Above photos L-R: Hak-Su Kim, UNESCAP Executive Secretary and Rae Kwon Chung, ESCAP with Kyul-Ho Kwak (left center), Minister of  Environment, Republic of Korea and Park Young Woo (right center), Chair of MCED 2005.

In his opening statement, Hak-Su Kim, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, said that the region’s fast economic growth has imposed increasing pressure on the environment and underscored the importance of shifting the paradigm to green growth. Noting that the region has 60% of the world’s population with 1/5 living in extreme poverty, Kyul-Ho Kwak, Korean Minister of Environment, called upon delegates to consider the Seoul Initiative for Green Growth that is designed to balance environment and economic growth.

Briefing on the Recent Tsunami and Regional Response Strategy: Hak-Su Kim outlined ESCAP’s approaches to disaster mitigation, including: network building; technical cooperation; and partnership among UN and other organizations. He said that the regional disaster reduction strategy should be based on the “Living with Risks” concept. Stanley Goosby, Pacific Disaster Center, US, demonstrated use of computer simulation and modeling for tsunami prediction, preparedness and response. Kenji Suzuki, Japan Water Forum, spoke on reducing impacts of natural disasters through early warning.

INDONESIA, INDIA, and THAILAND briefed participants on national efforts for relief and rehabilitation of tsunami stricken areas, as well as for raising awareness on disaster preparedness. REPUBLIC OF KOREA noted its aid to tsunami-stricken countries and offered more technical assistance. ASIAN AND PACIFIC COCONUT COMMUNITY (APCC) stressed tsunami impacts on the livelihoods of coconut farmers.

Review of the State of the Environment in Asia and the Pacific: The Secretariat presented the review of the state of the environment in Asia and the Pacific, 2005 (E/ESCAP/SO/MCED/(05)/1).

MALAYSIA noted that the country has strengthened its institutional framework to improve environmental performance. The PHLIPPINES highlighted challenges faced by the country: widespread poverty, immature economies, and limited institutional capacity. MYANMAR stressed the need for a systematic integration of environmental programs. NIUE said achieving economical self-sufficiency is a priority for the country, and stressed regional partnerships to overcome limited technical and financial resources.

INDIA said that poverty reduction could only be pursued with environmental sustainability. CHINA said that achieving economic growth and poverty reduction while increasing production efficiency is a great challenge to the region. INDONESIA stressed capacity building for developing countries to achieve green growth. UZBEKISTAN suggested a multi-sectoral approach to environmental problems and called for regional cooperation. Citing a North Eastern Asia project on sandstorms, REPUBLIC OF KOREA highlighted sharing know-how and learning lessons from each other. THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION stressed the need to take into account all environmental considerations in developing new strategies for sustainable development. ASIAN AND PACIFIC COCONUT COMMUNITY stressed economic and environmental benefits of coconut products.  

Assessment of Progress in the Promotion of Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific: The Secretariat introduced the following documents: Review of the Implementation of the Outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Phnom Penh Regional Platform on Sustainable Development for Asia and the Pacific and the Recommendations of MCED-4 (E/ESCAP/SO/MCED(05)/2), and Review of the Implementation of the Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment (E/ESCAP/SO/MCED(05)/3). 

THAILAND highlighted that partnership is a key factor for regional initiatives and said poverty eradication is its top priority. Stressing the needs and concerns of the Pacific Island countries, AUSTRALIA said initiatives for sustainable development should take into account other socio-economic considerations. AFGHANISTAN outlined major environmental problems that the country faces and said progress has been made in strengthening environmental institutional and policy frameworks. TAJIKISTAN highlighted national efforts towards sustainable development and poverty alleviation. INDIA emphasized that the Phnom Penh Regional Platform is a significant input into a global process and stressed regional monitoring of national implementation. JAPAN commended successful progress and tangible outcomes of the implementation of the Kitakyushu Initiative. 

Ministerial Declaration: The Secretariat presented the draft Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific (E/ESCAP/SO/MCED(05)/4) and a conference theme paper on achieving environmentally sustainable economic growth in Asia and the Pacific (E/ESCAP/SO/MCED(05)/4). Chair Woo deferred discussion to Friday, 25 March.

Above photos L-R: Chalermsak Wanichsombut, Thailand; Kevin Keefe, Australia; T.P. Seetharam and Sudir Mital, India and Mohamad Akbar Khalid, Afghanistan

Above photos L-R: Hyo-Shin Park, Republic of Korea; Hoo-Seo Park, Republic of Korea; Ken-ichi Yamazaki, Japan; Oh-Song Kwon, Republic of Korea; Affa Raihana, Bangladesh; Eung-Hwi Chun, Republic of Korea; N. H. Choudhury, Bangladesh; In-Sook Yoon, Republic of Korea; Roopa Vajpeyi, India; Jeong-Hee Park, Republic of Korea; Jung-Gil Ryoo, Republic of Korea; and J. V. Garganera, the Philippines.

The Symposium was organized by the Korea Environment Institute, ESCAP and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program. Opening statements were made by: Hak-Su Kim, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Kyul-Ho Kwak, Minister of Environment, Republic of Korea, and Suh-Sung Yoon, Korean Economic Institute. Mostafa Tolba (left), the Symposium Chair, gave a keynote speech on scientific responsibilities in addressing climate change and other environmental issues.

Sustainable Development: Participants heard presentations by: Shashi Kant, on the dominant economic paradigm and sustainable development; Chin-Seung Chung, on dispute resolution for sustainable development; Anoja Wickramasinghe, on poverty and environmental degradation; Wen Gang, on country self-assessment of China; and Monowar Hossain, on environment, development and poverty.  

National and Regional Perspectives: This session heard presentations by: Adyasuren Tsokhio (above left) , on impacts of global climate on Mongolia; Asylbek Aidaraliev, on sustainable development of mountain territories in Central Asia; John Hay (above right), on global change and the Pacific; Kwi-Gon Kim (third photo from left) , on mitigating global change; Nguyen Huu Ninh (second photo from left), on the Indochina Global Change Network; and Bindu N. Lohani, on environmental trends, challenges and future directions in Asia and the Pacific.  

Water Resources and Sanitation: This session heard featured presentations by: Mi Mi Kyi, on the dry zone in Myanmar; Vladimir Smakhtin, on water resources in South Asia; Saburo Matsui, on global sanitation and nutrient control; and Eui-So Choi, on nitrogen as an indicator toward  sustainable water.

Above photos L-R: Guest speakers to the Environmental Technology Forum include Seoung-Hwan Cha, Nguyen Hong Khanh, Maanee Lee and Oleg V. Shipin