contents

1

Foreword

2

Activities in Fiscal Year 2008
International Cooperation: Technical Support for Developing Countries

3

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

4International Cooperation in Developing Countries

6

Contribution to Measures for the Mitigation of Climate Change

8

Human Resource Development in Developing Countries

11

Dissemination of Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

Training of Environmental Technology

PR and Educational Activities
12

Promotion of IETC Projects & Joint PR

12

PR Activities

13

Hosting of Seminars and Symposia

13

Support for UNEP Special Envoy Activities

14

Upkeep of the Library
Maintenance and Enhancement of Information Systems
Provision of Facilities to IETC
Publications List

15

Publications List
Overview of the Global Environment Centre Foundation

16

Background of the Establishment

17

Mission and Objectives
References

18

Board Members of the Global Environment Centre Foundation

19

Overview of the UNEP DTIE IETC

20

INDEX

All years listed in this Annual Report are expressed according to the Japanese fiscal year from 1 April to 31 March.
Terms marked with an asterisk (*) are defined in the margin.

888

Foreword

The global financial crisis which began as a result of the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis and thecollapse of Lehman Brothers delivered a significant blow to Japan’s export-reliant economy in 2008by triggering a sudden appreciation of the yen and a decline in Japanese share prices. At first glance,
this contraction in economic activity may appear to be a boon for the environment due to the resultant
decrease in environmental impact. The fact is, however, that it will ultimately stymie measures toprotect the environment by eliciting a decline in eco-business which will in turn bring a halt to thedevelopment of eco-infrastructure and innovations in green technology.
Meanwhile, a look at the rest of the world reveals that the issue of climate change, and especiallythe issue of waste in developing countries, is currently worsening. Environmental measures generally
take low priority in developing countries compared to those relating to poverty, healthcare andsanitation so there is a concern that the current global financial crisis will delay the adoption ofenvironmental conservation measures within these nations.
Since its founding in 1992 as a support body for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC), the Global Environment Centre Foundation(GEC) has focused its projects on the transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) in orderto help realize environmental conservation and sustainable development in developing countries.
In 2008, GEC implemented the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)/Joint Implementation (JI)
Feasibility Study Programme at the commission of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, in order topromote global warming counter-measures and sustainable development. GEC has also been active
in tackling various environmental issues by operating training programmes at the commission of theJapan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with the aim of developing environmental policymakers
and other personnel from developing countries, as well as by implementing projects in partnershipwith IETC in order to transfer Japan’s eco-town concept to these countries.
In the future, GEC will continue to promote such initiatives and contribute to international
cooperation on the environment in addition to working even harder to protect the global environment
with the cooperation of our affiliated organizations.
We therefore hope that this annual report will help to foster an understanding of GEC’s activities,
and we look forward to your continued support and cooperation in the future.

September 2009

MIYAHARA, Hideo
President
Global Environment Centre Foundation

GEC 2008

1

Activities in Fiscal Year 2008

In order to provide technological assistance and other forms of international cooperation to developing
countries, GEC visited the eco-town target city of Bandung, Indonesia in 2008 where we hosted a workshop
and donated two waste chopping machines with the aim of promoting UNEP DTIE IETC’s activities to share
information on and transfer Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs).
We also published new technical information in the existing ‘Cleaner Production Technology in Japan’
category of our environmental technology database ‘NETT21’.
GEC is planning to launch a project in collaboration with the community of Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam whereenvironmental degradation has become an issue. We therefore conducted a preliminary study with Osaka
Prefecture University to determine the specific needs of those involved in this project which aims to improve thelives of the residents and the environment.
GEC also supported the ‘Industrial Waste Treatment Technology Training’ operated by the Osaka Prefectural
Government by providing training on the proper treatment of waste and recycling technologies to participantsfrom Jiangsu Province in China.
In our role as secretariat of the CDM/JI Feasibility Study Programme commissioned by the Ministry of
the Environment, Japan, GEC continued efforts to select promising CDM/JI projects and ensure their proper
progress with a focus on co-benefit projects which address global warming while also meeting the needs ofdeveloping countries to deal with environmental pollution. We also contributed to measures to tackle global
warming by hosting a symposium and attending the 14th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP14)
where we both gathered and disseminated information.
GEC operated seven training courses on environmental technology and other subjects under the JICA Group
Training Programme which aims to foster human resources in developing countries. We also held a one-day
seminar and workshop in Indonesia as part of our efforts to follow up on former training course participants.
In terms of public relations and raising awareness, GEC co-hosted G8 Toyako
Summit Commemoration International Symposium with IETC to discuss
ways for government, industry and academia to work together towards
the realization of a ‘low carbon society’.
Meanwhile, UNEP Special Envoy Ms. Tokiko Kato traveled
to Australia where she hosted a concert under the theme ofprotecting the environment in addition to visiting local
environmental conservation initiatives. Ms. Kato also gave
the keynote speech at the ‘ECO Asia Symposium’ heldin Nagoya, in which she emphasized the importanceof conserving the environment.
In addition to all of these activities, GEC also
works to promote awareness of our work by
issuing newsletters and annual reports,
participating in events relating to the environment,
and hosting a series of lectures aimed at citizens.

2

GEC 2008

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2008

International Cooperation: Technical Support for Developing Countries

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

Environmentally Sound Industrial Development and Eco-Town* Development Projectin the Asia-Pacific Region
In the Asian region where economic development is
progressing, 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 its 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 supported

Workshop in Bandung

this project.
GEC visited the eco-town target city of Bandungin Indonesia from 10 to 14 March 2009 to host awaste management technology workshop as well as
presenting two waste chopping machines requestedby the Bandung municipal government using the funds
collected at an environmentally-themed charity fundraising event at the ‘Nakanoshima Music Carnival ’07 Osaka Chinese Culture Festival’ held in September 2007.

Waste chopping machine presentation
ceremony in Bandung

The workshop was attended by about 60 people from a broad range of organizations including
government and residents’ groups who enthusiastically discussed initiatives to effectively
reduce and recycle waste. The presentation ceremony was attended by some 300 people
including representatives and residents from Bandung.

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
The Eco-Towns developedin Japan utilize a framework
whereby environmentallysound enterprises are built 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.

The waste chopping machines will be used in a waste-reduction pilot project jointly plannedby a residents’ group and waste disposal firm, thereby supporting the promotion of the 3Rs in
Bandung, and advancing the city’s eco-town programme.
Eco-Town Project Activities
Since 2006, IETC and Kawasaki City have co-hosted
the ‘UNEP Eco-Town Project Meeting’ with the aim ofpromoting the eco-town project and, on 20 October
2008, hosted a workshop in Kawasaki targeting eco-town
candidate Penang, Malaysia with the participation andcooperation of GEC. The workshop was attended by two
staff from the Socio-Economic & Environmental ResearchInstitute (SERI) who made presentations entitled ‘The
Eco-town Concept’ and ‘Penang’s 10-year Plan’, and a

Presentation by Dr. Srinivas, IETC
Programme Officer

decision was eventually reached between IETC and SERI on the specific initiatives of Penang’s
eco-town activity plan for 2009.
IETC and Kawasaki City also co-hosted the ‘5th Asia-Pacific Eco-Business Forum - Urban
and Industrial Symbiosis’ on 16 and 17 February 2009 as a joint event of the ‘Kawasaki
International Eco-Tech Fair 2009’, again with the participation and cooperation of GEC. The
forum was attended by 26 representatives from environmental administrations in Bandungand Penang as well as Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Sorsogon in the Philippines and Shenyang
in China. Each session featured presentations and lively discussions on the eco-town initiatives
and challenges in each of the participants’ cities. GEC strived to collect and exchange
information which would prove valuable in supporting and promoting the eco-town project indeveloping countries.

GEC 2008

3

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2008

NETT21(New Environmental
Technology Transfer in the
21st Century)
A database developed by
GEC from 1996 onward todisseminate information
on Japan’s environmental
technologies for the purposeof promoting EST transfer indeveloping countries.
NETT21 currently offers
approximately 1,500 items oftechnical information acrossten databases.
While NETT21 forms thecore of the information
GEC transmits on ESTs, theoriginally published data
has since become outdated.
We therefore intend to carryout consecutive reviews todeliver further improvements
to the database content.
(Please refer to page 20 for
details.)
Number of inquiries to
NETT21
Overseas: 23; Domestic: 2(1 April 2008–31 March
2009)

International Cooperation: Technical Support for Developing Countries

Promoting the Spread of Information on ESTs
In July 2008, GEC published an additional 52 technicalarticles in the ‘Cleaner Production Technology in Japan’
category of our existing GEC environmental technology
database ‘NETT21*’. The articles contained technicalinformation collected during a comprehensive dataacquisition project in 2007. We also sought to ensure
the reliability of the previously-updated databases ‘Water
Pollution Control Technology in Japan’ and ‘Waste
Management Technology in Japan’ by confirming theregistered data with their providers. In addition, we surveyed
the needs of JICA participants and prioritized the extraction
and updating of technical information in high demand forthe seven database categories yet to be updated.

Urban Water Issues (Website on Water and Sanitation ‘GESAP*’)
GEC launched the ‘GESAP’ website on water andsanitation in 2005 with the aim of providing information
to assist in solving issues relating to sanitary watersupply and drainage in developing countries. The website
contains data on global situation in sanitation sector,
water and wastewater reuse, and the sewerage works
in Osaka, Japan. In 2008, we added a new databasecategory entitled ‘Water Supply System in Osaka, Japan’
to provide reference information on the previously-

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 City Environment
and Sewerage Bureau in2003), ‘Resource and Energy
Recovery in Sanitation’ and‘Water Supply System inOsaka, Japan’ (published by
the Osaka City Water Works
Bureau in 2006).

Environmental Technology Database‘NETT21’

GESAP

unpublished subject of waterworks. The databasecategory was then published on GESAP in March 2009. In the future, GEC will study effective
ways to utilize this database while identifying the needs of users.

International Cooperation in Developing Countries
Ha Long Bay* Project in Viet Nam
The recent deterioration of the environment in Ha Long Bay in Viet Nam’s Quang Ninh
Province has raised the possibility of it being deleted from the World Heritage List and madefinding a solution all the more urgent. GEC and Osaka Prefecture University therefore launchedthe ‘Project on support for building a community-based recycle-oriented system in Ha Long
Bay area’ to create a resource recycling system based on cooperation between residents,
tourist operators and the government with the aim of improving the lives of residents and theenvironment in Ha Long Bay. The project was adopted as the 2nd JICA Grassroots TechnicalCooperation Project (partnership type) of 2007 and, from 16 to 21 September 2008, GEC
visited Viet Nam with Osaka Prefecture University to conduct a preliminary study in preparation
for the project’s commencement in 2009.
The project seeks to reduce the waste and deal with the household wastewater which ismainly generated by Ha Long Bay’s floating community and tourist boats. We also plan to curb
the generation of waste and promote measures to improve the environment in collaboration
with government agencies including the Quang Ninh Province’s Department of Natural
Resources and Environment by implementing environmental education as well as water quality
monitoring carried out with the participation of local residents. By pushing ahead with this4

GEC 2008

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.

initiative we will raise awareness about environmental
conservation among residents, as well as supporting thecreation of systems to facilitate autonomous, sustained
efforts led by community groups.
The main objectives of the preliminary study are to
identify the specific needs of the project’s target group,
namely the residents of Ha Long Bay, and to enlist thecooperation of the key stakeholder organizations to
implement the project. We also hosted a meeting on 19

Interview with a representative of floating
community

September 2008 gathering together all parties involvedin the project, and about 20 people attended including
Ha Long Bay

representatives from the floating community and tourist
boat owners. The meeting facilitated a lively discussion
on the details of the project, allowing us to identify
a broad range of needs. We now plan to make final
adjustments in order to incorporate the local opinions
and needs highlighted by this study into the project’s

Meeting with local affiliates
A village of residents livingon the water

activities as we move towards its commencement.

Osaka-Asia 3R* Technology Support Project• Support for Training on Industrial Waste Treatment
Technology for Jiangsu Province, China
The Osaka Prefectural Government operated the ‘Asia
3R Technology Support Project’ in 2006 and 2007 withthe aim of supporting urban waste initiatives in Asian
cities by leveraging the waste treatment and recycling
technologies of private companies in Osaka. GEC is
supporting this project through the effective use ofresources (eco-town and 3R-related technologies) that

Discussion with Jiangsu Environmental
Protection Department officials

we have accumulated to date.
Against the backdrop of China’s rapid economic
development, the Osaka Prefectural Government
launched the ‘Osaka Prefecture Industrial Waste
Treatment Technology Training’ in 2008 to train
environmental administration officials from Jiangsu
Province, where the proper treatment of industrial waste
and promotion of recycling are proving problematic. GEC

Field trip to the Biyo Center in Shiga, Japanwas responsible for conducting the preliminary survey and operating the training.
In order to ensure the training’s effective operation, GEC carried out a preliminary survey
in Jiangsu Province from 16 to 19 September 2008. The survey team visited the Jiangsu
Environmental Protection Department and the candidate trainees to confirm the training
curriculum needs. We also confirmed the extent of the province’s water pollution caused byrecent industrialization with a visit to Lake Tai, which has been emitting a pungent odor due to

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.

deterioration in water quality and the occurrence of blue-green algae.
After examining the training program based on the results of the preliminary study, GEC
operated the ‘Osaka Prefecture Industrial Waste Treatment Technology Training’ from 9 to 21
November 2008. On the final day, a training evaluation meeting was held in which the trainees
made presentations outlining the specific ways they would apply what they had learned todeal with waste, and was concluded with highly positive evaluations from the participants.
GEC 2008

5

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2008

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 amountof reduced emissions. A
developed country can thenuse these credits to achieve
its own emission reduction
target.
JI (Joint Implementation)
Like CDM, Joint
Implementation is also a
Kyoto Mechanism. A system
whereby a developed
country cooperates toimplement projects to
reduce greenhouse gases,
with one developed country(the host country) issuing
credits (ERUs*) and the otherdeveloped country (investor
country) able to use thosecredits to achieve its own
emission reduction target.
CDM/JI Feasibility Study
Programme
Of the feasibility studies
carried out to date, eightprojects have been registeredby the CDM Executive Board(including registration of
one similar project in the
FS vicinity) and anotherfive projects have obtained
approval from the Japanese
government. Three new
methodologies derived
from previous FSs have also
been approved by the CDM
Executive Board (EB).

CDM*/JI* Feasibility Study Programme*
Since 1999, GEC has continued efforts to unearth promising projects and accumulateknowledge in our role as secretariat of the CDM/JI Feasibility Study (FS) Programme at thecommission of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.
In order to help Japan obtain the credits needed to achieve its greenhouse gas reduction
targets, GEC sought to select more feasible projects during the FS selection process byconducting preliminary interviews with the applicants. In 2008, we invited applications with
an emphasis on CDM/JI projects capable of realizing ‘Co-benefits’ by contributing to global
warming countermeasures as wellas environmental conservation

9:C<bem&=;9Fhe`[Yji

measures in developing countries.
As a result, we adopted 23
feasibility studies in fields such aswaste management and biomass
utilization. GEC assisted in thedevelopment of the Project Design
Documents (PDDs) which arerequired to validate the eligibility of

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these projects as CDM/JI projects(validation), and managed the

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progress of the FSs by providing
specific advice towards theirrealization via an expert committee.

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List of 2008 CDM/JI Feasibility Studies*
Category

Project

Country

Waste Management

Methane Emissions Avoidance at Waste Landfill Site

China

Biomass Utilization

Renewable Energy

Organic Waste Treatment and Methane Power Generation ProjectChina

MSW Intermediate Treatment Programmatic CDM

Indonesia

Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Treatment Co-benefits CDM

Malaysia

Power Generation with Waste Material and Recovered Gas of Palm Oil Mill

Malaysia

Biogas Plants Introducing Program

Nepal

Sewage Sludge Incineration CDM Project

Singapore

Biomass Electric Generation System by the Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells(PAFC)

Thailand

CDM Project to Utilize Effectively the Biogas at the Swine Farms

Thailand

Wastewater Treatment and Energy Recovery at Starch Processing Plant

Viet Nam

Generation of Biomass from Urban Refuse in Can Tho City 1

Viet Nam

Jatropha Biofuel and Power Generation Project

Cambodia

Wood Biomass Power Generation

Indonesia

Bio-diesel Production

Mozambique

Rice Husk-based Power Generation

Philippines

Programmatic CDM for Ethanol Production Using Cassava Pulp

Thailand

Programmatic CDM on Renewable Energy Generation Utilizing Irrigation
CanalsPhilippines

Installation of Solar Water Heating Systems

Viet Nam

OthersDirect Reduction Iron Production by Utilizing Coke Oven Gas

China(Waste Gas Utilization)

Waste Coke Oven Gas (COG) Based Electricity Generation Plant

China

Energy Utilization of Ammonia Plant Tail Gas

Syria

OthersWaste Electricity Utilization at a Locomotive Plant

China(Energy Efficiency)

Introduction of High-Efficiency Electric Transformers in the ElectricTransmission and Distribution Grid

Viet Nam

1) The ‘CDM Feasibility Study on Generation of Biomass from Urban Refuse in Can Tho City, Viet Nam’ was terminated upon learning that the
project could not be implemented due to poor feasibility.

6

GEC 2008

CER (Certified Emission
Reduction)
A credit issued in responseto the amount of greenhousegas reduction resulting froma CDM Project.

CDM/JI Feasibility Study Projects in 2008

ERU (Emission Reduction
Unit)
A credit issued in responseto the amount of greenhousegas reduction resulting froma JI Project.
2008 CDM/JI Feasibility
StudiesPlease refer to the GEC
website for further details on
the study reports.
LVhiZBVcV\ZbZci
GZcZlVWaZ:cZg\nBiomass Electric Generation Systemby the Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells(Thailand)

7^dbVhhJi^a^oVi^dcDi]ZghLVhiZ<VhJi^a^oVi^dc

MSW Intermediate Treatment
Programmatic CDM (Indonesia)

Di]Zgh:cZg\n:[[^X^ZcXn

Programmatic CDM on Renewable
Energy Generation Utilizing Irrigation
Canals (Philippines)‘CDM/JI Symposium 2008*’
GEC has hosted events annually since 2000 together with the Ministry of the Environment,
Japan to provide valuable information to the public as well as private companies interested in‘CDM/JI Symposium 2008’
Participants:
Tokyo: Approx. 260
Osaka: Approx. 130

the CDM/JI.
In October 2008, GEC hosted the ‘Symposium on CDM/JI Feasibility Study Programme for
Climate Change Mitigation 2008 (CDM/JI Symposium 2008)’ in Tokyo and Osaka.
The symposium featured lectures by experts providing participants with the latest
information on global warming and CDM/JI both in Japan and overseas. Four CDM/JI FS
entities also reported the results of their studies undertaken in 2007, and then experts reviewed
these reports and made constructive comments based on the latest findings and information,such as the various issues
involved in realizing projects andmethods for their resolution.
Participants also received
the ‘CDM/JI Symposium 2008’
booklet containing summary
reports on FSs conducted in
2007.

‘CDM/JI Symposium 2008’ in Tokyo (left) and Osaka (right)

GEC 2008

7

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2008

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.
Co-benefits approach toclimate change and CDM
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.
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 2009.

International Cooperation: Technical Support for Developing Countries

Collection and Distribution of CDM/JI-related Information
GEC attended the 14th Conference of the Parties tothe United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (COP14)* and the 4th Conference of the Parties
serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto
Protocol (COP/MOP4)* held in Poznan, Poland, from 1
to 12 December 2008, where we collected information.
GEC also set up an exhibition booth introducing the
CDM/JI FS Programme commissioned by the Ministry of

COP14

the Environment, displayed posters to raise awareness of the ‘Co-benefits approach to climatechange and CDM*’, and distributed the ‘CDM/JI Manual for Project Developers and Policy
Makers–2008’ issued by the Ministry of the Environment as well as its electronic media andother related materials.
The information collected at these conferences and their side events is published on the
GEC website. The dissemination of up-to-date, precise information on CDM/JI in Japanese ishighly significant for businesses in Japan involved in CDM/JI projects.
Osaka CDM Network*
The Osaka CDM Network provides information on the
CDM and emission trading business via seminars held
several times a year.
In 2008, the Osaka CDM Network hosted threeseminars for its members and, in November, set up a
web platform from which it launched the ‘Osaka Carbon
Offset Concierge’ (OCONOMI) activity to raise publicawareness on carbon offsetting.

Osaka Carbon Conference & Fair 2008

The Network also hosted the ‘Osaka Carbon Conference & Fair 2008’ at the ‘New Earth
2008’ symposium held at Intex-Osaka from 26 to 28 November 2008.

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2008

Training of Environmental Technology

Human Resource Development in Developing Countries
Country Report
A report prepared by eachparticipant describing theenvironmental administration
system, environmental
situation and other related
issues in his or her country.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Group Training Project
GEC operated the following seven JICA-commissioned group training courses for engineersand government officials from developing countries, while also enhancing the courses’
curricula. In addition to the existing training courses, GEC also launched the ‘Capacity
Development in Environmental Management (Air and Water Pollution Control) for Middle

Action Plan
When the training isover, each participant
works out action plans forenvironmental improvementin his or her country
based on the findings andcompetence acquired
through the training.

8

GEC 2008

Eastern Countries’ in 2008 with the aim of enhancing policymaking and regulatory capacity
to improve air and water pollution in the Middle East which have experienced remarkableindustrial expansion and urbanization.
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.

Training
periodNationality ofparticipants

Main course
contents

Environmental Policy & Environmental Management Systems*
7 May–
27 June2008

10 participantsfrom Indonesia(2 participants),
Kenya(2 participants),
Laos(2 participants),
Mauritius,
Senegal(2 participants),
Ukraine,Viet Nam

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 • 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*
16 June –8 August
2008

5 participantsfrom Algeria,
El Salvador,
Macedonia,
Philippines,
Viet Nam

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 Prefecture, 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• Waster and sewer facility • 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.

Urban Solid Waste Management by Local Government*
21 August–
21 October
2008

10 participantsfrom Belize,
East Timor,
El Salvador,
Jamaica,
Maldives,
Mongolia,
Sri Lanka,
Turkey,Uruguay,
Vanuatu

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.

Air Pollution Control*
24 September–
12 December
2008

5 participantsfrom China,
India(2 participants),
Morocco,Pakistan

Cooperating bodies• Osaka City Environment Bureau• Osaka Environmental Technology and Research Co., Ltd.
• Nakayama Steel Works, Ltd. • Suuri-Keikaku Co., Ltd. • Universities, etc.
Lectures• Planning of Air Pollution Prevention, etc.
Practical training• Measurement and analysis of flue gas etc.
Facility tours• Exhaust gas treatment facility • Monitoring stations, etc.
PurposeTo train engineers and administrative officials and to teach techniques forcountermeasures against air pollution.

Environmental Policy &Environmental Management
Systems Course

Lecture on environmental
management systems

Pollution Controls for
Hazardous Substances inthe Environment Course

Snapshot of practical analysis
training

Urban Solid Waste
Management by Local
Government Course

Field trip to green recycling
center

Air Pollution Control
CourseField trip to coal-fired thermal
power plant

GEC 2008

9

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2008

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

Waste Effluent Pollution Control Caused by Mining and Manufacturing Industries
for Central and South America*
14 November–
12 December
2008

Field trip to learn about
soil contamination control
measures
Capacity Developmentin Environmental
Management (Air andWater Pollution Control) for
Middle Eastern Countries

Training of Environmental Technology

21 participants,
3 participantsfrom each ofArgentina,
Bolivia,
Chile,
Colombia,
Cuba,
Peru,
Venezuela

Capacity Development in Environmental Management (Air and Water Pollution Control)
for Middle Eastern Countries*
23 January–
27 February
2009

6 participantsfrom Egypt(2 participants),
Iran,
Lebanon,Syria(2 participants)

Study tour of sewage plant

TRAINING PROGRAMMEFOR YOUNG LEADERS,
Latin American
Countries, Environment(Environmental
Conservation) Group

Field trip to Eco PlazaGEC Networking Projectfor Former Training
Participants
There are 1,050 overseas
GEC participants on the
network in 111 countries.
(as of March 2009)

Cooperating bodies• Osaka City Environment Bureau • Osaka City Public Works Bureau • Sumitomo Metal
Mining Co., Ltd. • National Institute for Minamata Disease • Toyama Prefecture, 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.

Cooperating bodies• Osaka City Environment Bureau • Osaka City Public Works Bureau• Osaka Prefectural Government • Suuri-Keikaku Co., Ltd. • Universities, etc.
Lectures• Methods for formulating prevention programs (air & water pollution)• Environmental Impact Assessment, etc.
Facility tours• Air pollution/water pollution monitoring station • Sewage 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 PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG LEADERS, Latin American Countries, Environment(Environmental Conservation) Group*
17 February–
4 March2009

13 participantsfrom Argentina,
Chile,
Colombia,
Costa Rica,
Cuba,
Dominican
Republic,
Guatemala(3 participants),
Honduras,
Mexico,Paraguay,
Peru

Cooperating bodies• Osaka City Environment Bureau • Osaka City Public Works Bureau• Department of Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Osaka Prefectural
Government • Foundation of Environmental Management, Osaka• Osaka International House Foundation, etc.
Lectures• Japan’s environment measures, waste treatment & climate change• Waste disposal in Osaka, etc.
Facility tours• Sewage treatment plant • Eco Plaza, etc.
PurposeTo enhance the environmental knowledge of young people working in environmental
fields as well as promoting mutual understanding and amicable relationships throughexchanges with students and homestays.

GEC Networking Project for Former Training Participants*
In an effort to follow up on former JICA participants
and ascertain the needs of developing countries,
GEC established the GEC Network for former training
course participants in 1998, publishes the ‘GEC PLAZA’
newsletter and the ‘Connect the World’ email newsletter,and conducts one-day seminars* to consolidate the
network through the exchange of information.
Commissioned by JICA, GEC continued to manage theOne-day Seminar in Jakarta‘JICA-GEC Network’ website for network members in 2008 and updated the site’s main page
on a weekly basis to provide information to members. In addition, we conducted a survey ofmembers at six and twelve months after their return home to ascertain how they had applied
10

GEC 2008

the knowledge and experience acquired from their training since their return, and monitored
the progress of their action plans prepared during the JICA group training.
GEC also visited Indonesia from 9 to 14 March 2009, where we hosted a one-day seminar in
Jakarta and held a workshop in Bandung. In addition, GEC visited a landfill site in Leuwigajah
on 12 March where a landslide claimed the lives of 140 people in 2005 (refer to page 3 article
on Bandung).
We will actively continue to host these one-day seminars in the future while considering theneeds of repatriated participants and following up on their progress in an appropriate manner.
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’

One-Day Seminar
Held in countries where
Network membership ishigh, the theme of eachseminar is intended to reflect
the specific needs of thatcountry.
• Thailand & the 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)

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 2009)

Tour of Leuwigajah waste
disposal site

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DXZVc^V6gZV/,%Dissemination of Environmental Management Systems (EMS)EMS Training Courses
GEC operates the Internal Environmental Auditor Training Course targeting both corporate
and administrative internal environment auditors. The 2008 course took place in July and wasundertaken by 10 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 Policies & Environmental Management Systems 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.

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.

GEC 2008

11

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2008

PR and Educational Activities

Promotion of IETC Projects & Joint PR

GEC Publications
Please refer to page 15.

GEC provides PR to raise awareness of IETC activities
by introducing IETC projects both in our newsletters(published in Japanese and English) and on our website.
IETC and GEC co-hosted the G8 Toyako Summit
Commemoration International Symposium on‘Low Carbon Society: Towards its Realization with
C o l l a b o r a t i o n o f A c t o r s ’ a n d t h e ‘ U N E P Wo r l dEnvironmental Photo Exhibition - Climate Change -’ on’UNEP World Environmental Photo
Exhibition’9 September 2008, at International House, Osaka. GEC
also operated exhibition booths together with IETC atthe ‘New Earth 2008’ symposium held at Intex-Osakafrom 26 to 28 November 2008 and the ‘One World
Festival’ held at International House, Osaka from 20 to
21 December 2008, where we introduced each other’s
activities by distributing pamphlets and newsletters anddisplaying panels introducing our activities.

‘One World Festival’ (IETC & GEC’s booth)We also hosted a series of lectures together with the
Osaka Municipal Central Library on 1 and 15 February 2009 entitled 'World Water Tour - Iraq
& Thailand’ with the aim of improving the public’s understanding of IETC and GEC’s activities.
The first installment on 1 February consisted of a lecture entitled ‘Support for Environmental
Management of the Iraqi Marshlands’ which reported on the main consequences, specificactivities and achievements of the Iraqi Marshlands Project operated by IETC. The lecture
was attended by about 50 members of the public and was followed by a lively Q&A session,reflecting the high level of public interest.

PR Activities

Number of visitors to GEC
62 (1 April 2008–31 March2009)

In order to introduce our activities to a wider audience,
GEC undertook aptly-timed public relations (PR) activities
by distributing regular newsletters and annual reports
in both Japanese and English to affiliated organizations,and through the use of our website. We also screened a
PR video and provided an explanation of our facilities tovisitors, as well as operating exhibition booths at various
events to introduce our activities.

GEC’s booth at Tsurumi Ward Festival

On 15 February 2009, we hosted a series of lectureswith IETC and the Osaka Municipal Central Library
introducing our activities in support of the local residentsof the Tha Chin River basin over a period of three years
from 2005.
Then, on 22 February 2009, we made a similarp r e s e n t a t i o n a t a n eve n t h e l d a t t h e Ko n o h a n aCommunity Hall in Osaka City. Through these activities

Snapshot of the lecture

we have strived to raise public awareness of environmental conservation and understanding of
our work.

12

GEC 2008

Hosting of Seminars and Symposia

Hosting of G8 Toyako Summit Commemoration International Symposium on‘Low Carbon Society: Towards its Realization with Collaboration of Actors’
The G8 Summit held in Toyako, Hokkaido in July 2008
emphasized the importance of shifting to a low-carbon
society in order to achieve a 50% reduction in global

Panel discussion

greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. Heeding
this message, GEC co-hosted the above-mentioned
symposium with IETC in Osaka city on 9 September 2008
to discuss ways for the general public and the corporate
sector to work towards the realization of a low-carbon
society.

Keynote speech by Prof. Ogunlade R.
DavidsonPanel presentation

Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Professor Davidson
gave the keynote speech in which he introduced the findings of the IPCC Fourth Assessment
Report and emphasized that, in order to achieve a low carbon society, it is necessary tochange the nature of our development, promote the synergy of climate policy and sustainable
development, and ensure fair, participatory decision-making. In addition, Mr. Moriya, Council
for Global Environment, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of the Environment gave a speech on
the outcomes of the Toyako Summit and the MOE’s ‘Action Plan for Achieving a Low-carbon
Society’, Dr. Nishioka, Senior Visiting Researcher, National Institute for Environmental Studies
spoke about the necessity and potential for cutting demand-side energy consumption inorder to achieve a low carbon society, while Mr. Chandak, then Officer-in-Charge, UNEP IETC
discussed UNEP’s climate change policy and the need to reform our lifestyles.
The panel discussion featured presentations by representatives of the energy industry,

Carbon offset
An instrument which aims
to compensate for part or
all of the CO2 and othergreenhouse gas emissions
which inevitably occur inthe course of daily life or
economic activity, and which
prove difficult to reduce withnormal emission-reduction
efforts, through the purchaseof ‘carbon credits’ in projects
which reduce or absorb
emissions elsewhere.

manufacturing industry, citizens and NGOs on approaches and progressive initiatives towards
achieving a low carbon society, followed by a lively discussion in which the speakers andpresenters voiced their opinions in response to questions and comments from the audience.
The moderator Dr. Nishioka brought the discussion to a close with the remark that we need tostart changing society a little at a time with policies toward a low carbon society.
As part of GEC’s measures to combat global warming, we purchased carbon offsets* for thegreenhouse gases generated by the symposium equivalent to around 8tCO2.

Support for UNEP Special Envoy Activities

Since its commission by the Ministry of the Environment,
Japan in 2001, GEC has provided support for the

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.

activities of the UNEP Special Envoy Ms. Tokiko Kato*
both in Japan and abroad, including visits to areas ofenvironmental concern and encouraging the work ofNGOs and local communities.
In 2008, Special Envoy Kato visited the cities ofCairns, Geelong, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia

Green Island formed from coral reef

from 12 to 22 August 2008. First Ms. Kato made a trip to Green Island, which is located

Performance with local
musicians in Australia

approximately 30 km offshore of Cairns and formed from coral reefs. Here she visited theisland’s environmental conservation facilities which are subject to strict environmental
regulations as well as inspecting the coral reefs on the seabed. Next the delegation visiteda World Heritage Listed tropical rainforest, and then travelled to Geelong to inspect the
mudflats which has a wetlands agreement with the Fujimae mudflats in Nagoya City inJapan. The trip reminded Ms. Kato of the importance of preserving these mudflats to protect

Participating in the panel
discussion in Nagoya

GEC 2008

13

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2008

PR and Educational Activities / Provision of Facilities to IETC

the creatures which inhabit them. While in Melbourne, the delegation made a courtesy callto Victoria’s Department of Sustainability and Environment, and listened to an explanationon the severity of the state’s drought as well as the measures to deal with it. To round off
the trip, Ms. Kato held a concert
under the theme of environmental
conservation and appealed to the
local people through music about

Activities Highlights of Ms. Kato, UNEP Special Envoy
Date

Countries Visited

30 October 2000

Appointed as UNEP Special Envoy

17–27 April 2001

Visit to Thailand and Indonesia

the importance of protecting the

10–19 August 2001

Visit to Mongolia

environment.

6–13 April 2002

Visit to Korea

2–4 June 2002

Attended the ‘WSSD PrepCom 4 Meeting’Special Envoy Kato also

on sustainable development in Bali,
Indonesia

attended ‘ECO Asia Symposium’
held in Nagoya on 12 September

22–31 August 2002

Attended and held a concert at ‘WSSD’
held in Johannesburg, South Africa

keynote speech and emphasized

13–24 May 2003

Visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan

the importance of preserving the

8–18 September 2003

Visit to Fiji and Tonga

natural environment conveyed with

16–23 May 2004

Visit to India

the use of song and images.

19–28 July 2004

Visit to China

30 August–8 September
2005

Visit to Thailand and Sri Lanka

sole special envoy, and GEC will

17–25 August 2006

Visit to Malaysia

continue to support her activities

13–23 August 2007

Visit to Viet Nam

in 2009 to spread awareness of the

21 May 2008

Visit to Fujimae Mudflats

importance of UNEP’s activities

12–22 August 2008

Visit to Australia

and environmental conservation.

12 September 2008

Attended ‘ECO Asia Symposium’2008 where she delivered theMs. Kato is currently UNEP’s

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 2009).

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
2008, we continued to catalog and improve the library’s collection of UNEP-related literatureand GEC reports. We also published a list of the UNEP-related literature on our website toenhance its availability to the public. In addition, GEC distributed copies of the publication
entitled ‘History of Pollution Control in Osaka City’ to interested public and university libraries
all over Japan.

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 2008

Provision of Facilities to IETC*

GEC continued to provide facilities to IETC.

Activities in
Fiscal Year 2008

Publications List

Publications List

Publications in 2008
Publication nameContents

FormatSize/pages/date of publication

Philippine One-day Seminar
Report FY2007

A report on a one-day seminar conductedin the Philippines in 2007

Booklet

A4/98 pages
May 2008(Japanese version)

1●

CDM/JI Symposium 2008

Survey reports from the 2007 CDM/JI
Feasibility Study Implementation Group(distributed on the day of the symposium)

BookletPDF

A4/66 pages
October 2008
(Japanese version)2●

Provides a summary of the details of theInternational Symposium on ‘Low Carbon
Society: Towards its Realization with
Collaboration of Actors’ held in 2008.

BookletPDF

A4/132 pages
December 2008
(Japanese version)

Report on the G8 Toyako
Summit Commemoration
International Symposium on‘Low Carbon Society:Towards its Realization with
Collaboration of Actors’

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.

3●

Periodicals
Publication nameContents

FormatSize/pages/date of publication

GEC Newsletter No.34(Japanese version)

An introduction to
the activities of GEC

BookletPDF

A4/8 pages
August 2008

GEC Newsletter No.35(Japanese version)

An introduction to
the activities of GEC

BookletPDF

A4/8 pages
February 2009

GEC Newsletter No.24(English version)

An introduction to
the activities of GEC

BookletPDF

A4/8 pages
October 2008

4●

GEC Newsletter No.25(English version)

An introduction to
the activities of GEC

BookletPDF

A4/8 pages
March 20095●

Global Environment Centre Foundation
Annual Report 2007 (Japanese version)

Report on project of GEC
for fiscal year 2007

BookletPDF

A4/24 pages
July 2008

6●

Global Environment Centre Foundation
Annual Report 2007 (English version)

Report on project of GEC
for fiscal year 2007

BookletPDF

A4/24 pages
September 2008

7
●

1
●

2
●

3
●

4
●

5
●

6
●

7
●

GEC 2008

15

Overview of the Global Environment Centre Foundation

Background of the Establishment

Establishment of the UNEP DTIE International Environmental Technology Centre
In the 1960s, in conjunction with rapid industrialization, Osaka City suffered fromseveral unprecedented environmental problems. Enormous infrastructure improvements
and development of environmental technologies were subsequently achieved throughcooperation between the municipal government and industry. In the hope of extending thesebenefits beyond its borders, the Osaka City Government has been working to help alleviate
environmental problems in developing countries.
With this in mind, in August 1989, Mr. Masaya Nishio, Mayor of Osaka, announced a plan
to attract an international environmental organization to the city in order to disseminate andapply Osaka’s successful experience in its urban environmental management. This plan wasannounced in accordance with the spirit of the International Garden and Greenery Exposition
held in Osaka in 1990. Following the mayor’s announcement and with the support of theJapanese national government, the Osaka Prefectural Government, and business organizationsin the region, Osaka Mayor Nishio officially handed a request to Dr. Mostafa K. Tolba,
Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), while he wasvisiting Japan.
The result was that, in July 1990, at a summit of developed countries in Houston, USA,
Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu announced the plan of setting the UNEP facilities up in Japan. In
August of the same year, Mr. Naohiro Kumagai, Japan’s Ambassador to Kenya, proposed to
the 2nd Special Meeting of the UNEP Governing Council that a center be set up in Japan inview of the increasing importance of environmental technology transfer to achieve sustainable
development. In May of the following year, a resolution to establish the UNEP International
Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) whose mandate is the adoption, application andoperation of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) in developing countries and countries
with economies in transition, was unanimously approved at the 16th Session of the UNEP
Governing Council. Official establishment of IETC was completed in October 1992 in Osaka
when UNEP Executive Director Tolba and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
Kakizawa signed an official agreement marking the founding of IETC. Since 1998, IETC has
operated as a part of UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry and Economics Division (DTIE).
Note: all titles are effective as of the years mentioned here.

Establishment of the Global Environment Centre Foundation
After official approval in 1991 by the UNEP Governing Council to set up the IETC in Japan,
the Osaka City Government formed an UNEP IETC Osaka Planning Office on 3 July 1991.
The purpose of the office was to carry out planning and create a network of support for the
proposed center. Following initial preparation by the Planning Office, capital endowment wasreceived from the Osaka prefectural and city governments. The establishment of the Global
Environment Centre Foundation (GEC) was carried out on 28 January 1992 with the expressedpurpose of supporting IETC. GEC, a nonprofit organization, obtains support from the local
business sector.
GEC provides logistical support to IETC Osaka and collaborates with IETC on joint projects.
It also acts as a liaison between environmental organizations in Japan and the IETC. In thisway, it helps to ensure the IETC’s smooth and efficient operation. In addition, GEC promotes
environmental conservation through original projects such as the collection and disseminationof environmental technological information, training programmes, seminars and symposia, as
well as research.
Thus, in all of these ways, GEC’s activities make a significant international contribution by
Japan in the environmental field.

16

GEC 2008

Mission and Objectives

GEC was established to make use of the abundant accumulation of knowledge andexperience in Japan in the field of environmental conservation. In particular, it makes use ofknowledgeable groups and individuals in the Kansai region in order to support contributionsof IETC in the field of urban environmental management in developing countries. Thus, GEC
promotes international cooperation around environmental conservation, and aims to makemeaningful, practical contributions to the protection of the global environment.
Name
Date of Establishment
Supervisory Authorities
Office Location
Endowments
Activities

Number of Staff

Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC)
28 January 1992
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, The Ministry of the Environment 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 31 March 2009)(1) Providing general support for activities of UNEP relating to urban environmental
conservation in developing countries(2) Undertaking research which contributes to the conservation of the global environment,with particular emphasis upon urban environmental management in developing countries(3) Collection and dissemination of information which contributes to the conservation of the
global environment, with particular emphasis upon urban environmental management indeveloping countries(4) Conducting of training programmes, seminars, and symposia which contribute toconservation of the global environment, with particular focus upon urban environmental
management in developing countries(5) Facilitating communications with international organizations, governmental organizations,and research organizations in various countries, in order to contribute to conservation of
the global environment(6) Any other activities necessary to achieve the mission of GEC
24 (including temporary staff, as of 31 March 2009)
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GEC 2008

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

Auditors

IWAMOTO, Kenichi
Certified Tax Accountant
NISHIYAMA, Kenichiro Director of Environmental Protection Division, Environment Bureau,
Osaka City Government

TAGAWA, Seichi

Executive Director, Urban Environment Office, Department of Environment,
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Osaka Prefectural Government

Councilors

HIGAKI, Yoji
IZUMI, Masahiro

Director General, Environment Bureau, Osaka City Government
Executive Officer, Environmental Considerations,Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.

KANEKO, Kumao
KATAOKA, Shigehiro
KATAYAMA, Toru
MATSUMOTO, Kiyokazu

Chairperson, Japan Council on Energy & Security

MIZUNO, Minoru
MORIOKA, Toru

Professor Emeritus, Osaka University

Attorney
Executive Managing Director, Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center
General Manager, Environment Department, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
Professor, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Engineering,Kansai 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

Vice President, University of Hyogo(as of 1 July 2009, honorific omitted; name in alphabetical order <Surname>)18

GEC 2008

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 and Sanitation”,“Sustainable Production and Consumption” focusing on waste management/3R initiatives
and “Disaster Prevention and Management”

Contacts

Osaka Office

Posts(As of 1 July 2009)

Director, Deputy Director, Senior Liaison Officer, Senior Programme Officer
Programme Officers (3)Programme Activities(implemented in 2008)

Production and Consumption with focus on Waste/3R• Integrated Solid Waste Management project for Wuxi, China; Maseru, Lesotho; Pune,
India; and Matale, Sri Lanka- ISWM Plans and Implementation Strategy were accepted by the concerned authorities
and taken up for implementation.
- Pilot activities in Maseru were implemented.
• E-waste management project- 2 guidance manuals were prepared.
- E-waste management project in Phnom Penh, Cambodia was launched.
• Continued to support the 3R Initiative of the Government of Japan and participated in
the 2nd Asia 3R Conference 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 4th Asia-Pacific Eco-business Forum ‘Urban and Industrial Symbiosis’
with City of Kawasaki.
• Organized a South-South cooperation workshop on waste management in Bali,
Indonesia in partnership with Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (DELC)
and Non Aligned Movement Center for South-South Technical Cooperation (NAM
CSSTC).
• Project on Converting Waste Plastic into Fuel was launched.

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.or.jp IETC homepage: http://www.unep.or.jp/

Water and Sanitation• Pilot demonstration on the application of the phytotechnology to improve water quality
in Bocaina City, Brazil continued. The construction of artificial wetland is in progress.
• The work on upgrading the IETC software to design artificial wetlands to allow for the
inclusion of temperate and cold climates was completed.
• Continued the implementation of a project to address the need for improving accessto water and wastewater provision in rural communities in environmentally vulnerable
areas in Jamaica- Several interventions for environmentally sound water provision were identified.
- The water supply system was extended.
- Completed a preliminary analysis of 43 rural communities that lack water andwastewater provision.
- A planning tool that helps to assess the water supply levels was drafted.
• A sourcebook and training manual on water use efficiency in the urban and domestic
environment was published.
• Support for Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands project- Provided information management hardware for the Marshland Information Network(MIN) and completed training on its operation and management. The MIN system andits management were handed over to the Iraqi ministry.
- Conducted awareness raising workshops targeting women in marshland villages- The work to improve access to safe drinking water in the seventh village wascompleted.
- Pilot project for alternative energy use to facilitate drinking water provision wasorganized.

GEC 2008

19

References- Pilot project for water quality/wetland improvement was implemented.
- Training course on ‘Sustainable Management of the Iraqi Marshlands’ was organizedin Damascus, Syria.
- A project evaluation meeting was held in Kyoto to review the outcomes and results
achieved by the project, and to formulate recommendations for future work.
- Maintained and improved the trilingual project website in English, Arabic and Japanese
to disseminate the project activities and lessons learnt.
Disaster Management and Prevention• Project DEBRI - Demonstrating ESTs for Building Waste Reduction in Indonesia- Assessed the catalogue of technology systems that are used in the handling of
construction and demolition wastes.
- The Sustainability Assessment of Technology (SAT) tool developed by UNEP was usedin the identification of waste technology systems and solutions.
- Developed a Waste Management Mechanism (WMM) - a management plan that ringfences the debris waste management equipment.
- Organized capacity building workshops using the WMM document.
- The essential economic barriers in implementing the project were identified.
- A detailed report was developed, and policy suggestions and recommendations weremade.
• With GEC, initiated a study on ‘Japanese Cities and Urban Vulnerability in the context of
Urban Environmental Management’.
• The Asia Pacific Task Force on Urban Risk Reduction was founded, and IETC provided
specific inputs relating to the interrelationships between environmental management
and risk reduction strategies to the Task Force.
• Provided advice and technical assistance to the cyclone disaster in Myanmar (2–3 May
2008), and the earthquake disaster in P.R. China (12 May 2008).
Others• Participated in One World Festivals• Delivered a lecture on IETC’s activities focusing on the Integrated Solid Waste
Management at Ryukoku University.
• Delivered a keynote address at the 4th International Pro Europe Congress–From Waste
to Resource Management.
• Represented UNEP in the UN Panel booth for TICAD IV. Also contributed to the
production of a booklet ‘Examples of UN Work in Africa’ prepared for TICAD IV.
• With ILEC, held a joint exhibition for World Environment Day and Environment Month.
• With GEC, organized the International Symposium on ‘Low Carbon Society -Towards
its Realizations with Collaborations of Actors’. Also held ‘UNEP Environment Photo
Exhibition’.
• Co-sponsored the 5th Dialogue on Environmental Education (Asia Cooperation Dialogue)
organized by MOFA Japan and delivered presentations.
• Participated in the New Earth 2008 exhibition.

INDEX
Series of NETT21: Database on New Environmental Technology Transfer in the 21st Century by GEC, and the numberof data listings for each topic.
Database on: • Air Pollution Control Technology in Japan: 128• Waste Management Technology in Japan: 43• Water Pollution Control Technology in Japan: 82• 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: 94• Soil and Groundwater Contamination Survey and Countermeasure Technologies: 37• Japanese Advanced Environmental Equipment (provided by JSIM): 621
Total: 1,465 data listings (as of 31 March 2009, complete data available in English via the GEC Website)
Stored publications: 6,685 including 414 UNEP-related books (as of 31 March 2009)20

GEC 2008

Global Environment Centre Foundation
Annual Report 2008
Date of issue: September 2009
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), 2009This annual report is printed on recycled paper using soybean ink.