4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit
Kumamoto Initiative for Water
Japan will address water-related social issues faced by the Asia-Pacific region basedon a “New Form of Capitalism”, specifically by fostering public-private partnerships
and promoting digitization and innovation, regarding the solution of social issues as agrowth driver for sustainable development and the formation of a resilient society andeconomy. For example, we will work for the development of “Quality Infrastructure”
by making effective use of Japan’s advanced technologies to contribute to therebuilding of the international economic order and the co-creation of value for thefuture of the Earth.
Based on this basic policy, Japan will press forward with both climate change
adaptation and mitigation measures as well as measures to improve people’s basic
living environment, thereby proactively making contributions to the solution of social
issues regarding water and to the sustainable economic growth of the Asia-Pacificregion and the entire world.
1. Promoting both climate change adaptation and mitigation measures
In the Asia-Pacific region, which accounts for half of the world’s population and morethan one-third of the world’s GDP, the impact of climate change has already becomeapparent, with the number of flood events impacting a population of 1,000 or more
having nearly tripled over the past 30 years, along with an increase in the magnitudeof the damage.1
In response to the issue of climate change, Japan will make use of its advanced
technologies to develop “Quality Infrastructure,” including dams, sewerage systems
and agricultural facilities, for river basin sustainability and resilience against waterrelated disaster risks2 to reduce flood damage for climate change adaptation, while
also reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases for climate change mitigation.
To this end, Japan will foster the effective use of its hybrid technology to implement
both climate change adaptation and mitigation measures for dams, sewerage systems,
agricultural and rural development, specifically to enable the advanced operation of thefacilities as “Quality Infrastructure” and the formulation of plans to develop suchinfrastructure.
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Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database
Refer to the measures to reduce damage caused by flooding across a basin area based on cooperation between
all related parties (national and local governments, companies, local citizens and others)
12While promoting the development of “Quality Infrastructure” in the Asia-Pacificregion, Japan will conduct feasibility studies to propose the introduction of suchinfrastructure through public-private partnerships, thereby contributing to the solutionof local social issues and the sustainable development of the region.
(1) Promoting the development of “Quality Infrastructure”(Development of “Quality Dams”)
Japan will develop and provide the hybrid technology that will enable theimplementation of both climate change adaptation and mitigation measures for dams.
Specifically, for climate change adaptation, precipitation observation and forecast
technology will make it possible for water to be released from a dam to urgently lower
its water level before it rains again during the flood season to mitigate the risk of flood
damage. Also, based on the use of this same technology, the water level will be kept
high during the non-flood period to improve the agricultural water supply function of
the dam. Moreover, keeping the water level of the dam high after flooding and during
the non-flood period will help enhance the hydroelectric power generation function ofthe dam for climate change mitigation.
Also, by using Japan’s technology to raise the height of a dam or enhance the waterdrainage facilities of a dam while it is in use, countries will contribute to fostering thevariability of the water level of dams to transform them into “Quality Dams.”
Japan will share information about these measures through international cooperation
frameworks, such as the International Flood Initiative3 and the Typhoon Committee,4in which Japan is proactively participating.
(Development of “Quality Sewerage Systems”)To reduce the risk of inundation for climate adaptation, Japan will also develop andprovide hybrid technology to install sewerage pipes without the need for roadexcavation, thus avoiding causing traffic congestion in urban areas. It will also develop
and provide hybrid technology to make effective use of sewage sludge for biomass
power generation to produce more renewable energy for climate change mitigation.
Japan will increase the number of member countries of the Asia Wastewater
Management Partnership (AWaP)5 from the present six to share know-how, experience
3Framework through which UNESCO, the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations University,
the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and other international organizations cooperate to foster
flood management across the world
4 In order to reduce the damage caused by typhoons in the Asia-Pacific region, the Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Far East (ESCAP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) establishedthis intergovernmental organization in 1968, in which a total of 14 countries and regions participate
5 Framework for six countries (Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar and Japan) to discussmeasures to accelerate the development of sewage treatment facilities, which was established at the initiative of2and solutions to meet challenges, including the aforementioned measures, acrossSoutheast Asia.
(Promoting “Quality Agricultural Infrastructure Improvement and RuralDevelopment”)
Furthermore, Japan will develop and provide hybrid technology to construct/rehabilitate irrigation and drainage facilities and make effective use of the rainfall
storage function provided by paddy fields to reduce flooding damage in rural areas asclimate change adaptation, while fostering small hydroelectric power generationinstalled to irrigation and drainage facilities and introducing agricultural water
management systems with ICT technology to realize climate change mitigation.
Japan will share knowledge and experience about these measures through theInternational Network for Water and Ecosystem in Paddy Fields (INWEPF)6 .
(2) Contribution to fill gaps of observation data
Japan will provide the data collected by the country’s meteorological satellite“Himawari” and Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 (ALOS-2) “Daichi-2” as well
as by the core satellite of the Japan-US Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM)
mission to fill gaps of ground observation data, which are not available in many areasin the Asia-Pacific region, so that sufficient precipitation observation and forecast data
are available in such areas for the advanced operation of “Quality Infrastructure” andthe formulation of plans to develop such infrastructure.
Japan will implement these measures leveraging international frameworks, e.g. Groupon Earth Observations (GEO) for the continual enhancement of the earth observation
network in the Asia-Pacific region. The GEO is a multilateral cooperation framework
developed at the initiative of Japan in which 113 countries participate, including 22 in
the Asia-Pacific region.
(3) Contribution to the enhancement of governance (systems, human resourcesand capacity)
By making use of AI/IoT, Japan will develop the precipitation forecast and flood
analysis technologies that are necessary for the advanced operation of “QualityInfrastructure” and for the formulation of plans to develop such infrastructure. Japanwill then support the enhancement of the operational capabilities of the meteorologicaland hydrological bureaus of each country so that each country can visualize changes
Japan at the 3rd Asia-Pacific Water Summit held in 2017
6 International network for paddy farming and water environment founded under the leadership of Japanfollowing the ministerial meeting on water, food and agriculture held as a part of the 3rd World Water Forum(Kyoto, 2003), in which 17 countries (mainly in Asia) and related international organizations, such as the FAO,
participated3

in local water-related disaster risks by utilizing the technologies developed by Japanand can make decisions on the appropriateness of the investments to be made for theimplementation of the related measures. Also, through international cooperation
frameworks, Japan will contribute to the selection of appropriate sites for community
building while encouraging companies to make ESG investments and conduct
activities in line with their BCPs.
In addition, in order to promote science-based climate change adaptation measures
including the development of “Quality Infrastructure” in consideration of climatechange risks, Japan will make use of the Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation
Information Platform (AP-PLAT) 7 for the enhancement of the latest scientificknowledge and information, support tools and related capabilities.
Moreover, Japan will implement training programs for countermeasures against waterrelated disasters by using the earth observation data and climate change forecast data
provided by the Data Integration and Analysis System (DIAS)8 and will conduct joint
research for climate change forecasting in cooperation with universities and research
institutes in each country, thereby contributing to human resource development and theestablishment of related systems.
(4) Use of economic measures to promote climate change countermeasures
In order to promote the advanced operation of “Quality Infrastructure” and theformulation of plans to develop such infrastructure for the reduction of greenhouse gasemissions, Japan will expand the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)9 from the current
17 and will lead introducing advanced decarbonizing technologies.
In addition, Japan will expand its emissions reduction project for the systematic use oftechnologies as well as for the packaging of multiple technologies, with a view tohelping developing countries shift to a decarbonized society and develop “QualityInfrastructure.”
2. Promoting measures to improve people’s basic living environment
Water is one of the most basic and important elements for human life and is closely
related to food and energy. Accordingly, Goal 6 of the SDGs addresses water issues.10
7Information platform for climate change adaptation built by Japan to support decision-making in considerationof climate change risks and to foster highly effective climate change adaptation measures in the Asia-Pacificregion8 Platform to accumulate, comprehensively analyze and provide voluminous data in the domain of the global
environment, including earth observation data and climate change forecast data
9 A scheme that Japan is implementing to quantitatively evaluate contributions to greenhouse gas emissions
reductions and removals which are achieved through the diffusion of leading decarbonizing technologies,
products, etc. and use such contributions to achieve Japan’s NDC.
10 SDG 6 states, “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,” based on the4In order to help individuals to improve their quality of life and be freed from poverty
and social inequality, Japan will foster the development of infrastructure to improvewater supply, sanitation, hygiene and basic living environments, thereby providing
more people with access to safe water for the reduction of infant mortality andcontributing to the maintenance of good hygienic environments and the improvementof the environment of public bodies.
In making these efforts, Japan will foster digitization and innovation for the operationof the infrastructure developed by each country with an eye to having water supply andsanitation facilities that are equipped with advanced technologies serve as “QualityInfrastructure” and a growth engine for the future.
Moreover, in expanding the use of “Quality Infrastructure” in the Asia-Pacific region,
Japan will conduct feasibility studies to propose the introduction of such infrastructure
through public-private partnerships for the solution of local social issues andsustainable economic growth.
(Promoting the development of “Quality Water Supply Facilities”)
In order to help water utilities increase their operational efficiency and enhance their
management foundation to achieve growth and make management improvements,
Japan will make use of the know-how developed by its own local governments to
support water utilities in gaining more trust from local citizens. Japan will also provide
its technologies and give financial support for the expansion and updating of the watersupply facilities of these utilities.
Moreover, Japan will encourage in-field participation by companies in the private
sector to help water utilities expand their revenue basis by establishing a billing andtariff collection system based on the use of IoT technologies, improve their waterleakage detection capability, reduce non-revenue water to improve their profitability,and introduce advanced technologies for the desalination of seawater and recycling ofused water as non-drinking water.
Also, Japan will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as well as
stable water supply through energy saving by introduction of inverters for raw water
intake pumps and the introduction of high efficiency water pumps.
(Promoting the development of “Quality Sanitation Facilities”)
For the development of healthy and sound communities and the improvement of theenvironment of public water bodies, Japan will build a business model for theimprovement of the water environment by drawing on the expertise gained through its
recognition of the important role played by water in increasing the prosperity of more people, reducing social
inequality and addressing climate change
5own experience in overcoming pollution issues and utilizing its water treatment
technologies under the Model Project for Improvement of Water Environment in Asia11.
Also, Japan will make use of its technologies and give financial support for thedevelopment of sewerage systems and on-site treatment facilities in a localized mannerin each area. It will also promote local capacity building for the formulation ofwastewater management master plans and the sustainable management andmaintenance of the facilities.
3. Financial contribution for the future of the Asia-Pacific region
Japan will proactively make contributions for the creation of a “Quality-oriented
Society” in the water-risk-challenged Asia-Pacific region in cooperation with eachcountry and with international organizations with regard to scientific technologies,
governance such as systems, human resources and capacity, and capital. In such asociety, which is sustainable and resilient against water-related risks, people can enjoya high quality of life with no one being left behind.
As part of the measures, Japan will provide financial assistance worth approximately
500 billion yen over the next five years for the development of “Quality Infrastructure”
through the use of its digital technologies and innovation, in addition to continuing its
conventional effort to ensure access to safe water and sanitation for more people. Japanwill thereby accelerate the water-related measures in the Asia-Pacific region and acrossthe world toward the achievement of the SDGs by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

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Project to build a business model for the improvement of the water environment through feasibility studies andon-site demonstration tests conducted by companies and others on water treatment technologies in the AsiaPacific region
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