Status of environmental cooperation between local governments

(1) Environmental cooperation between governors/mayors/prefecture heads of coastal areas between Korea and Japan started in 1992

At present, 1 city, 3 provinces, and 4 prefectures (Busan Metropolitan City, South Gyeongsang Province, South Jeolla Province, and Jeju Province and Fukuoka Prefecture, Saga Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture, and Yamaguchi Prefecture) participate. The meeting of governors/mayors/prefecture heads and working-level meeting are held annually.

Currently, the Environmental Technology Exchange project is being promoted for the environmental preservation of both Korea and Japan.

Projects on broad, various environmental technologies and air pollution prevention measures are implemented jointly between provinces, cities, and prefectures of coastal areas between Korea and Japan.

To date, environment-related exchange projects have been limited to joint surveys.

Joint survey of acid rain in the atmosphere in 1995 and 1996 Joint survey of organism verification for river water quality in

1998 and 1999

Nitrogen flux survey in rivers and collection basins in 2000 and 2001

(2) Environmental cooperation of Northeast Asia Regional Governments (NEAR) initiated in 1996

NEAR started out with 29 regional governments of the 4 countries. Today, it has grown into the largest international organization of its kind with 65 regional governments. North Korea and Mongolia joined NEAR in 2006.

An Environment Sub-Committee was established in 1998 along with 7 other sub-committees. Since then, Japan’s Toyama Prefecture has been playing the role of coordinator.

NEAR consolidates environment information exchanges and co-perception of environmental protection. It also pursues mutual cooperation between regional (local) governments within Northeast Asia. The ultimate aim is to address the global environmental problems in the 21^st century.

For the smooth implementation of individual projects relevant to the environment, NEAR coordinates opinions between regional governments. It also concretizes project plans and conducts reviews and provides consulting regarding their implementation measures.

The selection and promotion process of the NEAR Environment Sub-Committee project consists of 3 stages. The first stage involves examining a proposal. In the second stage, the participation intent of the regional governments is surveyed. The third stage is the implementation of the proposal in cooperation with regional governments. The focus is on the regional government that came up with such proposal.

The following are the individual projects promoted through the 3 stages:

Seashore Driftage Examination off the East Sea and Yellow Sea; Joint Survey of Migratory Birds in Northeast Asia; Northeast Asian International Environment Symposium, and; Northeast Asian Youth Environment Symposium.

The Seashore Driftage Examination off the East Sea and Yellow Sea began in 2000. In this project, coastal regional governments and NGOs detect environment pollution in the seashores in terms of marine driftage and buried matter in the East Sea and Yellow Sea. It also seeks to upgrade the local residents’ environment protection awareness.

Japan’s Toyama Prefecture and Russia’s Maritime Territory of Siberia have participated in the Joint Survey of Migratory Birds in Northeast Asia since 2000. Private organizations and young people also conduct a co-survey. They then disseminate the survey results in Northeast Asia.

The Northeast Asian International Environment Symposium was held in China, Korea, and Russia from 2001 to 2003. It aimed at promoting associated cooperation from the local government and international environment dimensions.

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During the Northeast Asian Youth Environment Symposium, the young Northeast Asian participants jointly engage in environmental learning and preservation activities. They also exchange opinions on environment preservation.

NEAR came out with the Pan East Sea Environment White Paper 2003. It also held the Environment Protection International Youth Conference in Northeast Asia in 2005. In addition, NEAR has provided information on the environmental policy related to its Environment Sub-Committee since Feb. 2004 through its website.

(3) Environmental cooperation of the Organization for East Asia Economic Development (OEAED) commenced in 2004

Economic exchange activation is enabled through the efficient use of locally restricted resources. For this, OEAED cites 4 areas (manufacturing, environment, logistics, and tourism) as major exchange fields. It also established 4 units (manufacturing, environment, logistics, and tourism) as affiliated organizations and assigned practical functions to them.

In addition, OEAED identified the major tasks to be performed through the activities of each unit. The environment unit cites the major tasks for making the Pan Yellow Sea Zone a model of an environment-friendly region in the world. Specifically, it promotes the coexistence of environment preservation and industrial activities. These are ultimately aimed at creating a zero-waste society.

The environment unit is currently promoting the following major projects:

Networking for Environmental Cooperation, Creation of Model of Environment-friendly Region, and Promotion of International Union of Recycling.

Environment industry cooperation has been commenced. The environment preservation symposium, environmental fact-finding survey of member cities, and examination of private firms’ needs served as the basis.

To create models of environment-friendly region, the standardization of environmental regulations and greening of the Pan Yellow Sea Zone are promoted.

Sharing of and cooperation on technologies, cutting-edge facilities, and research on the treatment of industrial products or waste and recycling (regeneration of resources) are promoted. This ensures the international union of environmental recycling in the Pan Yellow Sea Zone.

To promote such major projects, the environment unit held conferences in 2004 and 2006. It also collected and classified the information of each city into urban environment and environmental industry. In addition, the unit agreed to the exchange between the environment-related industry, academe, and research sectors and promotion of cooperation projects. This way, the enhancement of understanding of the environment industry of each member city is promoted.

In addition, each city’s common perception of the environment business is formed. The activation of research and corporate activities is also promoted by holding environment-related symposiums and EXPOs.