent arrangements for the organization of this meeting. At the end of the opening session of this meeting, I would like to explain a little about the background of this meeting and implementation of the “Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment”, with focus on the development of the Kitakyushu Initiative Network.

The Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific, held in Kitakyushu in September 2000 was the fourth event of a five-yearly event. The three previous conferences were held in Bangkok in 1985, 1990 and 1995. The main agenda of the Ministerial Conference was the assessment of the state of the environment in the region, review of the implementation of various programs and identification of critical environmental issues in the region, as well as formation of programs for the next five years. Over these subjects, intensive deliberations were conducted There were numerous discussions throughout inthe subregional/regional preparation process and associate events with multi-stakeholder participation, and the main conference consisting of a senior officials meeting and the Ministerial Conference. Representatives from 42 countries and areas, including 31 ministers from 61 ESCAP members and associate membersstates attended the meeting.

Four important documents were adopted at the Ministerial Conference. The first is the Regional Action Programme 2001-2005, which is a program for national, subregional, and regional action in eight priority areas including environmental quality and human health, biodiversity, freshwater, climate change, sustainable energy, etc. For special implementation of the Regional Action Programme with focus on environmental quality and human health in urban areas, the conference adopted the Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment. This is why we are gathered together here in Kitakyushu. The third and fourth documents adopted were the Ministerial Declaration and the Regional Message to Rio +10. The Regional Message to Rio +10 was started as a preparatory process for the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in September 2002. Following this meeting, there will be a regional high-level meeting for preparation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment was adopted as , a commitment made by the ministers. It is an initiative that mandates the achievement of measurable progress in improvement of the urban environment in major cities in Asia and the Pacific. Following the Ministerial Conference, the adopted document was further endorsed by the 57th Session of ESCAP held in Bangkok in April 2001. The same commission adopted a resolution on the implementation of the outcome of the Ministerial Conference and requested the active participation of all members and associate members of ESCAP to actively implement the recommendations of the Ministerial Conference 2000, including the Kitakyushu Initiative. The Kitakyushu Initiative promotes ground-level activities to achieve tangible improvement in urban environmental quality; such improvement would be monitored by quantitative indicators and targets. The Initiative also encourages the transfer of “best practices”, as well as learning from the experiences of Kitakyushu City and other cities in the region with the aim of strengthening local initiatives and enhancing partnerships among stakeholders. These experiences should be shared though an action-based network, which is what we are developing at this moment.

The implementation of the Kitakyushu Initiative is planned in three phases, wWith the final target at reporting of its accomplishment at the next Ministerial Conference to be held in 2005. For reviewing and monitoring the progress of the overall implementation activities, three network meetings in 2001, 2003 and 2004/2005 are proposed corresponding to the three implementation phases. planned to review and monitor the progress of the overall implementation activities. Currently, we are in the midst of the first phase activities in which we are identifying and encouraging the participation of local governments. Extensive work is also being conducted in basic research regarding the use of quantitative indicators/targets, case collection/analysis and transfer of “best practices”, and ongoing cooperation initiatives, which has received much support from IGES. Significant progress in these research activities was reported at the Expert Group Meeting held in August 2001. We are continuing to further our research, with the results to be disseminated through the network. Parallel on-site activities such as pilot projects and case studies and the development of an action-based network and information tool, as well as efforts to create partnerships and outreach with other international programs, are also being carried out.

The establishment of the Kitakyushu Initiative Network, was proposed and endorsed at the Ministerial Conference, is a network as a primary mechanism to encourage local governments of ESCAP members and associate members in the region to take measures to promote the actions proposed in the Kitakyusuhu Initiativedocument. The network should have the primary function of being a permanent forum to strengthen intercity cooperation in implementing the Kitakyushu Initiative. The eight functions proposed are as follows: (i) Assistance in preparing and implementing integrated and sustainable urban development plans and strategies with quantitative indicators; (ii) Periodical monitoring of the implementation status in terms of quantitative indicators; (iii) Promotion of information exchange and sharing of experience among participating local governments; (iv) Provision of a platform for the transfer of technology and know-how packages, good practices, and a successful municipal/regional model for sustainable development; (v) Linkages, catalysation and facilitation of internal and external financial support to international cooperation initiatives of local authorities; (vi) Facilitation of capacity-building activities for environmental administration staff in participating local governments; (vii)Promotion of environmental education programmes in intercity cooperation, such as student exchanges; (viii) Encouragement of private enterprises to participate in infrastructure development and environmental quality enhancement programmes.

The Kitakyushu Initiative Ministerial Conference document also placed an emphasis on technology transfer and requested that the Kitakyushu Initiative Network perform as a clearinghouse to promote information on environmentally-sound technologies. In this regard, synergy and interagency collaboration may be sought with other international programs and initiatives, including the ESCAP Asia-Pacific Center for Technology Transfer, and UNEP International Environmental Technology Centre, UNDP, and Urban Environmental Technology Initiative, among others. Emphasis was also placed on collaboration with the scientific community.

In later sessions, more details will be presented on pilot activities, a key point for the network. Pilot activities will be strengthened and linked through the Kitakyushu Initiative Nnetwork where experience and information will be analyzed and disseminated. In later sessions, more details will be presented on pilot activities, as being a key point for the network.

An Internet-based information tool is under development as an important area to support the network. This tool will assist in the linking of cities and provide an opportunity for free exchange and virtual discussions on new and innovative ideas. Possible contents for the information tool include activity updates, digital forum, successful and transferable database, distance learning system, and donor information links, among others. Focus will be placed on the promotion of urban environmental monitoring approaches, participation of enhanced interaction among local governments, international initiatives, and other relevant organizations such as the media, and further expansion of intercity cooperation.

I would like to acknowledge with great appreciation that coordination for the network is being offered by IGES, including the provision of professional, financial, and secretariat support for the administration of the network, as well as future development with support from the Government of Japan. IGES will be working under the general supervision of ESCAP whichESCAP, which is working under the guidance of ESCAP member and associate members. Operation of the network will be reviewed and guided on a regular basis by participating local governments and other relevant organizations through network meetings such as this.

In principle, the network is open to all local governments of ESCAP member and associate members with the local governments gathered here today kindly invited to participate as core members of the network. One of the important tasks of this meeting is to start operation of the network. I would like to emphasize that the network is yours, and is prepared to support your activities in the urban environment. I wish everyone success in the preparation of the future phase of the Kitakyushu Initiative Network. Thank you very much.