Asia-Pacific Environmental
Innovation Strategy Project
APEIS Capacity Building Workshop on
Integrated Environment Assessment in the Asia-Pacific Region
October 24-26, 2002, New Delhi

Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Background• Environmental conditions are deteriorating in the
Asia-Pacific region experiencing rapid populationand economic growth. To solve such problems,
the world needs a tangible path toward sustainable
development and clearer plan for implementation.
• The launch of the Asia-Pacific Environmental
Innovation Strategy Project (APEIS) was endorsedwith appreciation at ECO ASIA 2001.
2Objectives and Key Concepts• Objectives– To develop scientific knowledge-based tools and innovative
strategy options to promote informed decision-making– To promote regional cooperation and capacity building– To propose a model of a regional initiative to substantiate andrealize the Plan of Implementation for the WSSD

• Key Concepts– Ensure the highest possible level of participation and collaboration– Create a framework in which scientific activities and policy makers
interact synergistically and constructively– Fully incorporate and utilize resources of existing regional activities– Consider and reflect specific needs and diversified circumstances3

Why is this Project “innovative”?
• Objects and Processes– development of scientific knowledge-based tools and strategy
options for policy-makers as a regional common asset, throughdynamic interaction between scientific activities and policy makers• Outcomes– proposal of innovative policy instruments and environmental
strategy options• Technical elements– employment of innovative methodologies such as satellite- andground-based integrated monitoring and environment-economy
integrated models
4Framework of APEISWSSD
Propose Asia-Pacific model

ECO ASIA Ministerial Meeting
ECO ASIA Panel
Scientific database and options

Policy GuidanceInternational Scientific Activities
Internationalorganizations(ADB, UNEP,UNU)
APN

Joint project
collaboration

Research on innovative and strategic
policy options
Sub-projects

Integrated
Environmental
Monitoring

Integrated
Environmental
Assessment

Create linkages and cooperative structures

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and Other international projects

5Integrated Environmental
Monitoring (IEM)• Main Components– Establishment of a MODIS data network (receivingstations and analytical systems) covering the AsiaPacific region– Development of a ground-truth observation network tovalidate satellite data
– Integrated monitoring of environmental disasters– Integrated monitoring of environmental indices anddegradation– Study of land-atmosphere processes and ecological
functions at the watershed scale, and modeling of water
resources and agricultural productivity
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Integrated EnvironmentalAssessments (IEA)• Main Components– Development of a set of integrated assessment models
based on the AIM project– Development of indicators and a strategic database
comprised of the fundamental database, index base,model base and strategy option base– Assessment of the current conditions and possible
future changes of the environment and economy, andthe quantitative effects and implications of proposed
innovative strategy options
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Research on Innovative andStrategic Policy Options (RISPO)• Main Components– Conduction of field-based case studies in selectedcountries– Development of policy inventories (good practices
inventory and innovative instruments inventory) basedon case studies and existing projects– Proposal of strategic policy options based on theanalysis of practices and instruments compiled in thepolicy inventories– Implementation of pilot projects on selected issues andsite to examine the effects, feasibility and applicabilityof the strategic policy options
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Cooperation with Related Projects• Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)– Regional MA in western China is being implemented as a joint
activity of APEIS and the MA.
– Both projects can cooperate in exchanging data and methodologies.

• National Performance Assessment and Subregional
Strategic Environment Framework in the Greater Mekong
Subregion (GMS)– Planned by the ADB, UNEP, NIES and IGES
– Both projects are being designed and will be implemented withclose collaboration• APN– Strong partner for APEIS– Research Networking and capacity building
9Call for Participationz

Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ) is proposing
APEIS as a Type 2 Partnership/Initiative to the WSSD.

z

Many research institutes and international organizations
are already participating in APEIS.

z

MOEJ is calling for wider participation of interested
bodies, in particular, ministries and agencies in the AsiaPacific region.

z

Please contact to MOEJ (yuji_kimura@env.go.jp) assoon as possible but no later than 9 August.
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