## 5 Japan's Contribution to Achieving a Low Carbon Society by Cooperation with Developing Countries

Climate change causes floods, reduction of agricultural production, and the spread of infectious disease. It is immediately necessary for developing countries to make efforts to adopt the climate change such as preventing disasters and infectious disease, and improving the system of agricultural production, because climate change especially impacts on developing countries. Carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries have also become a global issue. But developing countries often need technology, funding and human resources cooperation with developed countries.

Japan provides technical assistance to developing countries climate change countermeasures through cooperation with international institutions and bilateral assistance. The following section describes the international cooperation with developing countries in the field of climate change, especially focusing on Japanese experience, expertise and technologies.

Japan implements ODA to promote cooperation with developing countries. Bilateral technical assistance is one of the important efforts under the policy of "utilization of Japan's experience and expertise" in the "Japan's Official Development Assistance Charter" (revised in August., 2003). These technical cooperation effort projects have been implemented through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

A technical cooperation project is integrated practical assistance to a developing country under a plan made with a consensus of the countries involved. Such a project includes training for local engineers or officials, the dispatch of JICA experts, and the supply of equipment. The recipient countries need to prepare the operation base and expenses.

The ministry of the Environment promotes the dispatch of experts. They on consultation provide environmental policy, transfer technology, and develop appropriate technology, utilizing their knowledge, and experience.

## (1) Contribution to Achieving a Low Carbon Society by Technical Cooperation with Developing Countries

It is important to focus not only on introducing high-technology but also on transferring human resources especially in developing countries.

Table 4-2-2 Aid to Developing Countries by JICA for Realizing a Low Carbon Society

Countries	Projects	Duration of projects	Summary of projects
Thailand	Capacity Building for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation for Implementation in Bangkok	June, 2009 - May, 2012	Strengthening the institutional capacity of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in the field of followings: 1) mass transportation 2) renewable energy 3) saving energy in buildings 4) management of waste disposal and waste water 5) urban greening
Vietnam	Project for Capacity Building for National Greenhouse Gas Inventory	Sept., 2010 - May, 2014	Strengthening the technical capacity for Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to conduct the GHG inventory regularly with accuracy and reliability.
Indonesia	Project of Capacity Development for Climate Change Strategies	Oct., 2010 - Oct., 2015	Strengthening the institutional capacity of the organization related to climate change countermeasures in the field of following three sub projects; 1) mainstreaming mitigation of climate change and adaptation under development project 2) capacity for assessing vulnerability 3) conducting the GHG inventory (Ministry of the Environment)
Serbia	Capacity Development Project for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs)	Nov., 2010 - Feb., 2013	Strengthening the capacity for planning and implementing NAMAs with researching, reporting and verifying.

Source: The Ministry of the Environment based on JICA materials

## (2) Japan contribution by Clean Development Mechanism

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), defined in the Kyoto Protocol, allows a country with an emission reduction or emission - limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to implement an emission-reduction project in a developing country. CDM projects can earn saleable “Certified Emission Reduction (CER)” credits, which can be counted towards meeting Kyoto targets. The CDM is one of the systems for international contribution because technical transfer to developing countries is expected through a CDM project. As of December 2011, 3,725 projects have been registered, and the amount of CERs is 820 million tons of carbon dioxide as of the end of December 2011. (Figure

## 4 -2-11)

## (3) Bilateral Offset Credit Mechanism

Japan suggests a bilateral offset credit mechanism, which complements the Kyoto mechanism through the appropriate evaluation of the contribution to GHG emission reductions by joint projects between a developed country and a developing country, including assistance for introducing low carbon technologies and products. This mechanism is expected to be that one of the various approaches that are noted in COP17 (2011, Durban) as “Parties may, individually or jointly, develop and implement such approaches in accordance with their national circumstances”.

Figure 4-2-11 The Number of Registered CDM Project and Amount of CERs

○3,725 projects have been registered as of December 31, 2011 and the amount of CERs is about 820 million tons of carbon dioxide.
○CDM is often recognized as one of the most successful systems (World Bank, UNFCCC secretariat, etc.)
According to the World Bank report, the amount of estimated CERs is from approximately about 1.2 billion to about 1.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide up to 2012 and from approximately about 2.7 billion to 4.0 billion tons of carbon dioxide up to 2020. State and Trends of the Carbon Market Report 2011 (World Bank)

Source: IGES CDM Project Database, IGES CDM Monitoring and Issuance Database (as of December 31, 2011)

Figure 4-2-12 Summery of Bilateral Offset Credit Projects