Enhancement of regional strategy on climate change through the Asia-Pacific Network on Climate Change (AP-Net)

General Information

Partnership website(s)

http://www.ap-net.org

Expected Timeframe

Pre 2002 - 2006

Partners

Governments: Government of Japan - Ministry of Environment Government of Australia Government of Cambodia Government of China Government of Fiji Government of Indonesia Government of Iran (Islamic Republic of) - Islamic Republic of Iran Government of Japan Government of Kazakhstan Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic Government of Malaysia Government of Mongolia Government of Nepal Government of Pakistan Government of Papua New Guinea Government of Republic of Korea Government of Russian Federation - Russia Federation Government of Samoa Government of Singapore Government of Sri Lanka Government of Thailand Government of Tonga Government of Uzbekistan Government of Vanuatu Government of Viet Nam - Vietnam	Major Groups: AP-Net Secretariat (Japan) Global Environment Center Foundation (Japan)
UN System: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) (Thailand)	Other intergovernmental organizations:
Other:

Thematic Focus

Primary Themes:

Air pollution / Atmosphere
Climate change

Secondary Themes:

Means of Implementation (Trade, Finance, Technology, Transfer, etc.)
Institutional framework for sustainable development

Geographic Coverage

Geographic Scope: Regional
Country(ies) where the partnership is being implemented:
Australia, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam

National Focal Points

This partnership has not made any contact with the national focal points for sustainable development in the countries involved

Goals and Objectives

Summary of the partnership's goals and objectives

Greenhouse gases emissions from the Asia-Pacific region are increasing while climate change can have serious impact on some countries in the region. In order to implement the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, which is a first step for addressing climate change, the region requires fruitful policy dialogues among countries. Further, it needs to develop and implement a regional strategy addressing climate change. The Asia-Pacific Network on Climate Change (AP-Net) aims to facilitate policy dialogue, exchange of experiences, data, and information among all relevant actors in the region to build institutional capacity. The AP-Net has been operational since 1998, as both a gateway website and an individual website. The partnership will be formed to elaborate the AP-Net cooperatively and utilize it for implementation of joint activities among participant countries and organization.

Targets and Progress

Partnership targets

Further strengthening the existing functions of the AP-Net, the partnership will specifically target the followings:
(1) Establishment of a clearinghouse for the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol related information, focusing on issues specific to the Asia-Pacific region (2002)
(2) Capacity building, including, launch of an e-learning system for promotion of knowledge related to CDM and other GHGs abatement projects (2002) and other themes such as adaptation (2003)
(3) Information gathering of climate-friendly technologies (2003)
(4) Database of existing GHG inventories, CDM and other GHGs abatement projects and each country's related information (2004-2005)
(5) Strategy development, review and improvement of the network (2005-2006)

Progress against targets

(1) Provided information on climate change related meetings in the Asia-Pacific region.
(2) Established an e-learning system of CDM.
(3) Some information materials have been uploaded in the library. Further information is desired.
(4) Database of GHG inventories and CDM was established.
(5) The Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change has functioned as a vehicle for reviewing the AP-Net activities. Based on comments by participant countries, the Secretariat has made a continuous efforts to provide user-friendly services.

Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

Human resources development/training
Education/building awareness

Capacity building and technology transfer will be made through training programs and seminars, such as the Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change. Activities will include: - Capacity building, including, launch of an e-learning system for promotion of knowledge related to CDM and other GHGs abatement projects (2002) and other themes such as adaptation (2003)

Relationship to International Agreements on Sustainable Development

How the partnership contributes to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation

Climate Change Relevant Sections of Agenda 21

Protection of the atmosphere

Relevant Sections of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation

Sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific

Coordination and Implementation

Coordination Mechanism of the Partnership

The AP-Net, sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, and supported by ESCAP, will be improved regularly, based on comments and requests from participant countries. Results of the ongoing programs, including CDM feasibility studies, will be input into the AP-Net. AP-net will work in close collaboration with existing bodies under the UNFCCC and other institutions to avoid duplication of effort. The progress will be discussed annually at the Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change which is organized by the MOE, ESCAP and the hosting country. The Seminars have been held since 1991.
1st AP Seminar: Nagoya, Aichi, JAPAN (January, 1991)
2nd AP Seminar: Bangkok, THAILAND (March, 1993)
3rd AP Seminar: Osaka, JAPAN (March, 1994)
4th AP Seminar: Bangkok, THAILAND (March, 1995)
5th AP Seminar: Sendai, Miyagi, JAPAN (January, 1996)
6th AP Seminar: Suva, FIJI (November, 1996)
7th AP Seminar: Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, JAPAN (July, 1997)
8th AP Seminar: Phuket, THAILAND (June, 1998) <*AP-Net established>
9th AP Seminar: Hikone, Shiga, JAPAN (July, 1999)
10th AP Seminar: Penang, MALAYSIA (July, 2000)
11th AP Seminar: Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, JAPAN (August, 2001)
12th AP Seminar: Bangkok, THAILAND (August, 2002)
13th AP Seminar: Miyazaki, JAPAN (September, 2003)
14th AP Seminar: Sydney, AUSTRALIA (September, 2004)
15th AP Seminar: Yokohama, Kanagawa, JAPAN (September, 2005)
In conjunction with the 15th AP Seminar, the ?gAsia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Article 6 of the UNFCCC?h was organized jointly with the UNFCCC Secretariat.
The AP-Net has links with some on-going programs on climate change and will develop more links in the future. AP-Net will be a dynamic website, monitored and improved regularly. Monitoring will be conducted in collaboration with participating countries.

Implementation Mechanism of the Partnership

The partnership is expected to achieve the following results:
(1) Improved capacity of partner developing countries in implementing UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, including, collection, analysis, and dissemination of climate change related information, such as CDM information, via the internet;
(2) Information cost reduction for not only countries but also prospect stakeholders (e.g. private companies);
(3) Development and implementation of regional strategy on climate change with appropriate and sufficient information

Resources

Funding Currently Available Amount in US$: 0 Source(s): Government Ministry of the Environment, Japan	Non-financial resources available Type(s): Source(s):
Funding Sought Required Amount in US$: 0 Source(s) already approached:	Non-financial resources sought Requirement(s): Source(s) approached and details:

Additional Information

Additional Relevant Information

AP-Net was established through the Asia-Pacific Seminar (APS) in 1998, and was developed into a WSSD Type II Partnership in 2002. Australia is a founding partner/signatory of AP-Net through both the APS and WSSD. The aim of AP-Net is to facilitate policy dialogues and consultations, enhance access to climate-change-related information, and, and promote information exchange on climate-change-related programs and projects within the Asia-Pacific region.
Australia has continued to contribute to the development of the AP-Net, through provision of greenhouse emissions data, and relevant climate change resources.
Australia also continues to play a positive and leading role in the annual APS, and provided AU $40,000 to support the attendance of developing country representatives at the 15th APS, held in Japan in 2005.
Australia expects to contribute AU $40,000 towards the 16th APS, to be held in 2006.