Foreword

Since its founding in 1992, the Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC) has leveraged Osaka
City’s wealth of knowledge and experience on pollution prevention and environmental conservation to
support the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) International Environmental Technology
Centre (IETC)’s activities towards environmental conservation in developing nations, and to performsurvey research, training, and awareness-raising activities for protection of the global environment.
In 2009, GEC continued this enthusiastic support for IETC’s projects. We also made a positive
contribution to the capacity building of waste management and 3R officers in developing nations
by organizing three international workshops with IETC on the conversion of waste plastics into fuel,integrated solid waste management (ISWM), and waste agricultural biomass. In addition, we launched
an eco-town technology database project, and conducted a joint basic study on water footprint with
IETC’s cooperation.
GEC has also been actively engaged in survey research and training programmes. We inaugurated
the ‘Project for Building a Recycling-Oriented System in Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam’ with the collaborationof Osaka Prefecture University. We also conducted the highest number of JICA training courses todate, with 11 courses on topics such as climate change as well as GEC’s forte—urban environmental
management.
In December, GEC attended the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (COP15) and the 5th Conference of the Parties serving as the meetingof the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP5) held in Copenhagen, Denmark, where we co-hosted a side
event introducing the outcomes of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) feasibility studies and thequantitative assessment of co-benefits.
On 1 April 2010, GEC made a new start following a change of legal entity from an ‘incorporated
foundation’ to a ‘public interest incorporated foundation’ in accordance with Japan’s new public
interest corporation system.
While the importance of GEC’s mission has grown along with rising concerns about environmental
issues, it is crucial that we gain the public’s understanding and cooperation by clearly explaining theoutcomes of our efforts towards conservation of the global environment. Furthermore, given the fiscal
situation surrounding Japan’s local governments, it is essential that we procure external funding toensure the continued operation of our projects. In light of these circumstances, our entire board of
directors and personnel are committed to working together to achieve GEC’s further development.
I look forward to your ongoing support and understanding of GEC’s activities in the years to come.

September 2010

MIYAHARA, Hideo
President
Global Environment Centre Foundation

GEC 2009

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Activities in
Fiscal Year 2009

International Cooperation: Technical Support for Developing Countries

Promoting UNEP/DTIE/IETC’s Activities of Disseminating Information on
Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs*) and Technology Transfer

ESTs
Environmentally Sound
Technologies, as definedin Agenda 21, should
protect the environment,
are less contaminative,use various resources in amore sustainable manner,recycle more of their wastes
and products and handle
residual waste in a more
acceptable manner than thetechnologies for which they
were substitutes.
Eco-Town
Eco-towns developed inJapan utilize a framework
whereby environmentallysound enterprises are set
up on accumulated land
using local technologies
and industries, thereby
stimulating the local
economy and ensuring
employment, as well as
simultaneously achieving
waste management andconservation of water and air
quality in accordance with
the Zero Emissions concept.

Environmentally Sound Industrial Development and Eco-Town* Development Projectin the Asia-Pacific Region
In Asia where economic development is happening at a
rapid phase, there is a growing interest in the concept of
eco-towns as a means of pursuing a sustainable society,while achieving a balance between the environment andthe economy. Within this context, IETC started the Ecotown Project in 2004 to create eco-towns in the AsiaPacific region based on the experiences and lessons ofJapan’s eco-town development, and GEC has provided

Eco-Town Workshop (Penang)

its support for this project.
As part of this support, GEC launched the ‘Eco-Town
Environmental Technology Database Creation Projectfor Building Resource Recycling-based Societies in
Developing Countries’ with the assistance of the Mitsui &Co., Ltd. Environment Fund in 2009. Under this project,
GEC is promoting eco-town development by conducting
environmental technology needs assessments indeveloping nations; specifically Penang in Malaysia andWastewater treatment facility at a textile
factory (Bandung)

Bandung in Indonesia which are planning to build eco-towns, and integrating the results into
an online database on environmental technology systems essential to eco-town creation.
In 2009, GEC conducted needs assessments on the environmental technology required foreco-town formation in Penang and Bandung, and identified the environmental technology inJapanese eco-towns to meet their needs.
Based on cooperation with the Socio-Economic & Environmental Research Institute (SERI)
in Penang and the Institute of Ecology (IOE) in Bandung, GEC conducted needs assessment
questionnaires targeting Penang and Bandung’s local companies, recyclers, and government.
From 23 to 30 August 2009, we visited local companies and recyclers in each city andconducted interviews on the technology and systems required for eco-town formation.
We also participated in the Eco-Town Stakeholders Consultation and Training/AwarenessWorkshop jointly hosted with IETC on 24 August in Penang and 28 August in Bandung,where we introduced Japan’s Eco-Town initiatives and outlined the ‘Eco-town Environmental
Technology Database Creation Project’.
In the future, we plan to conduct interviews and field surveys on the environmental
technologies employed by Japanese eco-towns which are suited to the needs of developing
nations, as well as collecting and organizing information for database creation.

Eco-Town Project Activities
From 2 to 3 February 2010, IETC and Kawasaki City cohosted the ‘6th Asia-Pacific Eco-Business Forum’ as a
joint event with the ‘Kawasaki International Eco-Tech
Fair 2010’, and GEC participated in and collaborated on
this event. The forum was attended by representatives
from environmental administrative agencies in Penang,
Malaysia; Bandung and Banda Aceh, Indonesia;
Shenyang and Linyi, China; Cebu, Philippines; and6th Asia-Pacific Eco-Business Forum

Surat, India. Each session featured presentations on the eco-town initiatives and challenges ofparticipating cities, as well as lively discussions.
At the UNEP Eco-town project session, GEC delivered a presentation outlining its support
2

GEC 2009

for the project, explained the results of the environmental technology needs assessments
conducted in Penang and Bandung under the Environmental Technology Database Creation
Project, and described the future project schedule. We also collected information on the
direction of future eco-town projects and the progress of eco-town development projects in
Penang and Bandung.
Organizing of the ‘International Expert Group Workshop on Compendium of ESTs forConverting Waste Plastics into a Resource’
As many developing nations attempt to address thesurge in waste plastics, IETC is implementing the ‘Projecton Converting Waste Plastics into a Resource’ based on
the 3R* approach to mitigate the environmental dilemma
posed by waste plastics by converting them into avaluable resource, and GEC is providing support for the
project.
In 2009, GEC co-hosted the ‘International Expert

Participants in the workshop

Group Workshop on Compendium of ESTs for Converting Waste Plastics into a Resource’with IETC from 15 to 16 June in Osaka, Japan. The workshop was attended by 42 experts
representing the private and public sectors in Japan and overseas, and featured discussions
on technologies for converting waste plastics into energy, business partnerships based on
government support, and the data collection & analysis required when selecting suitable
technologies.
The ‘Compendium of Technology’ and the ‘Converting Waste Plastics into a Resource– Assessment Guide’ were prepared based on the opinions and proposals of experts at
the workshop and subsequently published on the IETC website with the aim of raisingawareness and facilitating the implementation of pilot projects. IETC pilot projects are currently
proceeding in Thailand and the Philippines based on the compendium and assessment guide.
Organizing of the ‘Training Workshop on Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM*)’
As part of its support for ISWM planning aimed atnational and local governments, IETC co-hosted
the ‘Training Workshop on Integrated Solid Waste
Management’ (ISWM) with GEC, the UNEP Regional
Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP/ROAP), and theUnited Nations Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) from 5 to 8 October
2009 to build the capacity of waste management officers

Field trip to the Tsurumi Recycling Centre

in Asia-Pacific nations. The workshop provided training to 13 participants from 10 countries in
the Asia Pacific region, as well as UNEP/ROAP and UNESCAP. On 7 October, the workshop
participants observed the Tsurumi Recycling Centre and a recycling company located inan eco-town in Osaka Prefecture. On the following day, a total of 24 participants including

3R
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
A basic concept espousing
treatment of waste materials
in that order to create asociety which generates theminimum possible amountof waste. In other words,
this concept describes
the attempt to foster a‘recycling-oriented society’
which minimizes the impact
upon the environment by
not generating waste, andreusing it or recycling its
resources when you do tosignificantly decrease theconsumption of resources
and waste created andpromote effective resourceuse. The 3R concept also
forms the cornerstone forthe promotion of Japan’s
recycling laws such as theContainer and Packaging
Recycling Law, the Home
Appliance Recycling Law,
the Construction Material
Recycling Law, the Food
Recycling Law and the Endof-Life Vehicle Recycling Law.
ISWM (Integrated Solid
Waste Management)
A waste management
technique based on the 3Rs
concept and incorporating
waste reduction, separationat-source for reuse &recycling, collection &transportation systems,
waste collection sites andtheir recovery of usefulmaterials, proper treatment
and resource recovery, andfinal disposal.

Japanese academics shared information on waste management initiatives.
Organizing of the ‘Regional Workshop on Waste Agricultural Biomass*’
UNEP/IETC is currently focusing on projects to promote waste biomass utilization towards theeffective use of resources, and GEC is providing support for these projects. As one aspect ofWaste agricultural biomass
Organic resources containedin agricultural waste suchas rice straw and sugarcane
bagasse.

this work, GEC co-hosted the ‘Regional Workshop on Waste Agricultural Biomass’ with IETC
from 2 to 5 March 2010. The workshop aimed to support regional partners in Asian nations
by holding discussions to: share information with research organizations engaged in the
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Activities in
Fiscal Year 2009

Water footprint
The total volume of water
consumed throughout
the entire supply chainof a product. The water
footprint is an empiricalindex expressing theamount and location ofwater consumption fromraw material procurement
to the production stage,transportation, use, andrecycling (disposal).
Expressing water volume asa multi-dimensional index,
the water footprint concept
is characterized by its ability
to demonstrate the type ofwater (rainwater/surface
water or groundwater), thetime and place of wateruse, and the volume ofevaporated water.
ISO has commenced theprocess of standardization ofwater footprint accounting.
GESAP (GEC Sanitation
Programme)
The website’s content
consists of five themes:‘Global Situation in
Sanitation Sector’, ‘Water
and Wastewater Reuse’,‘Sewage Works in Osaka,
Japan’ (published by the
Osaka Municipal Public
Works Bureau), ‘Resourceand Energy Recovery in
Sanitation’ and ‘Water
Supply System in Osaka,
Japan’ (published by the
Osaka Municipal Waterworks
Bureau).

International Cooperation: Technical Support for Developing Countries

development of processes to produce energy from waste
biomass as well as with policy makers promoting theconcept of biomass towns; investigate the potential forcollaboration; and identify technologies for use in thesewaste biomass utilization projects.
Around 20 participants including experts from Japanand overseas with a profound knowledge of waste
agricultural biomass, government officials, and IETC

Expert research presentation

experts attended the workshop, where they shared information on the latest research andpolicy trends, and held a meaningful discussion on future projects.
Survey on Application of Footprint for Water Environment Protection
UNEP/IETC has been implementing the ‘Water Footprint* Neutrality & Efficiency Project’ sinceJune 2009. The project entails the refinement of water footprint and related concepts, as wellas pilot applications of the associated methodologies and tools in selected geographical areasand industries.
Based on IETC’s initiatives, GEC undertook the ‘Survey on Application of Footprint for
Water Environment Protection’, and prepared basic documents for discussion of international
standardization of water footprint as well as summarizing currently-proposed water footprint
issues.
GEC will continue to support IETC’s water footprint projects in the future through coorganizing of workshops and other activities.
Urban Water Issues (Website on Water and Sanitation ‘GESAP*’)
GEC launched the ‘GESAP’ website on water and sanitation in 2005 with the aim of providing
information to assist in solving sanitary water supply and drainage problems in developing
countries. The website contains data on themes such as ‘Global Situation in the Sanitation
Sector’, ‘Water and Wastewater Reuse’, and ‘Sewage Works in Osaka, Japan’. In 2009, we
updated the information on ‘Sewage Works in Osaka, Japan’ and published it on the GESAP
website in February 2010. In the future, we will examine ways to make the website more
useful while determining user needs.

International Cooperation in Developing Countries
Support for Building a Community-Based Recycle-Oriented System in Vietnam’s
Ha Long Bay* Area
The recent deterioration in the environment of Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam
has increased the likelihood that it will lose its World Heritage listing, and has made dealing
with the problem all the more urgent. The ‘Project on Support for Building a CommunityBased Recycle-Oriented System in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay Area – a JICA Grass Roots
Technical Cooperation Project’ being conducted by GEC in collaboration with Osaka Prefecture
University aims to improve the lives of local residents as well as the bay's environment by
creating a resource recycling system based on the joint participation of residents, tourist boat
operators, and the government. The project has now officially commenced after receiving
approval from the Vietnamese Government in October 2009.
On 19 October 2009, we hosted the second Project Cycle Management (PCM) Workshop
to discuss the future roles of stakeholders. The workshop provided a good opportunity for4

GEC 2009

Ha Long Bay
Located northwest of the
Gulf of Tonkin in the northernpart of Viet Nam, Ha Long
Bay is a place world-famous
for its scenic beauty and wasplaced on the UNESCO World
Natural Heritage List in 1994.

all participants to gain a common awareness of project
activities and aims, and to promote future project
activities. Specific activities conducted in 2009 include
a survey on refuse & wastewater and surveys on waste
volume conducted in each of the four seasons (autumn
and winter in 2009) with the consent of the survey
population; namely the floating communities in thevillage of Vong Vieng and three tourist boat operators, toDemonstration of water quality monitoring

determine the state of refuse and wastewater in Ha Long
Bay. We also conducted a class for students at a floating
elementary school on how to monitor water quality
Ha Long Bay

including water depth, temperature, transparency andvisibility.
On 11 March 2010, we hosted another local seminarfor stakeholders to discuss in greater depth the specificdetails of activities and potential for a resource recycling

Second PCM workshop

system. Next fiscal year, we plan to collect more information and facilitate further discussions
in order to investigate the possibility of partnerships and cooperation with external parties

A floating community in HaLong Bay

towards the creation of a local sustainable resource recycling system. We will also expand
the project’s activities throughout Ha Long Bay by communicating with other floating
communities, promoting activities involving new tourist boat operators, and conducting
various training to foster environmental activity leaders.
Support for Community Efforts to Restore the Environment of Thailand’s Tha Chin
This project, which aimed to revitalize autonomous,Tha Chin River
Length: 320km
Watershed: 12,000km2
Inhabitants: 2.5 million

ongoing conservation activities in the Tha Chin River andBN6CB6G

River* Basin

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build partnerships between affiliates from government,
industry and academia, was conducted between

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2005 and 2007 with the support of the Environmental
Restoration and Conservation Agency’s Japan Fund

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for Global Environment. The project was concluded
successfully following the creation of an environmental

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The Tha Chin River Learning Centre

map and the Environmental Reading Material (ERM) led by local residents.
GEC conducted a follow-up assessment of the project by visiting Nakhon Pathom Province
from 5 to 9 October 2009 and holding meetings with leaders from the four provinces through8]V^CVi
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which the river flows, as well as representatives from Mahidol University and the Regional
Environment Office 5 (REO5) to exchange information on how the completed ERM wasbeing used. The provincial leaders gave presentations on the environmental classes using
ERM, which allowed us to see their pride in the ERM which they all worked hard to prepare,Hje]VcWjg^
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and their efforts to disseminate its contents. The meeting also drew attention to a numberof challenges, such as the desire to publish an updated version of the ERM incorporating
technical contents to encourage use by a broad range of age groups, the lack of available
copies, and the need to improve teacher training. Overall, however, we confirmed that theCV`]dcEVi]db
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ERM was being used proactively by the Tha Chin River Basin inhabitants and that water
quality conservation initiatives were being conducted through partnerships between the subbasins.
In the future, GEC will conduct talks on the implementation of a project to help improve theTha Chin River’s water quality based on proposals from REO5.

GEC 2009

5

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2009

International Cooperation: Technical Support for Developing Countries

Contribution to Measures for the Mitigation of Climate Change

CDM (Clean Development
Mechanism)
One of the flexible
mechanisms (Kyoto
Mechanisms) introduced toachieve the greenhouse gas
reduction targets containedin the Kyoto Protocol. Whena developed country (investor
country) provides funds andtechnical assistance for the
implementation of a project
which leads to a reduction ingreenhouse gas emissions ina developing country (hostcountry), credits (CER*) are
issued for the amount of
reduced emissions.
A developed country canthen use these credits toachieve its own emission
reduction target.
JI (Joint Implementation)
A Kyoto Mechanism like
CDM, Joint Implementation
is a system whereby
developed nations cooperate
to implement projects to
reduce greenhouse gases,
with one developed nation(the host nation) issuing
credits called Emission
Reduction Units (ERUs*) afterconverting a corresponding
amount of Assigned AmountUnits (AAUs), and the otherdeveloped nation (investor
nation) able to use those
ERUs to achieve their own
emission reduction targets.
CDM/JI Feasibility Study
Programme
Of the feasibility studies
carried out to date,
10 projects have beenregistered by the CDM
Executive Board (EB) andanother 3 projects haveobtained approval from theJapanese Government. The
development and revision of
5 CDM methodologies havealso been approved by the
CDM EB.

CDM*/JI* Feasibility Study Programme*
Since its commission by the Ministry of the Environment in 1999 as secretariat of the CDM/JI
Feasibility Study Programme, GEC has managed the progress of CDM/JI feasibility studies(FSs) performed by private companies, and has worked to unearth promising CDM/JI projects,
accumulate knowledge, and disseminate information useful for project development &implementation.
In 2009, we invited applications with an emphasis on CDM/JI project FSs capable of realizing‘co-benefits’ in terms of greenhouse gas mitigation and environmental pollution control indeveloping countries. As a result, 23
feasibility studies were adopted infields such as waste management andrenewable energy. GEC assisted in
the preparation of the Project Design
Documents (PDDs) which are subject
to assessment (validation assessment)
to determine the project’s suitability
for adoption as a CDM/JI project. GEC
also established an expert committee
to provide specific advice on study
details and project realization, andare carefully managing the progress

GEC 2009

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List of 2009 CDM/JI Feasibility Studies*
Category

Project

Waste Management

Aerobic Digestion of Sewage Sludge in Pingdingshan Sewage Treatment Plants

China

Eco-Farming Biogas Digestor CDM Project under the PoA

China

Methane Recovery from Palm Oil Mill Effluent

Indonesia

Integrated MSW Treatment with Composting of Organic Waste and
LFG Capture and Utilization

Malaysia

Semi-Aerobic Disposal CDM Project in Laemchabang Landfill Site

ThailandBiogas Power Generation and Bio-Compost Production Project at Sugar
Mill and Bio-Ethanol Factory

ThailandAerobic Treatment of Household Waste

Viet Nam

Biomass Utilization

Renewable EnergyCountry

Biomass Cogeneration Using Pelletized Agricultural Residues

China

Switching from Mixed Fuel to Biomass for Electricity Generation

Indonesia

Environmentally Friendly Development by Multiple Use of Jatropha Curcas

Indonesia

Power Generation Using Waste Banana

Philippines

Programmatic CDM for Biomass (Gliricidia) Utilization for Thermal Energy
to be Used at Industrial Facilities

Sri Lanka

Wind Power and Co-Generation CDM Projects Using Jatropha Oil

EcuadorInstallation of PV LED Lanterns throughout the Republic of Uganda

UgandaSmall-Scale Hydropower CDM Project

Viet Nam

Transportation

Energy Efficiency Activities Using Idling Stop Equipments for Buses

China

LULUCF (REDD)‘Halitina’ REDD Project

BrazilOthersProgrammatic CDM for Electrical Power Saving at Locomotive Factories

China

Waste Heat Recovery and Utilization Programme in Cement Industry

China

Waste Heat Recovery and Utilization for Power Generation Plant

China

Programmatic CDM for Energy Efficiency Programme through Introducing
3WCF Technique

China

Energy Utilization of Ammonia Plant Tail Gas

Syria

Programmatic CDM on the Installation of Efficient Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts

Viet Nam

LULUCF: Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry

6

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REDD: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries

CER (Certified Emission
Reduction)
A credit issued in responseto the amount of greenhousegas reduction resulting froma CDM Project. A single unit
is equivalent to one ton of
CO2 (tCO2).

CDM/JI Feasibility Study Projects in 2009

ERU (Emission Reduction
Unit)
A credit issued by a hostnation by converting
Assigned Amount Units (AAU)
in response to the amountof greenhouse gas reduction
resulting from a JI Project.
A single unit is equivalent to
one ton of CO2 (tCO2).
LVhiZBVcV\ZbZci
GZcZlVWaZ:cZg\nAerobic Treatment of Household
Waste (Viet Nam)

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Energy Efficiency Activities Using
Idling Stop Equipments for Buses(China)Di]ZghInstallation of PV LED Lanterns
throughout the Republic of Uganda(Uganda)‘CDM/JI Symposium 2009’
Participants:
Tokyo: Approx. 230
Osaka: Approx. 110‘CDM/JI Symposium 2009*’
GEC has hosted events annually since 2000 together
with the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOE) to
provide valuable information to the public as well asprivate companies interested in the CDM/JI.
In September 2009, GEC and MOE hosted the‘Symposium on CDM/JI Feasibility Study Programme for
Climate Change Mitigation 2009 (CDM/JI Symposium2009)’ in Tokyo and Osaka.

2009 CDM/JI Feasibility
StudiesPlease refer to the GEC
website for further details on
the study reports.

‘CDM/JI Symposium 2009’ in Tokyo

The symposium featured lectures by experts providing participants with the latest
information on current status of carbon credit, CDM reform and ‘co-benefits’ approach*. FourCDM/JI FS entities also reported the results of their studies undertaken in 2008, and thenexperts reviewed these reports and made constructive comments based on the latest findings
and information, such as the various issues involved in realizing projects and methods for theirresolution.

Co-benefits approach:
Initiatives to implement
climate change measures
and CDM projects while also
meeting development needs
in developing countries.
In particular, the co-benefits
approach encourages
climate change measures
and CDM projects which also
contribute to solving local
environmental issues (suchas air and water pollution andwaste) from the perspectiveof sustainable development.

Participants also received the ‘CDM/JI Symposium 2009’ booklet containing summary
reports on FSs conducted in 2008.

GEC 2009

7

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2009

Conference of the Parties(COP)
The supreme decisionmaking body of the UNFCCC.
Held annually.
Conference of the Parties
serving as the meeting of
the Parties to the Kyoto
Protocol (COP/MOP)
The supreme decisionmaking body in regards tothe implementation of the
Kyoto Protocol. Held annually.

International Cooperation: Technical Support for Developing Countries

Collection and Distribution of CDM/JI-related Information
GEC attended the 15th Conference of the Parties tothe United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (COP15)* and the 5th Conference of the Parties
serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto
Protocol (COP/MOP5)* held in Copenhagen, Denmark
from 7 to 18 December 2009, where we collected
information. GEC also set up an exhibition booth
introducing the CDM/JI FS Programme commissioned

COP15 (Copenhagen, Denmark)by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOE), displayed posters to raise awareness ofthe ‘Co-benefits approach to climate change and CDM’, and distributed the ‘CDM/JI Manualfor Project Developers and Policy Makers – 2009’ issued by the MOE as well as its electronic
media and other related materials.
We also co-hosted an official COP side event announcing the results of quantitative
assessments of co-benefits conducted during CDM/JI feasibility studies, and promoted the useof the ‘Co-benefits Quantitative Assessment Manual’ published by MOE.
The information collected at these conferences and their side events was published on the
GEC website to support private entities in Japan involved in CDM/JI projects.

Osaka CDM Network
A network established in
February 2004 by GEC,OISCA Kansai Branch andBusiness Innovation Centre
Osaka to promote active
participation and independent
initiatives in the CDM/JI by
companies located in the
Kansai region. The Network
aims to provide workshops
and other practical forums
and currently has 23 member
organizations as of July 2010.

Osaka CDM Network*
The Osaka CDM Network (O-CDM) holds internalseminars to provide information exclusively to its
member organizations, and hosts events on climatechange policies and carbon business which are open to
the general public.
In 2009, O-CDM hosted a series of five ‘Carbon Offset
Seminar in Kansai’ to raise awareness and encourage
implementation of carbon offsetting.

Osaka Carbon Conference & Fair 2009

On 6 January 2010, O-CDM also hosted the ‘Osaka Carbon Conference & Fair 2009’.

Training of Environmental Technology

Country Report
A report prepared by eachparticipant describing theenvironmental administration
system, environmental
situation and other related
issues in his or her country.
Action PlanAt the end of the training
course, each participant
works out action plans forenvironmental improvementin his or her country
based on the findings andcompetence acquired
through the training.

8

GEC 2009

Human Resource Development in Developing Countries
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Group Training Project
GEC operated the following 11 JICA-commissioned group training courses for engineers andgovernment officials from developing countries. In addition to the existing training courses,
GEC also launched the ‘Cool Earth Partnership Seminar’ to improve understanding of climatechange policies, and revamped the ‘Air Pollution Control Course’ which we operated for 20
years into the ‘Countermeasure against Automobile Pollution in Urban Area’ which focuses on
measures to address mobile emission sources.
Before the start of each course, all participants presented a ‘Country Report*’ to shareawareness of the issues facing their respective nations. Upon completion of the course,
participants also made an ‘Action Plan*’ presentation to define their goals upon returninghome.

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2009

Training
periodTraining of Environmental Technology

Nationality ofparticipants

Main course
contents

Cool Earth Partnership
SeminarCool Earth Partnership Seminar*
A: 13–23 April 200912 participants from
Costa Rica (2),Dominican Republic (2),
Nicaragua (2), Panama (2),Peru (2), Uruguay (2)B: 13–24 July 200920 participants from Belize (2),Burundi (2), East Timor (2),Georgia (2), Guyana (1),Mongolia (2), Nigeria (2),Serbia (2), Suriname (1),Togo (2), Viet Nam (2)Cooperating bodies• Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Ministry of the Environment• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism• Japan Meteorological Agency • Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research• Osaka CDM Network, etc
Lectures• Phenomena and effects of climate change• Japan’s countermeasures against climate change, etc.
Facility tours• The Earth Simulator • Energy-Saving buildings• Bioethanol plant using waste wood, etc.
PurposeTo enhance understanding among Cool Earth Partner nations of the impact ofclimate change and measures for its mitigation.

Environmental Policy & Environmental Management System*
11 May–3 July2009

10 participantsfromIndonesia (2),Kenya (2),Laos (2),Mauritius (1),Senegal (1),Ukraine (1),Viet Nam (1)Cooperating bodies• Osaka City Environment Bureau • New Japan Certification Service Co., Ltd.
• United Nations University, etc
Lectures• Environmental administration in Japan• Experience of Urban Environmental Management in Osaka City
• Environmental Management System, etc.
Facility tours• Sewage treatment plant • Waste incineration plant, etc.
PurposeTo master pragmatic and practical methodologies, such as the framing ofenvironmental policies, techniques of the environmental assessment, guiding
corporation policies, Environmental Management Systems and methods ofenlightening citizens.

Pollution Controls for Hazardous Substances in the Environment*
10 June–7 August
2009

3 participantsfrom Algeria (1),
El Salvador (1),Philippines (1)Cooperating bodies• Department of Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Osaka Prefectural
Government • Research Institute of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries, Osaka
Prefectural Government • Environmental Management and Technology Center in
Kansai • Minamata City • Toyama Prefectural Government, etc.
Lectures• Introduction to hazardous metals • Air and water pollution control measures, etc
Practical training• Sampling and analysis of air and water, etc.
Facility tours• Water and sewer facilities • Minamata Disease Municipal Museum, etc.
PurposeTo develop well-qualified human resources who are able to collectively evaluateemission sources and environmental contamination by heavy metals and hazardous
chemical substances and to establish preventive measures against environmental
pollution.

China-Japan Policies of Climate Change and CDM*
24 August–
4 September
2009

10 participantsfrom China

Cooperating bodies• Climate Experts Ltd. • The General Environmental Technos Co., Ltd., etc.
Lectures• CDM project case studies • PDD case reports • PDD draft guidance, etc.
Facility tours• Thermal power plant • Biodiesel plant • Waste incineration plant, etc.
PurposeTo provide technical support for discovery of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
projects and help to enhance ability of China’s CDM centre personnel to unearth
new projects.

Visit to bioethanol plant

Visit to the Earth Simulator

Environmental Policy &Environmental
Management System

Visit to the Aito Eco-Plaza‘Nanohana Kan’

Pollution Controls for
Hazardous Substances inthe Environment

Visit to medical waste
treatment plant

China-Japan Policies of
Climate Change and CDM

Visit to CO2 recovery facility
in the thermal power plant

GEC 2009

9

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2009

Training
periodUrban Solid Waste
Management by Local
Government

Nationality ofparticipants

26 August–
20 October
2009

9 participantsfrom Belize(1),El Salvador (1),Maldives (1),Mongolia (1),Sri Lanka (1),Turkey (1),Uruguay (2),Viet Nam (1)1 October–
13 November
2009

9 participantsfrom Egypt (1),
Laos (2),Mongolia (2),Pakistan (1),Philippines (1),Sri Lanka (1),Viet Nam (1)Flue gas measurement
practice10

GEC 2009

Cooperating bodies• Osaka City Government • Osaka City University• Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters • Sakai City
• Hanshin Expressway Company Limited• The Tokyo Metropolitan Research Institute for Environmental Protection• Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. • Sagawa Express Co., Ltd., etc.
Lectures• Economic development & environmental issues• Urban transport & the environment • Mobility management, etc.
Facility tours• Traffic control system • Vehicle Inspection Centre • Monitoring stations, etc.
PurposeTo formulate & implement automobile pollution prevention plans etc. in target
countries to resolve air pollution problems caused by city-based vehicles from thedual perspectives of environmental countermeasure technologies & urban transport
policies.

Waste Effluent Pollution Control Caused by Mining and Manufacturing Industries
for Central and South America*
12 November–
11 December
2009

20 participants,
fromArgentina (2),
Bolivia (3),Chile (2),Colombia (4),Cuba (3),Peru (3),Venezuela (3)Talk by Minamata Disease
Municipal Museum’s‘Narration Group’
Capacity Developmentin Environmental
Management (Air andWater Pollution Control) for
Middle Eastern Countries

Cooperating bodies• Osaka City Environment Bureau• Foundation of Environmental Management, Osaka • Fukuoka University, etc.
Lectures• Outline of industrial waste control, etc.
Practical training• Practice in designing a landfill site, etc.
Facility tours• Recycling plant • Final disposing sites, etc.
PurposeTo develop leaders and core people who can play a major role in making solid waste
treatment plans and in implementing treatment businesses in their countries.

Countermeasure against Automobile Pollution in Urban Area*

Study tour of chassis
dynamometer testing

Waste Effluent Pollution
Control Caused by Mining
and Manufacturing
Industries for Central andSouth America

Main course
contents

Urban Solid Waste Management by Local Government*

Town cleanup activity

Countermeasure against
Automobile Pollution in
Urban Area

Training of Environmental Technology

Cooperating bodies• Osaka City Environment Bureau • Osaka City Public Works Bureau• Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. • National Institute for Minamata Disease• Toyama Prefectural Government, etc.
Lectures• Soil contamination control measures • Industrial wastewater control, etc.
Facility tours• Mines • Treatment facility for wastewater containing heavy metals, etc.
PurposeTo draw up effective solutions and policies to mitigate environmental destruction
and pollution in relevant countries, caused by hazardous substances contained in
effluent from mining and manufacturing industries.

Capacity Development in Environmental Management (Air and Water Pollution Control)
for Middle Eastern Countries*
18 January–
26 February
2010

6 participantsfrom Egypt (2),Iran (1),
Lebanon (1),Syria (2)Cooperating bodies• Osaka City Environment Bureau • Suuri-Keikaku Co., Ltd. • Nakayama SteelWorks, Ltd. • Osaka Environmental Technology and Research Co., Ltd., etc.
Lectures• Methods for formulating prevention programs• Environmental Impact Assessment, etc.
Facility tours• Monitoring stations • Cement kiln waste treatment plant, etc.
PurposeTo enhance the environmental management capacity of central and local
government organizations in the target countries to formulate and execute policies
and regulatory techniques in the areas of air & water pollution prevention.

Training
periodNationality ofparticipants

Main course
contents

TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG LEADERS, Indonesia, Urban Environmental
Management Course*
19 February–
4 March2010

16 participantsfrom Indonesia

Cooperating bodies• Osaka City Environment Bureau • Osaka City Public Works Bureau• Department of Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Osaka Prefectural
Government• Lake Biwa-Yodo River Water Quality Preservation Organization• NPO Aoibiwako, etc.
Lectures• Japan’s environmental measures and Osaka’s waste administration• Osaka City’s Monitoring Systems, etc.
Facility tours• Sewage treatment plant • Waste incineration plant, etc.
PurposeTo improve knowledge & awareness towards problem-solving initiatives among
young human resources responsible for future nation-building through basic training
to understand Japan’s experiences & technologies in specialized fields.

Environmental Policy and Environmental Management System in Nigeria*
4–26 March2010

10 participantsfrom Nigeria

Cooperating bodies• Japan Water Agency• Osaka City Institute of Public Health and Environmental Sciences• Osaka City Public Works Bureau • Hotani Natural Farm
• Department of Public Health and Welfare, Osaka Prefectural Government, etc.
Lectures• Environmental Policy in Japan • Outline of Water and Sanitation, etc.
Facility tours• Small-scale septic tanks • Composting, etc.
PurposeTo implement sustainable water environment policies & management systems byformulating suitable environmental management plans in participating nations or the
local governments to which participants belong.

GEC Networking Project for Former Training Participants*
In an effort to follow up on former JICA participants
and ascertain the needs of developing nations, GEC
established the ‘GEC Network’ for former training
course participants in 1998, publishes the ‘GEC PLAZA’
newsletter and ‘Connect the World’ e-mail newsletter,and conducts follow-up seminars* to consolidate the
network through the exchange of information.
At the commission of JICA, GEC continued to manage

Inspection of Graciela Minethe ‘JICA-GEC Network’ website for network members in 2009 and has sought to diversify thesite’s content by publishing training course texts and details of participants Q&A sessions.
GEC also co-hosted a follow-up seminar with JICA from 23 to 25 February 2010 inLima, Peru to follow up on the ‘Waste Effluent Pollution Control Caused by Mining andManufacturing Industries for Central and South America’ training course which ran for three
years from 2007 to 2009. In this follow-up seminar, GEC scrutinized the progress made byeach participating country in implementing the Action Plan, and advised on technical matters.
We also advised the organizations to which the participants belong with the aims of supporting
the ongoing promotion of the Action Plan and developing mutual cooperation between theparticipating countries. The seminar was attended by 21 former participants from Argentina,
Chile, Columbia, Cuba, Peru and Venezuela; officials from Organization of Environmental

TRAINING PROGRAMMEFOR YOUNG LEADERS,
Indonesia, Urban
Environmental
Management Course

Visit to Maishima Incineration
Plant

Environmental Policy
and Environmental
Management System in
Nigeria

Field trip to learn about
small-scale septic tanks

GEC Networking Projectfor Former Training
Participants
There are 1,183 overseas
GEC participants on the
network in 115 countries.
(as of March 2010)
Follow-up Seminar
Held in countries where
Network membership is high,the theme of each seminar isintended to reflect the specificneeds of that country. Theseseminars were previously
known as ‘One Day Seminars’
until 2008.
• Thailand & Philippines(March 1999)• Malaysia & Viet Nam(January 2000)• Indonesia (February 2001)• Egypt (March 2002)• Thailand (March 2005)• Cuba (March 2007)• Philippines (March 2008)• Indonesia (March 2009)• Peru (February 2010)

GEC 2009

11

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2009

Training of Environmental Technology

Assessment and Inspection Agency (OEFA) in Peru which acted as the local coordinator; andJapanese trading and mining companies. The former participants gave presentations on the
progress of their Action Plan, and a lively discussion ensued. We also visited the Graciela
mine located on the outskirts of Lima on 24 February with the seminar participants where wewitnessed the effective use of an abandoned mine.
Upgrading the GEC Participants Network
1998

GEC commenced one-day seminar and publication of newsletters

May 2001

Full-scale operation of the GEC Information Board began

April 2002

GEC Network expanded to include four environmental JICA training courses offered by the Osaka City Government

May 2003

JICA training course curriculum text made available online

April 2004

Country reports, other reports and photo album made available online

April 2005

Change of name to the ‘JICA-GEC Network’

January 2007 Publication of mail magazine ‘Connect the World’ begins
March 2009

Publication of questions from training course participants commences

Network Member Distribution Diagram (As of March 2010):jgdeZ6gZV^cXajY^c\C>HXdjcig^Zh/(&<:8
B^YYaZ:Vhi6gZV/+.

8ZcigVa6bZg^XV&
8Vg^WWZVc6gZV/&)-Hdji]6bZg^XV6gZV/&-%6[g^XV6gZV/'%'DXZVc^V6gZV/,%6h^V6gZV/)-(Institute of Environmental
Management andAssessment (IEMA)
U.K.-based organization
which registers
environmental auditors andcarries out accreditation of
educational establishments
providing environmental
training. By achieving a given
exam score on the final dayof the course, participants inthe ‘Environmental Policy &Environmental Management
Systems Course’ are able toacquire a maximum of fiveof the ten points required toobtain the IEMA qualificationof Associate Environmental
Auditor.

12

GEC 2009

Dissemination of Environmental Management Systems (EMS)EMS Training Courses
GEC operates the Internal Environmental Auditor Training Course targeting both corporate andadministrative internal environment auditors. The 2009 course was undertaken by 11 people.
Dissemination of EMS Overseas
By enhancing the seminars on EMS in GEC-managed JICA training programmes, we havepromoted the dissemination of EMS overseas including developing countries. As part of theEnvironmental Policy & Environmental Management System Course, we organized a six-day
session using texts certified by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment*
for environmental auditor training. Such lectures on EMS have also been introduced to other
JICA training courses, and efforts were made to improve the contents of the lectures.

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2009

PR and Educational Activities

Promotion of IETC Projects & Joint PR

GEC distributed the GEC Newsletter (Japanese & English) and Annual Report to affiliatedorganizations, and performed timely PR activities via our website and other media to introduce
the activities of IETC and GEC to a wider audience. We also screened a PR video and provided
explanations of our facilities to visitors.

GEC Publications
Please refer to page 15.
Number of visitors to GEC
92 (1 April 2009–31 March2010)

Key events hosted in 2009
Date

Event

Host

16–22 October2009

UN Week 2009 Global Environment Exhibition
Venue: Osaka City Hall
Description: Panel exhibition displaying environmental photos and initiatives of
IETC, GEC & Osaka City.

• IETC• GEC• Osaka City

29 November
2009Part 1 of the ‘Tour of the World's Water’ lecture series‘Improving the Water Environment in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay’
Venue: Osaka Municipal Central Library
Description: Lecture introducing water contamination issues currently facing HaLong Bay, and progress of the ‘Ha Long Bay Project’ jointly operated by GEC &• IETC• GEC• Osaka
Municipal
Central Library

UN Week 2009 Global
Environment Exhibition

Osaka Prefecture University.
Part 2 of the ‘Tour of the World’s Water’ lecture series ‘Global Water Issues’
Venue: Osaka Municipal Central Library
Description: Lecture by IETC Director Nakamura on the state of global water
resources and IETC’s activities.

• IETC• GEC• Osaka
Municipal
Central Library

20 November–
13 December
2009

UNEP World Environmental Photo Exhibition—Focus on Water
Venue: Osaka Municipal Central Library
Description: Exhibit of previous prize-winning photos from UNEP’s ‘Focus on YourWorld’ photo competition.

• IETC• GEC• Osaka City

11 March
2010

Symposium on low-carbon urban development (Regional Environment• GEC

Networking Event) ‘Future Direction of Low-Carbon Cities: environmental
innovation for improved sustainability’
Venue: L Osaka
Description: Symposium discussing the challenges to promoting global warming
policies and the direction of low-carbon urban development.

• Center for
Environmental
Information
Science

13 December
2009Part 2 of the ‘Tour of theWorld’s Water’ lecture series

Key events attended in 2009
Date

Event

Participants

13 September
2009

Tsurumi Ward Festival
Venue: Tsurumi Park
Description: Outline of activities via display booth, pamphlet distribution, andpanel exhibit. Also operated the ‘Eco Declaration’ event, and displayed ‘eco
declarations’ of visitors to the GEC booth.

• GEC

17–18 October
2009

Eco Fair 2009
Venue: Tsurumi Park
Description: Outline of activities via display booth, pamphlet distribution, andpanel exhibit. Also held an environmental conservation quiz for visitors to the GEC
booth.

• GEC

6–7 February
2010

One World Festival
Venue: International House Osaka
Description: Outline of activities via display booth, pamphlet distribution, andpanel exhibit. Also, cooperated on quiz rally held at venue.

• IETC• GEC

20–21 March2010

Biodiversity EXPO 2010 in Osaka
Venue: Osaka International Convention Center
Description: Outline of activities via display booth, pamphlet distribution, andpanel exhibit. Also, introduction of the ‘Ha Long Bay Project’ jointly operated by
GEC & Osaka Prefecture University.

• GEC
One World Festival(IETC & GEC’s booth)

GEC 2009

13

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2009

PR and Educational Activities / Provision of Facilities to IETC

Support for UNEP Special Envoy Activities

UNEP Special Envoy
Ms. Tokiko Kato
Since her appointment as
UNEP Special Envoy in
October 2000, Ms. Tokiko
Kato has been actively
involved in awareness-raising
activities through the media,
in addition to visiting areasof environmental concern
both in Japan and overseas
and encouraging the work of
involved parties and NGOs.
A report on Ms. Kato’s
activities as Special Envoy
is available on the GEC
website.

Since its commission by the Ministry of the Environment
in 2001, GEC has provided support for the activities of
the UNEP Special Envoy Ms. Tokiko Kato* both in Japanand abroad, including visits to areas of environmental
concern and encouraging the work of NGOs and local
communities.
Ms. Kato visited Fiji and Tuvalu from 14 to 24 April
2009 to observe the environmental issues facing SouthWith Hon. Mr. Ielemia, Prime Minister ofTuvaluPacific island nations, particularly the rising sea levelaccompanying climate change and waste-related issues. In Tuvalu, Ms. Kato witnessed firsthandjust how fragile island environments really are after observing the coastal erosion of the Funafuti
Atoll, a waste disposal site on the island Fongafale, and an illegal dump site. Meeting with
Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Ielemia and government officials, Ms. Kato discussed the issue ofclimate change, the island lifestyle and bilateral relations between Japan and Tuvalu. Ms. Katoalso contributed to amicable relations between the two nations through music by performing a
concert at the island’s parliament which doubles as the main assembly hall.
On 1 July 2009, Ms. Kato attended a discussion with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,
UN Goodwill Ambassadors and supporters held at the United Nations University, where she

Exchange with people ofTuvalu through songexchanged opinions with the Secretary General on global warming and other environmental
issues, and engaged in exchanges with the other UN agency goodwill ambassadors andsupporters. Ms. Kato also made a courtesy call with UNEP/IETC Director Nakamura to the
Mayor of Osaka Mr. Kunio Hiramatsu, where they agreed to underscore the importance ofenvironmental conservation to developing nations through ongoing cooperation between
UNEP and Osaka City.

Waste on Funafuti

GEC will continue to support Ms. Kato’s activities in her capacity as the UNEP Special
Envoy to communicate and raise awareness of the importance of environmental conservationand promote grassroots conservation activities.

Library use
The library is open on
Tuesday & Friday (excluding
public, year-end & New Yearholidays) from 10:00 to 12:00& 13:00 to 17:00. Visitors
are required to make an
appointment, and books may
be viewed and copied but
are not available for loan (asof March 2010).

Upkeep of the Library*

Since 1997, GEC has provided public access (by appointment) to the library containing
specialist literature on the global environment and especially UNEP-related publications. In
2009, we continued to improve the library by cataloging and expanding the list of available
publications such as UNEP-related literature and GEC reports. A list of the library’s UNEPrelated publications is also available on GEC’s website to promote the library’s use.

Maintenance and Enhancement of Information Systems

GEC has strived to maintain our information provision systems, and has implemented systemand software upgrades to enhance operational efficiency and ensure system stability andreliability.
Provision of Facilities to
IETC
GEC continues to provide
facilities to IETC at no cost as
part of Osaka City’s incentive
to attract UNEP to the region.

14

GEC 2009

Provision of Facilities to IETC*

GEC continued to provide facilities to IETC.

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2009

Publications List

Publications List

Publications in 2009
Publication nameContents

FormatSize/pages/date of publication

Indonesia One-day Seminar
Report FY2008

A report on a one-day seminar conducted inIndonesia in 2008

Booklet

A4/114 pages
May 2009(Japanese version)

1●

CDM/JI Symposium 2009

Survey reports from the 2008 CDM/JI
Feasibility Study Implementation Group(distributed on the day of the symposium)

BookletPDF

A4/54 pages
October 2009
(Japanese version)

2●

IETC Brochure

Provides an outline of UNEP/IETC andintroduces its activities.

Booklet

A4/4 pages
3
February 2009●
(Japanese/English version)

Survey Report on
Environmental Technologies
and Systems for 2 Eco-Town
Candidate Cities

A report on need survey conducted in
Penang and Bandung in 2009

Booklet

A4/82 pages
March 2010
(Japanese version)

Peru Follow-up Seminar
Report FY2009

A report on a follow-up seminar conductedin Peru in 2009

Booklet

A4/162 pages
March 2010
(Spanish version)

GEC Publications
Please visit the GEC website
for all of our publications in
PDF form.
CDM/JI Feasibility Study
Programme
Please refer to page 6–7.

4●

Periodicals
Publication nameContents

FormatSize/pages/date of publication

GEC Newsletter No.36(Japanese version)

An introduction to
the activities of GEC

BookletPDF

A4/8 pages
August 2009

GEC Newsletter No.37(Japanese version)

An introduction to
the activities of GEC

BookletPDF

A4/8 pages
February 2010

GEC Newsletter No.26(English version)

An introduction to
the activities of GEC

BookletPDF

A4/8 pages
October 2009

5●

GEC Newsletter No.27(English version)

An introduction to
the activities of GEC

BookletPDF

A4/8 pages
March 2010

6●

Global Environment Centre Foundation
Annual Report 2008 (Japanese version)

Report on project of GEC
for fiscal year 2008

BookletPDF

A4/20 pages
July 20097●

Global Environment Centre Foundation
Annual Report 2008 (English version)

Report on project of GEC
for fiscal year 2008

BookletPDF

A4/20 pages
September 2009

8
●

1
●

2
●

3
●

4
●

5
●

6
●

7
●

8
●

GEC 2009

15

Overview of the Global Environment Centre Foundation

Background of the Establishment

Establishment of the UNEP/DTIE/International Environmental Technology Centre
Beginning in the 1960s, Osaka City experienced a series of acute socio-environmental
issues on the back of rapid industrialization, such as air, noise and water pollution and land
subsidence. The city succeeded in substantially mitigating these problems, however, throughthe combined efforts of government and industry. Seeking to leverage these experiences forthe benefit of others, the Osaka City Government actively cooperated with developing nations
to help resolve their environmental problems, such as the formulation of a master plan toaddress air pollution in Shanghai, China.
In 1990, the International Garden and Greenery Exposition was held in Osaka based on thetheme of ‘harmonious coexistence between nature and mankind’. In anticipation of this event,
Osaka City announced its intention in August of 1989 to invite an international environmentalorganization to the city as a way of carrying on the spirit of the exposition and taking
advantage of Osaka’s experience in environmental conservation. The announcement was
followed by moves to attract relevant organizations, including an official invitation from Osaka
Mayor Masaya Nishio handed to the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) Dr. Mostafa K. Tolba during his visit to Japan.
These efforts culminated in July 1990 with a proposal by Japan’s then Prime Minister Toshiki
Kaifu at the G7 Summit in Houston to establish a UNEP facility in Japan. In August of the same
year, Japan’s Ambassador to Kenya Mr. Naohiro Kumagai made a proposal to the 2nd Special
Session of the UNEP Governing Council to set up the International Environmental Technology
Centre (IETC). In May of the following year, a resolution to establish IETC with the mandateof promoting the adoption, application and operation of Environmentally Sound Technologies(ESTs) in developing countries and countries in transition was unanimously approved at the
16th Session of the UNEP Governing Council. In October 1992, UNEP Executive Director Tolba
and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Koji Kakizawa signed an agreementin Osaka on the founding of IETC in Osaka, which officially commenced operations in April
1994. Since 1998, IETC has operated as part of UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry andEconomics Division (DTIE).
Note: official positions listed above were current at the dates listed.

Establishment of the Global Environment Centre Foundation
Following the UNEP Governing Council’s official decision to establish IETC in Japan, the Osaka
City Government set up the UNEP/IETC Osaka Planning Office on 3 July 1991 to investigate
IETC’s operations and to facilitate the establishment of a support foundation to be launched at
the start of 1992.
Following initial preparations by the Planning Office, the Global Environment Centre
Foundation (GEC) was launched as a UNEP support entity on 28 January 1992 with a capitalendowment from the Osaka prefectural and city governments.
In 2008, GEC subsequently filed an application for change of legal entity from anincorporated foundation to a public interest incorporated foundation on 27 October 2009 in
response to the 2008 enforcement of the three laws relating to reform of the public interest
corporation system. After receiving the approval of the Prime Minister, GEC made a new start
as a public interest incorporated foundation on 1 April 2010.
GEC was founded with the aim of contributing to the conservation of the environment
in developing nations and around the world by leveraging Japan’s wealth of conservation
knowledge and experience in support of UNEP’s urban environment conservation activities indeveloping nations, and undertaking activities to promote international cooperation to protect
the global environment.

16

GEC 2009

GEC’s Activities

In addition to providing various types of support to IETC such as facility sharing and project
collaboration, GEC also acts as an intermediary between IETC and its affiliated institutions inJapan to help ensure that its activities proceed smoothly and efficiently. Through activities
to protect the global environment including surveys & research, collection & disseminationof information, and hosting of training & seminars, GEC contributes to Japan’s international
efforts on the environment.
Name
Date of Establishment
Supervisory Authorities
Office Location
Endowments
Activities

Number of Staff

Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC)
28 January 1992
Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
2-110 Ryokuchi-koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka 538-0036 Japan
Telephone: +81-6-6915-4121 Facsimile: +81-6-6915-0181
1,754,160,000 yen (as of 1 April 2010)(1) Projects in support of UNEP/DTIE/IETC stated aims of technical transfers and spreading
information on environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) to promote environmental
conservation in major urban areas of developing nations.
(2) Collection, dissemination, surveying & research of information on environmental
conservation in developing nations & the world as well as global warming countermeasures
to promote technical cooperation and foster human resources in developing nations.
(3) Other projects required to achieve GEC’s stated aims.
24 (including temporary staff; as of 31 March 2010)

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GEC 2009

17

References

Board Members of the Global Environment Centre Foundation

President

MIYAHARA, Hideo

President, National Institute of Information and Communications
Technology

Executive
Director

MOCHIZUKI, Katsuichi

Former Director General for Environmental Policy, Environment Bureau,
Osaka City Government(Former Managing Director, Osaka Bay Regional Offshore Environmental
Improvement Center)

Managing
Director

MITSUOKA, KazuhikoDirectors

FUJIWARA, Yukinori

Former Director General for Environmental Policy, Environment Bureau,
Osaka City Government
General Manager, Economic Research Department,
Kansai Economic Federation

NAKAGAWA, Masataka Director, Economy and Industry Division,
The Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry

SOURI, NorioYAGI, Yasuo

Professor Emeritus, Osaka City University
Former Senior Executive Director - Environmental Management,
Department of Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
Osaka Prefectural Government

Auditors

Councilors

IWAMOTO, Kenichi
IWATANI, Motoi

Certified Tax Accountant

IZUMI, Masahiro

Executive Officer, Environmental Considerations,

Attorney

Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.

KAGAJYO, Toshimasa
KANEKO, Kumao
KATAOKA, Shigehiro
KATAYAMA, Toru
MIZUNO, Minoru
MORIOKA, Toru

General Manager, CSR and Environment Department, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
Chairperson, Japan Council on Energy & Security
Attorney
Executive Managing Director, Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center
Professor Emeritus, Osaka University
Professor, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Engineering,Kansai University (Professor Emeritus, Osaka University)

OSUMI, Kazuyoshi

Senior Executive Director - Environmental Management,
Department of Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
Osaka Prefectural Government

SAKAI, Toshifumi

Director General, Osaka International Centre of the Japan International
Cooperation Agency

SUZUKI, Yutaka

Director, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies,
Kansai Research Centre (Professor Emeritus, Osaka University)

TAMAI, Tokuo

Director General, Environment Bureau, Osaka City Government(as of 1 July 2010, honorific omitted; name in alphabetical order <Surname>)18

GEC 2009

Overview of the UNEP/DTIE/IETC

Name

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE)
International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC)

Date of Conclusion of the

30 October 1992

Agreement between Japanese
Government and UNEP

MandatePromoting the application and transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs)
particularly among developing countries in the three key fields of “Water andSanitation”, “Waste Management” and “Disaster Prevention and Management”

Contacts

Osaka Office

Posts(As of 1 July 2010)

Director, Deputy Director, Senior Liaison Officer, Programme Officers (4),Administrative/Fund Management Officer

Programme Activities(implemented in 2009)

Waste Management• Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) project- ISWM Plans and Implementation Strategy were accepted by the concerned
authorities and pilot activities were implemented in Novo Hamburgo, Brazil; Nairobi,
Kenya; and Bahir Dar, Ethiopia- 4 training manuals for integrated waste management planning were prepared.
• E-waste management project- E-waste management project in Phnom Penh, Cambodia was implemented.
• Continued to support the 3R Initiative of the Government of Japan and participated in
the High-Level Asia Regional Seminar for Sustainable Resource Management and thePreparatory Meeting of the Regional 3R Forum in Asia held in Tokyo, Japan.
• Continued to support the Osaka 3R Consortium and provided advice and inputs to theConsortium’s activities in China, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
• Organized the 5th Asia-Pacific Eco-business Forum with City of Kawasaki.
• Project on Converting Waste Plastics into a Resource- A compendium of technologies and assessment guidance were compiled.
- An International Expert Workshop was held.
• Project on Converting Waste Agricultural Biomass into a Resource- A compendium of technologies was compiled.
- An International Workshop was held.
• Development of Eco-Towns in the Asia Pacific Region- ‘Policy Framework for Eco-Town’ was developed in Penang in Malaysia, Bandung inIndonesia and Shenyang in China.
• The consultation workshop on development of a ‘Global Platform on Waste
Management’ was held in Geneva.

2-110 Ryokuchi-koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka 538-0036 Japan
tel: +81-6-6915-4581 fax: +81-6-6915-0304
Shiga Office1091 Oroshimo-cho, Kusatsu-city, Shiga, 525-0001 Japan
tel: +81-77-568-4581 fax: +81-77-568-4587
e-mail: ietc@unep.org IETC homepage: http://www.unep.or.jp/

Water and Sanitation• Support for Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands project was finishedin December 2009 and the completion report was published.
• UNEP-UNESCO initiative for the Iraqi Marshlands to develop and implement a longerterm management structure in the Iraqi Marshlands, utilizing the World Heritage
inscription process as a tool was implemented.
• Pilot demonstration on the application of the phytotechnology to improve water quality
in Bocaina City, Brazil continued.
• The work on upgrading the IETC software (Sub Wet2.0) to design artificial wetlands toallow for the inclusion of temperate and cold climates was completed.
• A project to address the need for improving access to water and wastewater provisionin rural communities in environmentally vulnerable areas in Jamaica was implemented.
• A Seminar/Training Workshop using ‘Every Drop Counts, the sourcebook and training
materials on water use efficiency in the urban and domestic environment’ wasconducted.

GEC 2009

19

References

Disaster Management and Prevention• Project DEBRI - Demonstrating ESTs for Building Waste Reduction in Indonesia- Application of ESTs for tsunami disaster waste reduction, processing, reuse &recycling; installation of related equipment in Banda Aceh; project completed in
March 2009
• Cooperation with United Nations Disaster Assessment & Coordination (UNDAC)
mission: Advice & technical support to UNDAC missions in countries requestingsupport to prevent & mitigate natural disasters under the UNDAC mechanism (cyclone
in Burma; earthquake in Sichuan, China; Papua New Guinea)
Others• Co-hosting of exhibit to commemorate World Environment Day & Environment Monthwith the International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC) under the theme ‘Combatingclimate change & world lake conservation’ at the Lake Biwa Museum• Participation in the Osaka Prefecture Urban Greenery Fair, panel exhibit & distributionof materials on the environment• Admission of Study tours: Josai International University, University of Shiga Prefecture,
Gyeongsang National University (South Korea)• Publication & distribution of pamphlets introducing IETC’s activities• IETC website update: improvement of English & Japanese language versions andproject information• Participation in MOFA & international organizations' joint campaign ‘Issho ni Kokuren’(‘Together with the UN’)INDEX
Series of NETT21 (New Environmental Technology Transfer in the 21st Century):
A database developed by GEC from 1996 onward to disseminate information on Japan’s environmental technologies forthe purpose of promoting EST transfer in developing countries, and the number of data listings for each topic.
Database on: • Air Pollution Control Technology in Japan: 133• Waste Management Technology in Japan: 42• Water Pollution Control Technology in Japan: 81• On-Site Green Technique (OGT) in Japan: 83• Air Pollution Continuous Monitoring Technology in Japan: 83• Water Pollution Continuous Monitoring Technology in Japan: 53• Cleaner Production Technology in Japan: 241• Energy-Saving Technology at Business-Related Buildings: 69• Soil and Groundwater Contamination Survey and Countermeasure Technologies: 37• Japanese Advanced Environmental Equipment (provided by JSIM): 621
Total: 1,443 data listings (as of 31 March 2010, complete data available in English via the GEC Website)
Stored publications: 6,949 including 473 UNEP-related books (as of 31 March 2010)

Global Environment Centre Foundation Annual Report 2009
Date of issue: September 2010
Issued by Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC)
2-110 Ryokuchi-koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka 538-0036 Japan
Tel: +81-6-6915-4121 Fax: +81-6-6915-0181 Web page address (URL): http://gec.jp© Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC), 2010
This annual report is printed on recycled paper using soybean ink.

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GEC 2009