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SUBREGIONAL OFFICE FOR EAST AND NORTH-EAST (SRO-ENEA)

SRO-ENEA Newsletter Issue 2011/3

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Director’s Message

It gives me great pleasure to release the final issue of our environmental challenges with a zeal never before seen in the newsletter for 2011. This newsletter is significant for a number . That in essence is the work of SRO-ENEA and of reasons. First this newsletter focuses on North NEASPEC in a nutshell. This newsletter however is not just Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation about NEASPEC but about the role of subregional entities in (NEASPEC), second this is the first such issue to come out dealing with environmental consequences beyond national since the Member countries named SRO-ENEA as their borders. Examples are drawn from NEASPEC as well as secretariat, third this is my first newsletter since joining SRO- ASEAN and from UNECE’s Convention on Long-range ENEA as its director! Our Executive Secretary Dr. Noeleen Transboundary Air Pollution. The hope of our office is to be Heyzer had highlighted the role of the subregion best when she the hub of multilateralism in the and the hope for this said that the subregion “will remain a vast engine of growth newsletter and others to come is that it will keep you informed for the world for decades to come, and it will be a global leader on pressing matters of development and environment. As in ensuring stability and security.” What we notice is that, always we welcome your views. the Member countries have taken on the task of identifying Kilaparti Ramakrishna solutions to address the social and economic disparities and Director, SRO-ENEA

Environmental consequences beyond national border and (sub) regional responses Ri v e rs flow across or along borders of all North-East Asian escalating political tensions between countries. Countries need to countries except . Endangered animals such as tigers and resolve such environmental problems, but ecosystem and national migratory birds find their home in transborder areas owing to the jurisdiction have different geographical boundaries. As a result, areas’ periphery nature of economic activities while poachers are many environmental problems become transboundary externalities. coming after the animals. Dust and sandstorms in spring bring Most of the (sub) are destined to face such challenges due to most countries under the same yellowish sky. Fishing grounds the close geographical proximity among members. So the issue is often become battle fields between fishermen and coast guards, how to minimize problems resulting from the discordance between cont’d on page 2

1 boundaries of political sovereignty and environmental in building institutional mechanisms for multilateral consequence. This situation has resulted in the establishment environmental cooperation since 1977. In particular, of a huge number of (sub)regional environmental ASEAN has expanded the scope of environmental agreements, sharing 60 percent of about 500 Multilateral cooperation to cover most transboundary issues through a Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in the world. Most of series of high-level declarations and blueprints for building those agreements are in place to jointly manage common ASEAN Community. In , the South Asia pool resources (such as high seas and atmosphere) or shared Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), since its environment (such as international waters and natural establishment in 1982 as the first regional organization in resources in transboundary areas). While all are seeking South Asia, has been the major body for cooperation among to jointly address transboundary externalities, levels of its eight member countries on biodiversity, environmental joint action have wide ranges from simple information education, capacity building, marine environment and air exchange to policy coordination. In doing so, they often act pollution, etc. Among the Pacific countries, South Pacific as facilitators of knowledge sharing and capacity building Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), since its rather than levying political and financial responsibilities establishment in 1982, has played an instrumental role on countries responsible for transboundary externalities. in complementing the limited capacity of its 22 Pacific Under this circumstance, (sub)regional environmental island countries and building common frameworks of cooperation have been important instruments for making environmental strategies and policies as the secretariat of horizontal linkages among environmental challenges of the Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources their respective member countries. Such cooperation also and Environment of the South Pacific Region. serves as a hub for vertical linkages between global agendas Unlike other , North-East Asia was only able to and national actions. Global mechanisms play major roles start subregional environmental cooperation from the early in setting common norms, approaches and rules, but cannot 1990s due to the legacy of the Cold War. Since then, North- directly deal with country-level implementation. In this East Asian countries established various mechanisms, situation, (sub)regional mechanisms help countries jointly such as North-East Asian Subregional Programme for develop policy approaches and activities that supplement Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC), Northwest Pacific different capabilities among member countries, thereby Action Plan (NOWPAP), joint research project on Long- reducing the costs of implementation. As a result, (sub) range Transboundary Air Pollutants (LTP), Acid Deposition regional environmental governance has been a key part of Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET), Tripartite international environmental governance by complementing, Environmental Ministers’ Meeting (TEMM), East Asia rather than substituting for, globally-agreed policies and Biosphere Reserve Network (EABRN), etc. Amongst efforts. these mechanisms, NEASPEC is the most comprehensive mechanism in terms of membership (all six countries) Subregional mechanisms in Asia and and thematic scope. Since its inception in 1993, ESCAP the Pacific has been facilitating the operation and programme of In Asia and the Pacific, all subregions have various levels NEASPEC as the secretariat. Currently, the ESCAP SRO- and scopes of subregional environmental mechanism. In ENEA functions as the secretariat of NEASPEC. South-East Asia, ASEAN has made considerable progress

2 Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia

South-East Asia : Building ASEAN community and environmental cooperation

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) environmental pollution (in particular haze and hazardous has put great efforts in its cooperation on environment, waste), environmental education, environmentally sound leading to the establishment of institutional structure, policy technology, cities, environmental policies and databases, framework, and various declarations and plans of action biodiversity, marine environment, fresh water, climate change for environmental cooperation. Regional environmental and forest. cooperation dates back to 1977, when the ASEAN Subregional Thanks to the well-established institutional structure and Environment Programme (ASEP) was established, leading policy framework, ASEAN was able to expand the scope and in the subsequent year to the creation of the ASEAN Experts degree of environmental cooperation by promulgating 22 Group on the Environment. The mechanisms for dialogue and environmental agreements and declarations between 1981 and coordination have been continuously strengthened through the 2009. The major strength of ASEAN regional environmental ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME) cooperation is the number and articulation of institutional and regular meetings of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the mechanisms which have contributed to the shaping of a Environment (ASOEN) since 1981 and 1989, respectively. common regional environmental policy framework, the The institutional structure development led to significant facilitation of multilateral activities for capacity-building and progress in the establishment of policy framework, which the creation of bases of common knowledge and information. enables ASEAN to facilitate the regional environmental Moreover, unlike in other parts of Asia and the Pacific, cooperation. In 1998, the ASEAN Heads of State/Government this development of organizational and legal structures for promulgated the ASEAN Vision 2020 which reaffirmed environmental cooperation has occurred in parallel with the ASEAN’s commitment to regional cooperation and a more progress of economic and political integration. Therefore, sustainable path to development. Since the early 2000s, with the reformed institutional and policy framework, coupled ASEAN started to transform into a rules-based organizations with the experience of previous and on-going programmes, and attained for itself a legal personality and a new policy and ASEAN is on a stronger footing to effectively coordinate institutional framework. This transformation was facilitated the regional environmental cooperation and work towards by the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II (Bali Concord II) in achieving sustainable development as well as promoting clean 2003, which pursues to establish an ASEAN Community by and green environment by protecting the natural resources 2020 based on three mutually supporting pillars, namely the base for economic and social development. ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the ASEAN Socio- Liana Bratasida Cultural Community (ASCC). Environmental cooperation Former Assistant Minister for Global and Environmental essentially comes under the ambit of the ASEAN Socio- Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, Indonesia Cultural Community. In this connection, the Roadmap for an Former Chair of ASEAN Working Group on Multilateral ASEAN Community 2009-2015 identified 11 priority areas Environmental Agreements and specific actions for ensuring environmental sustainability. The areas of joint action covers most environmental issues, i.e. multilateral environmental agreements, transboundary

3 : Tackling air pollution problems through regional cooperation - a success story

The Convention on Long-range Transboundary level Ozone set emission ceilings for 2010 for pollutants such Air Pollution (CLRTAP) addresses some of the major as sulphur and nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic environmental problems of the UN Economic Commission compounds and ammonia. The Protocol also set tight limit for Europe (UNECE) region: severe environmental damage values for specific emission sources (e.g. combustion plants due to acidification of forest soils and surface waters in the and vehicles) and requires best available techniques to be used late 70’s along with significant adverse health effects due to to keep emissions down. The Protocol also included black high concentrations of air pollutants in ambient air. Created in carbon, which is an important air pollutant and at the same 1979, in the midst of the Cold War, it managed to gain political time one of the short lived climate forcers. With the inclusion support for its work from both political blocs at the time. of black carbon, the Convention is the first international From the very beginning, the Convention established its agreement to tackle a short lived climate forcer in the context scientific programme to support the policy development. The of air pollution on a policy level. Furthermore, in the medium monitoring and evaluation programme (EMEP) concentrates and long term, the Convention will investigate more closely on air pollutant emissions, pollutant transformations and the tropospheric ozone with all its precursors, including transport in the atmosphere, and deposition of pollutants. methane – a potent greenhouse gas and carbon monoxide. Special attention is paid to health and environmental effects. In December 2010, the Parties to the Convention adopted a Cost-effective emission reduction strategies are developed to Long Term Strategy for the implementation of the Convention, minimize the costs of reduction measures while maximizing which provides strategic directions for the Convention for the the health and environmental improvements throughout the next 10 years and beyond. One priority will remain providing ECE region. The Convention has developed a comprehensive assistance to countries in , the and institutional and research network consisting of over twenty in ratifying and implementing the Convention’s international centres and dozens of collaborating national protocols. Another priority is the outreach towards other research institutes and universities. regions of the world, especially densely populated areas in The Convention has been extended by eight protocols that Asia where air pollution has been a growing concern. identify specific measures to be taken by Parties to cut their emissions of air pollutants. The latest 1999 Gothenburg Krzysztof Olendrzynski and Albena Karadjova 1 Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground- UNECE CLRTAP Secretariat

1 The 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) was the first of the five environmental treaties adopted and operated under the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The NEASPEC is currently partnering with the Convention on a new project on transboundary air pollution in North-East Asia with a view of transferring some of the experience and expertise of the Convention to our subregion.

4 Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia

NEASPEC Programme at a Glance

North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC) was launched in 1993 as a comprehensive intergovernmental cooperation mechanism comprising all six North-East Asian countries, namely, , Democratic People’s Republic of (DPRK), Japan, , Republic of Korea (ROK), and the Russian Federation in order to jointly address environmental challenges in this subregion. Currently, NEASPEC activities cover four areas.

Multilateral cooperation on transboundary Asia. Since 1996, NEASPEC and Asian Development Bank air pollution in North-East Asia (ADB) have jointly conducted technical assistance projects on building the capacity of policy-makers and power plants A new coal-fired power plant is being commissioned in technicians for mitigation of air pollution from coal-fired China almost on a weekly basis. This growth comes at a cost power plants. The current phase spanning over 2009- of soaring air pollutants and greenhouse gases emissions. 2011 focused on producing recommendations for China Estimates show that from 1990 to 2005 sulfur dioxide on improving efficiency of sulfur-control technologies and emissions in China almost doubled before the trend was producing new draft emissions standards for Mongolia reversed, thanks to bold actions of the Chinese Government which are currently being reviewed by the government. during the 11th Five-Year Plan leading to absolute reduction A new NEASPEC project on transboundary air pollution, of SO2 emissions by more than 10 percent in 2010 compared recently adopted by the member States, is expected to to 2005. Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the subregion identify opportunities for strengthening joint efforts and are threatened by increased acid deposition. Furthermore, seek synergies between existing multilateral cooperation most of the pollutants are capable of travelling long mechanisms. Particularly, the project will examine the distances, therefore, calling for a multilateral action. experience of the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution and discuss applicability of its The Sulfur Dioxide Emissions in East and North-Easst Asian Countries(exclusive to DPRK) approaches and methodology in the context of North-East 35000 Asia. Rising concerns of the subregional countries about 30000 CHN JPN ROK MNG RF negative effects of air pollution give hope that coordinated 25000 national and multilateral actions can bring fruitful results in 20000 Gg SO2 15000 dealing with this important environmental challenge.

10000

5000 Challenges of combating desertification in 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 North-East Asia It is estimated that more than 400 million people are In order to tackle the issues of transboundary air pollution, negatively affected by desertification and land degradation North-East Asian countries have initiated a number of in China alone. In another country of the subregion – multilateral projects and initiatives over the past 20 years. Mongolia – the soaring rates of land degradation and Such examples include EANET that deals with monitoring desertification due to climate change, overgrazing and of acid deposition in East Asia and LTP that focuses on mining activities jeopardize the livelihoods of nomadic modeling of the transboundary air pollution in North-East herders. Currently, more than 27 percent of the Chinese cont’d on page 6

5 territory is covered by deserts and about 90 percent of the situation has been improving to some extent during the recent Mongolian pastureland is subject to land degradation. years. The annual reverse of sandy desertification in China has been above 1,000km2 during the last decade. Famous Distribution of Desertified Distribution of Desertified Lands in China Lands in Mongolia activities implemented in China include the “Three Norths”

7% 24% 22% and the “Kubuqi Desert” projects. At the same time, a lot of 32% 25% 16% bilateral assistance projects between Republic of Korea and 38% 36% Japan on one side and China and Mongolia on the other have been initiated. Special credit should be given to the role of ■ very severely ■ moderately degraded ■ very severely ■ moderately degraded ■ severly ■ slightly degraded ■ severly ■ slightly degraded civil society organizations in facilitating joint projects. The NEASPEC member States initiated the project on mitigation Desertification, land degradation and droughts are posing of dust and sandstorms to boost collaboration in North-East serious threats to environmental sustainability of North- Asia, especially between China and Mongolia, and support East Asia. The increasing frequency and magnitude of dust sharing of best experiences and capacity building through and sandstorms (DSS) originated in China and Mongolia demonstration projects and training activities. as a result of degraded land and encroaching deserts are The long reaching effects of desertification will leave nobody causing damages not only close to the source areas, but also unaffected. The enormous scale of funding and efforts needed hundreds and even thousands of kilometers away. Realizing to improve the situation requires commitments on all levels the severity of the problem, the countries of North-East Asia of communities and governments. Thus, the countries and have prioritized combating desertification in their national peoples of the subregion have no choice but to join forces in policies. As a result of coherent and firm national policies this fight to reverse the desertification trends and ensure safer and considerable government investment in China, the future for our children.

View of member States

NEASPEC came to birth at the outset of demonstrate successful practices environmental cooperation in North-East Asia in the early for green economy or green growth. 1990s. Since then, it has functioned as a unique forum In this context, NEASPEC, as a for bringing all six North-East Asian countries together subregional forum for linking economy and environment, under the common goal of sustainable development in the could contribute to this process and share the story of subregion. Now it has a new opportunity for leapfrogging subregion’s collective efforts with the world. I also wish in its role with the relocation of the secretariat from NEASPEC to make great contributions to tackling other Bangkok to Incheon, making the secretariat stay close to key subregional issues including protecting biodiversity member governments and stakeholders. The global society and combating desertification. has urgent tasks to simultaneously address both objectives of pursuing economic development and responding to Heung-Kyung PARK, climate change. This is also a key challenge for North-East Chair of the 16th Senior Officials Meeting of NEASPEC Asia, which consists of countries representing different Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and development paths. As such, I wish the subregion could Trade, Republic of Korea

6 Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia

Transboundary Cooperation for Nature Nature Conservation in Transboundary Areas”, which aims Conservation in North-East Asia to develop a framework of bi-/multilateral cooperation Rapid expansion of population and economic activity in mechanisms for nature conservation in the Tumen River Area. North-East Asia has shrunken and fragmented the natural habitats of big animals, putting them on the brink of Eco-Efficiency Partnership in North-East extinction. Great examples come from the tiger and Asia Amur leopard. These magnificent big cats sitting at the top of The pattern of economic growth in North-East Asia has a the ecological pyramid in North-East Asian forest landscapes great implication for environmental sustainability of the are only about 500 and 35-40 individuals respectively, subregion as well as the world as the subregion occupies surviving in the wild today. In order to reverse the declining one-third of world energy consumption and greenhouse trend, countries established various protected areas in their gas emissions. The challenge for the subregion is to find major habitats. In Russia, the Federal Barsovy Wildlife sustainable development models which make its economies Refuge and Regional Borisorsky Plateau Wildlife Refuge and societies more robust and less dependent of fossil fuels were established in 1979 and 1996 respectively, which were and other nature resources. A key to these models is the merged into the Federal Leopardovy Wildlife Refuge in 2008 improvement of eco-efficiency of economy, maximizing for better coordination of protection activities. In China, the the productivity of energy and material inputs to economic Jilin Hunchun Nature Reserve which was established in 2001 activities and in turn minimizing ecological impacts and as a provincial level reserve was upgraded to a state-level resource intensity. Nature Reserve status in 2005 to further strengthen protection To help the improvement of eco-efficiency in the subregion, measures. NEASPEC initiated the “Eco-efficiency Partnership”. It However, it is necessary to expand protection activities is well recognized that improving eco-efficiency requires beyond national borders. Currently, about 95 percent of Amur all sectors/stakeholders including the private sector and tigers and Amur leopards inhabit the Siknote-Alin-Wandashan consumers to actively play their own part as the government Mountain ecosystem across the border between the Russian alone cannot make major value and behavioral change in the Far-East and Heilongjiang Province in China. There is also way that society consume and produce. In this regard, eco-/ a small fragmented population situated in the Lower Tumen carbon labeling programme is a key tool for communication River Basin, bordering China, the Russian Federation and between the private sector and consumers, and shift both the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). This consumption and production patterns towards greener. In this tripartite region is also a major part of either breeding context, NEASPEC assists member States in supporting each grounds or migration corridors of many endangered species other for improving eco-/carbon-labeling schemes, thereby of birds, such as the White-naped Crane and Hooded Crane. helping to scale up the market of more eco-efficient products This situation indicates that the recovery of those endangered and technologies at national and subregional levels. Under this species needs the connectivity of subpopulation as well as Partnership, NEASPEC also facilitates knowledge sharing coordinated actions between protected areas across national among member States for cities’ eco-efficient practices for border. To enhance the connectivity and coordination, low carbon, green cities. In particular, following up to the transboundary cooperation for nature conservation must be Suwon Conference on Low Carbon, Green Cities held in further strengthened. October 2011, the secretariat works on the formulation of a In this context, NEASPEC has been facilitating member knowledge-sharing platform for wide exchange of information States to strengthen transboundary cooperation through the on plans and good practices, in particular, on greening urban adoption of the NEASPEC Nature Conservation Strategy infrastructure, developing sustainable transport systems, and in 2007 and the project on “Cooperation Mechanisms for greening the urban space, etc.

7 SRO-ENEA Past Events & Meetings

15-17 August 2011, Kyunghee University, Republic of Korea 13-14 October 2011, Seoul, Republic of Korea Subregional Forum on Youth Participation in Policy-Making for East and North-East The First Meeting of Asia-Korea Carbon Footprint Partnership Program Asia 17-18 October 2011, Suwon, Republic of Korea 1-2 September 2011, Seoul, Republic of Korea North-East Asian Forum on Eco-efficiency for Low Carbon, Green Cities 16th Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of NEASPEC 24 October 2011, Incheon, Republic of Korea 14-16 September 2011, Incheon, Republic of Korea UN Day celebration Subregional Workshop for LDCs in Achieving MDGs as Part of the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action 3-4 November 2011, Incheon, Republic of Korea Subregional Meeting on Enhancing Long-Term Care and Social Participation of Older 6-7 October 2011, Seoul, Republic of Korea Persons in East and North-East Asia High-level Stakeholder Workshop on Subregional Trade and Transit Cooperation in Mongolian Trade Corridors in connection with the Asia Pacific Trade Facilitation 10-11 November 2011, Incheon, Republic of Korea Forum 2011 Workshop on Transboundary Air Pollution in North-East Asia

11 October 2011, Changwon, Republic of Korea 5-6 December 2011, Tokyo, Japan NEASPEC – Side Event at the UNCCD COP-10: promoting the benefits of multilateral Asia-Pacific Conference on Measuring Well-Being and Fostering the Progress of cooperation on combating desertification in North-East Asia Societies

On the occasion of the UN Secretary-General’s visit to the Republic of Korea, SRO-ENEA organized a UN community gathering on 11 August 2011 to congratulate him on the confirmation of the second term (1 January 2012 - 31 December 2016).

Contact information of the ESCAP SRO-ENEA Office ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia, 17th Floor Meet-You-All Tower, Songdo Techno Park, 7-50 Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon City, Republic of Korea http://northeast-sro.unescap.org │ [email protected] Tel:+82-32-458-6600 Fax:+82-32-458-6699

Disclaimer All material including information, data, figures and graphics presented in this publication do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Mention of firm names and commercial products does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations. The opinions, figures and estimates set forth in this publication are the responsibility of the authors who are responsible for the content of the newsletter and, hence, should not necessarily be considered as reflecting the views or carrying the endorsement of the United Nations.