M. Aslam Khan Chief, Environment Section

1. Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment：Strengthening Linkages between Local Initiatives and International Cooperation M. Aslam Khan Chief, Environment Section

2. Outline • Introduction of the Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment • Linkages between local initiatives and international cooperation initiatives

3. 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

4. What is the Kitakyushu Initiative? (Continued) • 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.

5. 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

6. Functions of the Kitakyushu Initiative Network (Continued) • 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

7. Functions of the Kitakyushu Initiative Network (Continued) • Promotion of environmental education/awareness programmes • Encouragement of the private sector’s participation in infrastructure development and environmental quality enhancement programmes

8. Implementation of the Kitakyushu Initiative • Cooperation between member cities, UNESCAP, IGES, the Government of Japan and other relevant organizations • Network meetings to promote exchange of information and experience and enhance intercity cooperation

9. Implementation of the Kitakyushu Initiative (Continued) • Four types of interrelated network activities: 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

10. Implementation of the Kitakyushu Initiative (Continued) • Kitakyushu Initiative website: an effective way of information collection and dissemination www.iges.or.jp/kitakyushu/

11. Achievements of the Kitakyushu Initiative • Membership: from 20 cities at its inception to currently 60 cities

12. Achievements of the Kitakyushu Initiative (Continued) • 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

13. Achievements of the Kitakyushu Initiative (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)

14. Achievements of the Kitakyushu Initiative (Continued) • 14 pilot projects/activities: developing transferable models to be replicated or upgraded Ongoing: - Urban environmental improvement (Cebu, Philippines) - Improvement of stakeholder awareness and participation for air quality improvement (Surabaya, Indonesia)

15. Achievements of the Kitakyushu Initiative (Continued) • 14 pilot projects/activities: developing transferable models to be replicated or upgraded 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)

16. Achievements of the Kitakyushu Initiative (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

17. 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 governments • For better synergies and cooperation, it is crucial for international agencies to include local initiatives in their support programmes

18. 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

19. Linking local initiatives to international cooperation initiatives: How? (Continued) • 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.

20. Linking local initiatives to international cooperation initiatives: How? (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

21. Thank you !