M. Aslam Khan Chief, Environment Section

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment ：Strengthening Linkages between Local Initiatives and International Cooperation

M. Aslam KhanChief, Environment Section


Outline

Introduction of the Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean EnvironmentLinkages between local initiatives and international cooperation initiatives


What is the Kitakyushu Initiative?

A mechanism adopted at the 4th MCED in 2000 for the implementation of the priority areas of the Regional Action Programme 2001-2005, with specific focus on environmental quality and human health in urban areas

Type I partnership as identified by the WSSD


Target: to achieve measurable progress in improvement of the urban environment in major cities in the Asia-Pacific region, mainly through local initiatives to control air and water pollution and minimize all kinds of wastes.

What is the Kitakyushu Initiative?

(Continued)


Functions of the Kitakyushu Initiative Network

Assistance in preparing and implementing integrated and sustainable urban development plans and strategies

Periodical monitoring of implementation status

Promotion of information exchange and sharing of experiences among participating local governments



Platform for the transfer of technology know-how packages, good practices and successful models for sustainable development

Promotion of local initiatives of member cities and support for their linkages with ongoing regional and international initiatives

Promotion of capacity-building activities for environmental administration staff in participating local governments

(Continued)


Promotion of environmental education/awareness programmes

Encouragement of the private sector’s participation in infrastructure development and environmental quality enhancement programmes


(Continued)


Implementation of the Kitakyushu Initiative

Cooperation between member cities, UNESCAP, IGES, the Government of Japan and other relevant organizationsNetwork meetings to promote exchange of information and experience and enhance intercity cooperation


Four types of interrelated network activities:


(Continued)

Organization of thematic seminars and trainings for capacity-building

Implementation of pilot projects/activities

Compilation, analysis and dissemination of successful practices

Development and application of quantitative indicators


Kitakyushu Initiative website: an effective way of information

collection and dissemination

www.iges.or.jp/kitakyushu/


(Continued)


Achievements of the Kitakyushu Initiative

Membership: from 20 cities at its inception to currently 60 cities



Six thematic seminars on various critical issues in urban environmental management: information shared and local capacity enhanced

Solid waste management

Public-private partnerships for urban water supply and wastewater management

Urban air quality management

Industrial relocation

Public participation in urban environmental management

International cooperation for local initiatives

(Continued)



14 pilot projects/activities: developing transferable models to be replicated or upgraded

Completed:

- Promotion of recycling and reduction of waste (Nonthaburi, Thailand)

- Feasibility study on the privatization of industrial wastewater treatment (Weihai, China)

- Multi-stakeholder approach to climate change (Puerto Princesa, Philippines)

- Urban air quality management (Chongqing, China)

- Solid waste management planning (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

- Construction of small-scale treatment facilities for domestic wastewater (Korat, Thailand)

(Continued)




Ongoing:

- Urban environmental improvement

(Cebu, Philippines)

- Improvement of stakeholder awareness and

participation for air quality improvement

(Surabaya, Indonesia)

(Continued)




Under preparation and consideration:

- Energy efficiency (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)

- Water-use efficiency

- Water pollution control (Semarang, Indonesia)

- Urban air quality management (Ulaanbaatar)

- ICTs in urban environmental management (Tehran, Iran)

- Conservation of heritage sites (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

(Continued)



A portfolio of 45 cases of successful practices in urban environmental management: collected, analyzed and disseminated

www.iges.or.jp/kitakyushu/practices_database.htm

Quantitative indicators developed and applied in pilot projects and successful practices

Strengthened environmental cooperation based on local initiatives

(Continued)


Linking local initiatives to international cooperation initiatives: Why?

Local government lacks direct support from international agencies for their initiatives (lack of information and awareness of the process)International agencies tend to approach national governments for cooperation initiatives rather than local governmentsFor better synergies and cooperation, it is crucial for international agencies to include local initiatives in their support programmes


Linking local initiatives to international cooperation initiatives: How?

Intercity cooperation, training, etc: The Kitakyushu Initiative promotes intercity cooperation through transfer of successful practices and technology.

Kitakyushu Surabaya, Chongqing: Solid waste management

Kitakyushu Cebu: Overall urban environmental improvement

Dalian (China) Ho Chi Minh (Viet Nam): Industrial relocation

Fukuoka Tehran, Seberang Prai, Ipoh (Malaysia), Guangzhou (China):

Fukuoka Landfill Method


Promoting linkages between ongoing international initiatives at local level


CITYNET (The Regional Network of Local Authorities for the Management of Human Settlements)

ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiative)

The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities

US-AEP (the United States-Asia Environmental Partnerships)

UNDP

UNEP

UN-HABITAT

All these initiatives also need to be linked to each other.

(Continued)



Mechanisms for developing synergies

Financial support: developing linkages towards financial support -- various donors such as the WB, ADB, UNDP, other development banks as well as international assistance programmes on environmental and sustainable development such as JICA, JBIC, US-AEP, etc.

Technical support: policy, technical know-how, expertise, experiences, successful practices, transferable technology, human and institutional capacity-building, etc

Information support: establishment of a network of international initiatives at local level to facilitate information sharing

(Continued)


Thank you !

M. Aslam Khan Chief, Environment Section

Documents

urban areastype

urban water supply

exchange of information

major cities

infrastructure development

international cooperationm

private sectors participation

good practices