1 June 1999

ENGLISH ONLY

UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE

Tenth session

Bonn, 31 May - 11 June 1999

Agenda item 7

FCCC/SBSTA/1999/MISC.5/Add.3

BN.99-

• In addition to the submissions included in documents FCCC/SBSTA/1999/MISC.5, Add.1 and 2, a further contribution has been received from Japan and is included in the present addendum.

  
  
  

• In accordance with the procedure for miscellaneous documents, this contribution⁽¹⁾ is attached and reproduced in the language in which it was received and without formal editing.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Paper No. Page

• RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE IN THE ANNEX

TO DECISION 4/CP.4

Japan

(Submission received 31 May 1999) 3

• PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES INCORPORATING

COOPERATIVE APPROACHES TO THE TRANSFER

OF TECHNOLOGY

Japan

(Submission received 31 May 1999) 11

This paper presents responses by the Government of Japan to questionnaire, in the annex to Decision 4 /CP.4, regarding the development and transfer of technologies. For more details on the various technical cooperation projects Japan is carrying out, refer to Japan's paper on technology transfer projects separately submitted.

1. Practical steps to promote, facilitate and finance, as appropriate, transfer of, and access to, environmentally sound technologies and know-how.

• •How should Parties promote the removal of barriers to technology transfer? Which barriers are a priority and what practical steps should be taken?

Response:

-- Reduction of high costs, completion of incomplete infrastructure facilities

-- Rectification of gaps in basic technology

-- Increased transparency and efficiency of government administration (including

regulations, licensing)

-- Liberalization of investment, opening of economy

-- Application of tax incentive

-- Expanding of demand for technology through introduction of environmental

regulations

-- Development of human resources

-- Improvement of access capabilities to information

Since technology transfers from newly industrialized and middle-developed countries to LDCs and LLDCs make it possible to introduce suitable technology at lower expense from these countries, thus to solve problems of high costs and gaps in levels of technology at the same time, such technology transfers should also be of benefit, in addition to those from advanced countries.

• •What publicly owned technologies are available? How should Annex çU Parties report on them? How should Annex çUParties promote the transfer of publicly owned technologies?

Response:

White Papers and reports of findings by government-affiliated research institutes are available on the Internet. Some examples are:

-- Environmental management technology (environmental regulations, monitoring technology)

-- Energy-conserving and new energy technologies

-- Forestry technology

-- Meteorological observation

-- Waste disposal and management

As ways to promote the transfer of these kinds of technologies, training and studies at government-related organs and the dispatch of government specialists are suggested.

• •What additional bilateral and multilateral efforts to promote technology cooperation to facilitate technology transfer should be initiated? What should be the priority?

Response:

Support for the capacity-building efforts by governments in the areas mentioned above is essential. The primary prioritization should be made by the recipient country, and therefore, it is important for each developing country to provide relevant information through its own national communication. In addition, it is vital that developing countries prepare systems that enable technology transfers to proceed smoothly. For that purpose, administrative dialogues on effective measures (e.g., liberalization) including coordination with discussions in the process of negotiations on economic matters, are beneficial.

The three pillars of the Kyoto Initiative, which Japan has previously announced, are as follows:

1) Cooperation for human resources development

For a five-year period from 1998, Japan is providing training in developing countries for 3,000 technicians, researchers, and administrators.

2) Provision of yen loans with the most concessional terms

Japan is providing ODA loans with the most concessional terms of 0.75% annual interest and a 40-year repayment period to promote activities in the fields of energy conservation, development of new and renewable energy sources, and forest conservation and afforestation.

3) Transfer and utilization of Japanese technology and know-how

To promote technology transfers, Japan has been dispatching teams of technical specialists, building information networks, holding workshops, and so forth.

Moreover, Japan has been carrying out various activities under the framework of the Green Aid Plan (see project outline paper). The Environment Agency of Japan, in cooperation with local governments, has also been organizing the Environmental Conference Asia and the Pacific Region (Eco Asia) to offer a forum for a free exchange of views at the ministerial level in order to promote cooperation in the environmental sector in the Asia-Pacific region. The conference has been held seven times since 1991, and the next conference is scheduled to be held in Sapporo, Japan in September 1999.

Moreover, to promote exchanges of information on experiences with countermeasures against global warming as well as personnel exchanges, Japan has held since 1991 eight sessions of the Asia-Pacific Seminar on Global Warming. Japan has also been supporting the setting up networks throughout the Asia-Pacific region to advance exchanges of technical information about climate change. The ninth session of the seminar is scheduled to be held in July 1999 in Hikone, Japan.

On a bilateral level, Japan is holding discussions on the environment based on policy dialogues and environmental cooperation treaties with developing countries and assisting them in their efforts in this area. For example, with China, Japan has held the Japan-China Comprehensive Forum on the Environment Cooperation, the Japan-China Environmental Cooperation Model Citiy Plan. In addition, within the framework of Japan's ODA, Japan has been carrying out technology transfers in various developing countries, establishing environment centers in those countries and, with those centers as focal points, helping to diffuse technologies in those countries.

• •Are existing multilateral mechanisms sufficient? Are new mechanisms needed for technology transfer? If so, what are appropriate mechanisms for the transfer of technologies among Parties in pursuance of Article 4.5 of the UNFCCC?

Response:

In developed countries, the implementation of projects and the development of technology have been realized through the steady efforts of private and public sector researchers to utilize limited funds and human resources. The present technology transfer schemes have been established by making use of the lessons obtained through these efforts. Though Japan does not gratuitously reject the search for new systems, what problems there may be in existing schemes should be specifically verified to avoid duplication of present mechanisms.

Japan is playing a major role in the CTI, an OECD mechanism for international cooperation that is bolstering international efforts for achieving the goals of the FCCC.

• •What additional guidance should be given to the interim financial mechanism?

  
  
  

Response:

Additional guidance for the GEF was decided at COP 4. With experience currently being accumulated in the provision of financial assistance based on that guidance, the guidance should be evaluate in the GEF reviews to be held every four years.

• •What sort of information is needed and what are the best methods for access?

Response:

High priority needs based on the varied conditions in developing countries should be identified and selected in those fields in which it is most crucial to develop measures against global warming, i.e., energy conservation, disposal of waste materials, forest conservation and afforestation, and ways should be established so that developed countries can provide needed information that responds to those needs.

As information tools like the Internet are becoming increasingly effective means for accessing information, developed countries are developing information systems so that these access tools can be efficiently used by developing countries.

• •How could access to emerging technologies be facilitated?

Response:

Information on emerging technology should be added in due course to that on existing technology, and existing channels and systems for providing information should be improved. In addition, as for the introduction of such emerging technology, investment by private enterprises will be encouraged by guarantees of intellectual property rights.

• •What role is the private sector playing in technology transfer? What additional role can the private sector play? What barriers prevent the greater participation of the private sector?

Response:

With the private sector possessing almost all the technology in the energy related and other fields, its role in technology transfer is extremely large. Foreign private companies operate commercially-based undertakings in developing countries, and host countries themselves should endeavour to accumulate know-how through these projects.

ODA and other official financing schemes can provide vital impetus for bringing projects to countries in which it may be difficult for private companies to establish undertakings by their own resources. In Japan private sector projects receiving ODA subsidies through AOTS, JODC, and other schemes are providing opportunities for spontaneous transfers of technology and achieving significant results (see section 2).

2. Support for the development and enhancement of endogenous capacities and technologies of developing country Parties

• •What technical advice on technology transfer is needed? How should such advice be provided?

  
  
  

Response:

The demand for technologies for the prevention of pollution, cleaner production, etc. is growing because of the improvement of environmental management capabilities (monitoring, regulatory capabilities, etc.), and technology transfers are being promoted.

In the public sector, Japan is continuing its efforts for the transfer of environmental management technologies through its positive and comprehensive assistance under its ODA and other schemes, which includes the training of personnel, the dispatch of specialists, and the provision of equipment. Similarly, in the private sector, numerous projects are being carried out that are contributing to technology transfers.

• •What areas should be the focus of capacity-building and how should it be undertaken, e.g., what kinds of activities, programs and institutional arrangements?

Response:

Areas: Environmental policies, prevention of pollution, waste materials, forest conservation and afforestation, energy conservation, new energy sources, manufacturing technology, operational management.

Methodology: Preparation of comprehensive programs for cooperation that combine the training of personnel from administrative agencies in developing countries, the dispatch of specialists for enhancing the capabilities of large numbers of host country counterparts, and the provision of equipment.

Institutions: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS), and the Japan Overseas Development Corporation (JODC) etc. are engaged in various technology transfer activities. (For details on these organizations and their activities, refer to the projects outline paper.)

In accordance with one of the three pillars of the Kyoto Initiative announced by the Japanese government at the Kyoto Conference, Japan has been implementing its plan for the training of 3,000 people in developing countries involved in addressing global warming, and many of the trainees are already playing active roles in this area.

It has been made clear that exchanges between research institutes and joint research are effective for discovering and developing the most appropriate technologies through the cooperation between Japan and several other Asian countries. And these exchanges among research organs and specialists are continuing to be advanced.

For the transfer of technologies that can contribute to tackling global warming, efforts being made by the private sector, which is the core base for the actual application of those technologies, play an extremely important role. In Japan, AOTS and JODC are moving ahead with their efforts for the acceptance of trainees by private companies and the dispatch of

specialists, and they are positively contributing to the effective transfer of technology for the improvement of manufacturing efficiency, energy conservation, and other measures to stem global warming.

There are numerous public and private sector organizations in Japan involved in technical cooperation; below are the major organizations.

-- Global Environment Department, Environment Agency

Tel. +81-3-3580-1384 Fax. +81-3-3581-3348

-- Japan International Cooperation Agency (has a wide network throughout the world)

Tel. +81-3-5352-5311

URL:http://www jica go.jp E-mail:www@jica go.jp

-- Japan External Trade Organization (17 overseas offices in Asia, 9 in Latin

America, 12 in the Middle East and Africa) Tel. ü{81-3-3582-5170

URL:http://www.jetro.go.jp E-mail:webmaster@jetro.go.jp

-- Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (7 overseas offices in Asia)

Tel. +81-3-3888-8241 Fax. +81-3-3888-8428

URL:http://www.aots.or.jp E-mail:aots@gol.com

-- Japan Overseas Development Corporation (3 offices in Asia)

Tel. +81-3-5473-0980 Fax. +81-3-5473-0987

URL: http://www2.odn.ne.jp/jodc E-mail:jodc-1@pop02.odn.ne.jp

-- New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization

Tel. +81-3-3987-9311 Fax. +81-3-3981-0742,

URL: http://www.nedo.go.jp E-mail:qinf@nedo.go.jp

• •How, to whom, and in what format should developing country Parties make their request for assistance to access required technologies?

Response:

Information overseas can of course be accessed by utilizing available information equipment and tools. Information can also be accessed by contacting the local embassies of the Annex çU Party countries, offices of organizations engaged in international cooperation (for Japan, JICA, JETRO, etc.), or representative organizations.

Many environment-related organizations have been set up in numerous countries around the world, and they are offering a variety of consulting services. Should these services be thoroughly used but there be further requests from developing countries, Japan is prepared to study ways to strengthen these services.

• •What technical, legal, and economic information is needed? What practical steps should be taken to promote and enhance access to such information by national and regional centers?

Response:

1) Strengthening of the information management capacities of existing national and regional centers.

2) Preparation of tools for sending information (Internet home pages, news letters, etc.).

At present there is a wealth of information available, but if feedback of requests for improvements can be received made after actual utilization of existing equipment and facilities, further improvements will become possible.

• •What measures, programs, and activities can best help to promote private sector investment?

  
  
  

Response:

In order to promote private sector investment, efforts must be made by developed countries to carry out investigations to identify economic needs and to make developing countries aware of the technologies they possess.

Developing countries should place emphasis on preparing conditions conducive for persuading companies to decide to invest, such as the arrangement of law in line with international investment rules and the preparation of statistics necessary for investment from overseas.

Private sector companies will not invest in areas with high risk or where the conditions for investment are severe. To attract projects to countries where investment cannot be introduces by the efforts of the private sector alone, the impetus provided by official funding by ODA and other schemes is effective.

3. Assistance in facilitating the transfer of environmentally sound technologies and know-how

• •How should the Convention oversee the exchange of information among Parties and other interested organizations on innovative technology cooperation approaches, and the assessment and synthesis of such information?

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Response:

The Convention can oversee information exchanges at SBI and SBSTA through consideration of the National Communications from each country and the information presented by organizations cooperating for the achievement of the goals of FCCC.

• •How should information be compiled and synthesized on innovative technology cooperation approaches? When should recommendations on such approaches be forwarded to the Conference of the Parties?

  
  
  

Response:

SBSTA is gathering information on the relevant activities, and it should report and make public its findings and evaluation at COP and other forums.

• •How and when should information on projects and programs of technology cooperation which Parties believe can serve as models for improving the diffusion and

implementation of clean technologies internationally under the Convention be provided to the secretariat? How could information on such model programs be evaluated?

Response:

It is understood that, based on Decision 4/CP.4, such information is to be presented by the Parties and concerned NGOs and to be considered by the SBSTA 10. Japan intends to make such information on model projects more widely known by utilizing opportunities at COP, SB and other forums.

4. Other questions

• •Can specific technology transfer goals be set?

Response:

What an appropriate transfer of technology is depends on the recipient entity. The goal should be for each transfer of technology to respond to the conditions prevalent and to make the maximum possible contribution.

The Japanese government presents a summary of technological transfer programs based on the resolution 4/CP.4.

Japan, recognizing the importance of environmental issues, has actively been assisting environmental protection efforts of developing countries. Shortly before the third session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Kyoto in December 1997, in particular, Japan announced the Kyoto Initiative to further strengthen its support to developing countries combating global warming. The initiative is made up of three major pillars: (1) cooperation in capacity development, (2) ODA loans with the most concessionaire conditions (0.75 percent as an annual interest rate, 40 year as a repayment period), and (3) exploitation and transfers of Japanese technology and know-how.

Compared with other types of assistance schemes, ODA programs have some advantages: it could be offered beyond economic efficiency, and it could also be offered in line with development projects of recipient countries.

With financial resources other than the ODA budget, Japan is also contributing to environmental problems developing countries face. The Ministry of International Trade and Industry, for instance, is implementing the Green Aid Plan (GAP) that aims at achieving both economic development and environmental protection in developing countries in Asia. Under the plan, energy and environment technologies, some of which were developed through Japan's efforts against pollution, are transferred and utilized in developing countries. Most parts of the plan are financed by budgets other than ODA's although the ODA fund could be used in technological cooperation.

In addition to transfers of technologies under project-type technical cooperation schemes, occasional transfers of technologies are done in forms of exchanges of technological information.

Furthermore, the private sector plays an important role in technology transfer regarding combating global warming measures because it plays the leading part of technology development and utilization. In Japan, organizations such as the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS) and the Japan Overseas Development Corporation (JODC) are promoting efforts being made by private companies, including the acceptance of trainees and dispatching experts, partially subsidized by the official development assistance (ODA)budget. In addition, various industry organizations and companies are contributing to improvements in manufacturing technologies and efficiency and human resources development overseas as part of voluntary actions aimed at preventing global warming.

Moreover, Japan is actively promoting the diffusion of technologies under the Climate Technology Initiative (CTI) which was founded by the proposal of 23 member countries of the IEA/OECD as well as the European Commission since the COP1 held in 1995.

This paper shows, the following examples of major ODA and non-ODA projects as well as technological information exchange projects. among various kinds of the transfers of technologies in both public and private sectors under government initiatives.

• •Training Course to Develop National Inventories and Strategies Against Climate Change

  
  
  

• •The Energy Efficiency Center

  
  
  

• •The National Center for Environment

  
  
  

• •The Study on Cartography, Inventory and Management of Classified Forest in Northern Area in Benin

  
  
  

• •The Project for Construction of Electric Training Center

  
  
  

• •The Project for Rural Electrification in Ache

  
  
  

• •Study on the promotion of Photovoltaic Rural Electrification in the Republic of Zimbabwe

  
  
  

• •The Project for the Environmental Protection and Safety Training Center of the Mining of Coal Industry

  
  
  

• •The Forest Extension Project in the Eastern Region of Paraguay

  
  
  

• •The Forest Conservation and Afforestation Project in Laos

  
  
  

• •Project for Transferring Clean Coal Technology

  
  
  

• •Research Cooperation Project on the practical use of industrial waste water treatment technology for prevention of global warming

  
  
  

• •Holding a seminar against global warming in the Asia Pacific region and building up a network on climate change in the Asia Pacific area.

  
  
  

• •AOTS Technical Training Program

  
  
  

• •JODC Expert Dispatch program

  
  
  

• •APEC Virtual Center (Japan) for Environmental Technology Exchange

  
  
  

• •Technical transfer in CTI (Climate Technology Initiative)

  
  
  
  
  

Project: Training Course to Develop National Inventories and Strategies Against Climate Change

Ministries and The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Environment Agency, Japan

agencies in charge: International Cooperation Agency, Japan Weather Association

Recipients: developing countries

Period and type 1992 - Training (technological cooperation)

of assistance:

Purpose and outline Transferring technologies needed to meet the requirements of the

of project: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (Transferring technologies to help the participants make the inventory and informing and transporting technologies to help the participants work out programs to prevent global warming.)

Content of Officials responsible for global warming issues at government offices

program: will be given training lectures on the following subjects:

• •Information regarding the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol

  
  
  

• •Technologies of measures to prevent global warming in each sector

  
  
  

• •Information of IPCC activities including major points of the IPCC Second Assessment Report of the IPCC

  
  
  

• •Outline of Inventory and IPCC guidelines and Methods to calculate various types of greenhouse emissions

  
  
  

• •Information of measures to prevent global warming in Japan exchanging information among participants

  
  
  

The one-month-and-half course will be held every year, enrolling about 15 persons.

Project: The Energy Efficiency Center

Ministries and The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan International Cooperation

agencies in charge: Agency (JICA), and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry

Recipient countries: China (1992-99), Argentina (1995-2000), Bulgaria (1995-2000)

Period and type of Technical cooperation

assistance:

Purpose and outline Transferring energy-saving technologies

of projects:

Content of project: transferring energy-saving technologies to counterparts responsible for energy conservation in recipient countries, allowing them to conserve energy by themselves.

Programs include: training of administrators involved in energy conservation in industries;

plant diagnosis as well as plant improvement consultation services by the counterparts; and

providing energy-saving information and conducting publicity on energy conservation.

Programs are being conducted under project-type technical cooperation by sending Japanese specialists, receiving trainees in Japan and providing equipment.

Project: The National Center for Environment

Ministries and The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Environment Agency, the

agencies in charge: Ministry of International Trade and Industry, the Health and Welfare Ministry, Japan International Cooperation Agency and others

Recipients: Indonesia (1993-2000), China (1992-2001), Mexico (1995-2000),

Chile (1995-2000), Egypt (1997-2002) and Thailand

(completed, 1990-97)

Period and type Grant Aid (Indonesia, Chile, Thailand, China and Egypt) and

of assistance: Technical cooperation

Purpose and Transferring environment management technology

outline of project:

Content of project: Technologies on environment management are transferred to recipients to increase their ability to address the environmental issues, which would lead to preventing of global warming.

In case of Chile, the program includes:

• •surveying the current status of environmental problems, monitoring pollution sources and researching on environmental monitoring;

  
  
  

• •collecting information on environment and providing them;

  
  
  

• •training officials involved in environmental administration; and

  
  
  

• •the environmental impact assessment and environmental management.

The center's functions of environmental protection will be strengthened through those

programs.

Programs are being conducted under project-type technical cooperation by dispatch of Japanese experts, acceptance of trainees in Japan and provision of equipment.

Project: The Study on Cartography, Inventory and Management of Classified Forest in Northern Area in Benin

Ministries and The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Forestry Agency of the Ministry

agencies in charge: of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Recipient: Benin

Period and type 1998-2000. Technical Cooperation (Development Study)

of assistance:

Purpose and outline To prepare a forest Inventory and management plan for forest

of project: conservation and to transfer related technologies.

Content of project: Benin is experiencing deforestation due to lack of sufficient precipitation, slash-and-burn farming and over grazing. The timber supply is being damaged. Soil fertility and water retentively are deteriorating, threatening the ecological system. Three classified forests, including Trois Riveres, located in the northern part of the country account for 11 percent of the total forest area in the country. They serve as a barrier which prevent the area from turning to savanna. Within those classified forests, deforestation is taking place because of forest fires, convertion of forests into cottons and yam cultivations and increased demand for fuelwood due to population growth.

A total of approximately one million hectares, 560,000 hectares of the three classified forests and their buffer zone has been designated as a study area. Aerial photography will be taken and a land-use and vegetation map will be prepared. A forest management plan will be formulated with the participation of local residents in the management of 94,000 hectares of forest, including 46,000 hectares of Trois Riveres Classified Forests and it buffer zone, while collecting and analyzing forest information and establishing a forest inventory. Through the planning process and in the course of the study, it is expected that technology will be transferred to the Benin counterpart personnel.

Project: The Project for Construction of Electric Training Center

Ministries and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Japan International Cooperation

agencies in charge: Agency(JICA)

Recipient: Syria

Period and type Grant Aid (1996-1997, 1,671 million yen). Technical cooperation

of assistance:

Purpose and developing human resources to improve operation efficiency at

outline of project: existing power stations

Content of project: Japan has extended yen loans to Syria for construction of three power stations, contributing to the improvement of the country's electric supply. However, staff members engaged in operation and maintenance of the power stations do not have enough skills to better perform their jobs, making the electric supply of the nation unstable. Due to poor repairing works, for example, the power generation efficiency is reduced to 70 to 90 percent of their capacity.

Under such circumstances, the Syrian government worked out the Project for Construction of Electric Training Center and sought Japanese government's grant aid to cover the construction and equipment costs.

It is expected that skills of technicians improved by Japan's assistance would secure the stable supply of electricity, improve operation efficiency and curb the emission of environmental load such as sulfur oxide and carbon dioxide.

Japanese experts are sent to Syria both on short- and long-term bases to give technical guidance.

Project: The Project for Rural Electrification in Ache

Ministries and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan International Cooperation Agency

agencies in charge:

Recipient: Indonesia

Period and type Grant Aid (1997, 643 million yen)

of assistance:

Purpose and Electrification in rural areas using non-fossil fuel (hydraulic power)

outline of project:

Content of project: A gap between urban and rural areas is widening in recent years in Indonesia. Electrification rates in rural areas outside Java Island remain to be around 40 percent. Promoting rural electrification is a major challenge for the Indonesian government which is developing infrastructure that could lead to the correction of regional disparities and poverty elimination, most important policy of the nation.

Since 1989, the Indonesian government has been electrifying rural areas building independent small-scale power generation systems that are operated and maintained by village cooperatives. However, it finds it difficult to maintain such systems using on diesel fuel because of increasing operating costs.

Under such circumstances, the government of Indonesia worked out the Project for Rural Electrification in Ache and asked Japan's grant aid to cover the costs of the construction of a small-scale hydroelectric power station and purchasing materials and equipment.

Project: Study on the promotion of Photovoltaic Rural Electrification in the Republic of Zimbabwe

Ministries and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Japan International Cooperation

agencies in charge: Agency

Recipient: Zimbabwe

Period and type Technical Cooperation Development Study between 1995 and 1999.

of assistance:

Purpose and Surveying the potential for of solar power generation and transferring

outline of project: related-technologies

Content of project: The electrification rate in Zimbabwe is 28.2 percent, but that of the rural areas is extremely low, at 4.6 percent. The government of Zimbabwe pursues rural electrification, regarding it as the basis for the improvement of living standards in rural villages. In rural areas, houses are sporadically located. Relatively low-cost electrification can become possible with stand-alone photovoltaic generation systems that require no costly utility lines.

A local company has been established to manufacture solar panels and related components, paving the way to the popularization of photovoltaic systems. However, there are no substantial systems and policies to produce, market and maintain photovoltaic systems.

As a result, the government of Zimbabwe, with the results of the first and second preliminary project surveys conducted in 1994, formally requested Japan's assistance to surveys on rural electrification by solar power. Specifically, Japan has been requested to conduct feasibility surveys and evaluate the potentiality of solar power generation as a means of rural electrification. One of the purposes of the survey is to transfer technologies and know-how, including research methods, by holding training sessions for officials in Zimbabwe.

Project: The Project for the Environmental Protection and safety Training Center of the Ministry of Coal Industry

Ministries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japan International Cooperation

Agencies in charge: Agency (JICA)

Recipient: China

Period and form 1997-2002/project-type technical cooperation

of assistance:

Purpose and outline: Technical instructions and construction of facilities aimed at

environmental protection in the coal-mining industry

Content of project: China is the world's largest coal producer and consumer. Coals account for 70 percent of the nation's primary energy sources. However, highly sulfuric and highly carbolic coals are extensively used without proper selections or quality controls. As a result, environmental problems caused by the use of coals are becoming serious. Furthermore, there have been many accidents in the process of producing coals, some of which led to fatal results. It is the ultimate goal to improve the safety involving coal mining to an appropriate level.

Under these circumstances, China has been required to conduct comprehensive training and introduce facilities aimed at protecting the environment and enhancing safety.

To that end, the Government of China requested Japan to extend technical cooperation to train personnel to acquire clean-coal technologies as well as safety, production and recycling technologies, with particular emphasis on training technical managers at modernized coal mines. In response, the Government of Japan has decided to extend technical assistance to China.

The objectives of the assistance is:

• •to help proliferate and improve technologies to protect the environment from coals, clean coal technologies and technologies to ensure safety at coal mines; and

  
  
  

• •to develop modern coal mining technologies at the center and introduce them to Chinese coal mines through comprehensive technological cooperation including dispatching experts to China, inviting Chinese trainees to Japan and providing necessary equipment.

Project: The Forest Extension Project in the Eastern Region of Paraguay

Ministries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Forestry Agency of the Ministry of

Agencies in charge: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, JICA

Recipient: The Forestry Bureau of Paraguay's Agriculture Ministry

Period and form 1996-2001

of assistance:

Purpose and to transfer forest extension methodologies to forest dependent

outline: populations in order to promote sustainable forest resources management in the eastern Paraguay.

Content of project: Ninety-eight percent of Paraguay's population is concentrated in the nation's eastern region which accounts for 40 percent of its total land area. The ratio of forests to the land area of the region declined from 44.1% in 1968 to 15% in 1990. By that year, only 11,000 hectares -- or only 0.2 percent of the deforested area over that period -- had been reforested.

Based on the request of the Government of Paraguay, the Government of Japan has transferred expertise and techniques of sustainable forest resources management that can be utilized to farmers, stock farm owners and residents of rural areas -- who could potentially play a leading role in reforestation -- in three areas where deforestation is progressing at a remarkable pace. Specifically, the Government of Japan extends the following comprehensive technical cooperation through the dispatch of experts, inviting trainees and provision of equipment:

(1) To conduct training of those who are concerned with forests.

(2) To improve extension methods and to refine extension materials and contents

(3) To establish seed-collecting forests and to maintain nurseries in order to produce planting stock

(4) To supply planting stock and forestry techniques including thinned wood utilization techniques for the promotion of forest extension activities.

(5) To set up and exhibit demonstration forests.

(6) To conduct socio-economic analysis.

Projects: 1. The Forest Conservation and Afforestation Project in Laos

• Afforestation Center Project

  
  
  

Ministries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Forestry Agency of the Ministry of

Agencies in charge: Agriculture, Forestry Research Institute and the Ministry of Education, JICA,

Recipients: Laos

Period and form 1996-2003 (Technological Cooperation) (1998, Grant Aid, 416

of assistance: million yen)

Purpose and outline: to transfer afforestation techniques

Content of project: Rapid deforestation is under way in Laos. The ratio of forests to the nation's total land area, which stood at 70% in 1940, had declined to 47% by 1989. As the request of the Lao Government, the Government of Japan has extended comprehensive technical assistance consisting of the dispatch of experts, inviting trainees and provision of necessary equipment to Laos in order to prepare forest management plans with the participation by local people, to improve and develop forest management techniques, and to establish demonstration forests.

Furthermore, Japan has extended grant aid to build the Afforestation Center in SomBoon sub-district, Vientiane Province, and provides necessary equipment to experts in accordance with the plan on the Afforestation Center. The Center is supposed to be used in conjunction with Plan 1.

Project: Project for Transferring Clean Coal Technology

Ministries in charge: the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)

Period and form since 1996/Green Aid Plan (GAP)

of assistance:

Purpose and Inviting trainees specializing in measures to protect the environment

outline: from energy

Content of project: The project is being implemented as assistance for a human resources development project which is part of energy environmental technological cooperation among GAPs.

NEDO has established the Clean Coal Technology Center (CCTC) and implemented a variety of CCTC-related projects, such as technological development, international cooperation and exchanges of information in order to promote the development and proliferation of clean coal technology (CCT) aimed at protecting the environment from being damaged by the use of coals.

Under this project, implemented as an international cooperation project among CCTC projects, the Government of Japan invites and trains technicians from countries in the Asia-Pacific region with the aim of helping deepen their understanding of introducing and proliferating CCTC and technologies of utilizing coals as well as upgrading their skills.

So far, the Government of Japan has invited and trained 169 technicians and other experts from China, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and other Asian countries. Among CCTs, the circulating and floating floor boiler technology, aimed at increasing the efficiency of using coals, is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions if introduced.

* NEDO: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization

* GAP is a cooperative program aimed at transferring and spreading energy and environmental protection technologies based on Japan's experiences and technologies of combatting pollution, and thereby supporting self efforts made by developing countries to protect their environment.

Project: Research Cooperation Project on the practical use of industrial waste water treatment technology for prevention of global warming

Ministries and NEDO

Agencies in charge:

Recipient: Thailand

Period and form 1998-2000/GAP (ODA)

of assistance:

Purpose and Cooperation in conducting research on development on putting into

outline: practical use technologies of recovering methane from waste water, and suppressing CO2 emissions

Content of project: Among GAPs, this project is implemented as research cooperation as part of technological cooperation in protecting the environment from energy consumption.

From the viewpoint of preventing global warming and water contamination, the Government of Japan has extended cooperation to the Thai foodstuff industry in its research into waste water treatment technologies -- aimed at treating organic substances in waste water, with an anaerobic process, recovering methane which is a greenhouse gases and thereby reducing substances that contaminate water -- with an eye to putting it into practical use.

By 1997, Japan and research institutes in the recipient country had developed a waste water treatment system. By putting the system into practical use, the project is aimed at establishing the technology of suppressing CO2 from lagoons (ponds that collects and purify waste water from factories) and recovering methane, thereby establishing the technology of efficiently dissolving and reducing substances that contaminate water.

Specifically, the Government of Japan dispatches experts, provides equipment to design and build plants for practical use and invite trainees to Japan.

Project: Holding of the Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change and establishment of Asia-Pacific Network on Climate Change

Ministries and the Environment Agency

Agencies in charge:

Recipients: countries in the Asia-Pacific region

Period and type since 1991/organizing seminars, helping establish a network of

of assistance: exchanging information of technologies

Purpose: Raising awareness of climate change supporting the efforts being made by countries in the Asia-Pacific region to exchange information on their experiences and step up their efforts to prevent global warming as well as transferring technologies through the formation of a network of exchanges of information on technologies

Content of project: Many of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region have compiled a list of greenhouse gases, established the system of exchanges of information and implemented measures to help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, such as promoting the efficient use of energy.

Under these circumstances, the Government of Japan has contributed to technological transfer by organizing the Asia-Pacific seminar on global warming on eight occasions to raise the awareness of climate changes, promoting exchanges of experiences, supporting the efforts being made by countries in the region to combat global warming and creating a network for exchanges of information on technologies since 1991.

Specifically, Japan agreed at the eight seminar in 1998 to create a regional information network aimed at facilitating access to information on science, research administration and systems including the state-of-the-art technologies, and exchanges of information.

Japan has made full use of the existing websites to create a regional information network with clearing house functions, called the Asia-Pacific climate change information network (AP NET), which gives easy access to scientific and technological information. Furthermore, Japan supports efforts made by countries in the Asia-Pacific region to develop abilities to compile a list of information on climate changes and utilize the Internet.

Japan is determined to step up these efforts and promote technological cooperation by dispatching experts and organizing training workshops.

Project: AOTS Technical Training Program

Ministries and The Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS) , private

Agencies in charge: companies

Recipients: developing countries

Period and form since 1959/trainees acceptance. etc (technical cooperation)

of assistance:

Purpose and outline: Projects regarding the acceptance of engineers and others from developing countries and training for them

Content of project: AOTS is a private-based technical cooperation organization that implements projects regarding the acceptance of industrial technicians and others from overseas and training for them(including overseas training) and thereby promote international economic cooperation with the aim of contributing to mutual economic development and friendly relations.

By fiscal 1997, the association had had trained nearly 74,000 trainees since it started the project. The project is subsidized by the ODA budget.

Also as part of the project, the association have implemented projects of inviting environmental technicians from Asian countries by making use of excellent environmental technologies held by Japan's private sector, these projects were initiated in fiscal 1998. Some projects of these are expected to lead to efficient use of energy and improvement in productivity, thereby contributing to reductions in CO2 emissions.

Project: JODC Expert Dispatch program

Undertakers: the Japan Overseas Development Corporation (JODC), private companies

Recipients: developing countries

Period and form since 1979/dispatch of experts (technical cooperation)

of assistance:

Purpose and outline: projects regarding the dispatch of experts to overseas private companies

Content of project: JODC was established in 1970 as a private-based technical-cooperation as part of Japan's overseas economic and technical cooperation program.

The association implements private-sector experts dispatch projects subsidized by the ODA budget. By fiscal 1997, the association had dispatched about 2,800 experts in these projects. Some projects of these are expected to contribute to efficient use of energy improvement inproductivity and therefore reductions in CO2 emissions.

Project: APEC Virtual Center (Japan) for Environmental Technology Exchange

Ministries and APEC Virtual Center for Environmental Technology Exchange:

Agencies in charge: Consist of enterprises, local governments, economic groups, research institute (RITE, GEC, NEDO, ILEC) and human resource exchanging organs( JICA, ICETT, PREX, AOTS) etc.

RITE: Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth

GEC: Global Environment Centre Foundation

NEDO: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization

JICA: Japan International Cooperation Agency

ILEC: International Lake Environment Committee Foundation

ICETT: International Center for Environmental Technology Transfer

AOTS: The Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship

PREX: Pacific Resource Exchange Center

Recipients: APEC member countries

Period and form since 1996/forming a network for environmental technology exchanges

of assistance:

Purpose: Contribute to the exchange, dissemination and transfer of environmental technology by having a home page on the Internet and linking it with the home pages of organizations in APEC member economies.

Content of project: An information network that will store, share and publicize the results of research and technological development scattering around the world will be effective in efficiently developing and spreading innovative global environment protection technologies and transferring these technologies to developing countries.

The APEC Virtual Center (Japan) for Environmental Technology Exchange has opened a home page on the Internet, with links to the virtual centers of respective APEC member countries and thereby promoted exchanges of information on technologies aimed at not only overcoming industrial pollution but also reducing carbon dioxide emissions and overall environmental protection technologies. This project was originally proposed by Japan and officially endorsed by the APEC industrial technology working group. The project allows recipients to easily search and obtain information on environmental technologies scattering and stored APEC member economies.

Currently, the virtual centers in Japan, Australia and Chinese Taipei are already in operation and linked to various home pages on environmental technologies, improvement methods. In future, the network can be enlarged in order to exchange more information on environmental technologies (http://www.apec-vc.or.jp/)

Project: Technical transfer in CTI (Climate Technology Initiative)

Ministers and the Government of Japan (in cooperation with other OECD/IEA

Agencies in charge: member countries), NEDO

Recipients: Developing countries

Period and form since 1998/organizing workshops and seminars

of assistant:

Purpose and Japan and other member countries of OECD/IEA jointly organize

outline: energy-saving workshops and technical-transfer seminars among others and develop tools for searching information which will be essential for efficient proliferation of climate technologies. These are the core projects of the CTI which was established at the proposal of Japan and other OECD/IEA member countries with the aim of developing and spreading technologies to curb climate changes and thereby helping achieve the goal set by the UNFCCC.

Content of project: As technical transfer activities, the first technical transfer seminar

for Asian countries was held in Beijing in May 1998. Since then, such area-focused seminars have been held for governments and industries. In March of this year, a technical transfer seminar for southern Africa was held in Zimbabwe, to be followed by seminars in Eastern Europe, Central Europe and South America. Japan and other OECD/IEA member countries are supporting these activities by dispatching instructors and shouldering some costs of organizing these activities. Moreover, an energy-saving training workshop for experts in the industries of developing countries was held in Japan in October 1998 and in the United States in March 1999. Since last year's projects were effective, an upgraded workshop will be held at a training center in Japan this year. Japan will continue to play an active role in energy-saving training workshops.

Furthermore, member countries are developing tools for helping developing countries to efficiently search information they need from various databases on global environment protection technologies, such as the APEC Virtual Center.

These activities are funded by individual CTI member countries or their common fund.

1. In order to make this contribution available on electronic systems, including the World Wide Web, it has been reformatted. The secretariat has made every effort to ensure the correct reproduction of the text as submitted.