Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment Second cycle 2005-2010

In September 2000, the Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment was adopted at the 4th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific (MCED 2000) held in Kitakyushu, Japan, as a mechanism to improve urban environment and human health through promoting environmental actions at the local level. Since then, a range of activities – from organisation of thematic seminars, study tours and workshops to implementation of demonstration projects – was carried out under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the secretariat coordination by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) Kitakyushu Office with primary funding support from the government of Japan and Kitakyushu City. The programme’s practical and focused activities during the first five years were well recognised and supported by the ministers and the action plan for the second cycle from 2005 to 2010 was endorsed during the MCED 2005.

The second cycle of the Kitakyushu Initiative focused on the concept of Green Growth highlighted by the MCED 2005 as a reconciling approach for economic growth, poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability. In line with that, the focus of Kitakyushu Initiative activities has shifted from not only the collection and sharing of good practices but also replication of them to demonstrate actual environmental improvement on the ground. For that purpose, the Kitakyushu Initiative secretariat has organised a number of workshops and study tours to promote and facilitate actual replication of good practices by involving representatives of not only local governments but also NGOs and community groups, provincial and national governments and bilateral and international organisations. As a result, actual replication of good practices has been realised in some cities and some replication mechanisms were identified and being promoted for further application. Reflecting that, the number of cities participated in the Kitakyushu Initiative Network has increased from 20 cities from 13 countries at the beginning in 2001 to 62 from 18 countries in 2005 and more than 150 in 2009.

After a ten-year long operation, the Kitakyushu Initiative is closing in 2010 and the organisers and supporters of the programme intend to share the lessons learned and discuss the way forward with the representatives from the core network member cities and related organisations.

• To share the main outputs of the Kitakyushu Initiative activities, including actual environmental improvement achieved by the member cities and the outcomes of the environmental commitments conferred by 12 cities during the 4th Kitakyushu Initiative Network Meeting in June 2007;
• To share the main outcomes of the Kitakyushu Initiative activities, including turning out of prominent environmental leading cities from the members and development and identification of replication models of good practices;
• To evaluate the roles and impacts of the Kitakyushu Initiative programme, as well as inter-city networks in general, and discuss the applicability of replication models and mechanisms identified through the Kitakyushu Initiative activities; and
• To discuss the messages for the MCED 2010 derived from the Kitakyushu Initiative activities, including the recommendations for setting up a new framework for a new inter-city network and announcement of post-KI activities in association with the Clean Asia Initiative programme under the Ministry of Environment, Japan.

10-11 February 2010, Rihga Royal Hotel,, Kitakyushu, Japan

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Ministry of Environment, Government of Japan
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
The City Government of Kitakyushu, Government of Japan
Co-organizer: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Japan

Documents:
Concept Note
Programme
List of Participants

Day 1 Thematic Sessions

9:00-9:30	Opening
Opening remarks Mr. Kazunori Hisanabe, Kitakyushu City
Welcome statement Mr. Masakazu Ichimura, ESCAP
Welcome statement Mr. Hideyuki Mori, IGES
Introduction of the participants and today's sessions Mr. Toshizo Maeda, IGES
09:30-12:00	Session A: Sanitation and Low-cost Wastewater Management Systems Models (click the title to view the contents)
	Session B: Municipal Solid Waste Management (SWM) Models (click the title to view the contents)
13:00-14:50	Session C: Improving Waste Management Systems and Final Disposal Sites (click the title to view the contents)
	Session D: Energy and Air Quality (click the title to view the contents)
15:10-17:00	Session E: Long-term City Vision on Development and Environment (click the title to view the contents)
	Session F: Ongoing and Future Regional Initiatives on Sustainable Urban Development (click the title to view the contents)
17:00-18:00	Closing of Day-1 Chair: Professor Ryokichi Hirono
Summary of Session A
Summary of Session B
Summary of Session C
Summary of Session D
Summary of Session E
Summary of Session F
Reception
Day 2: Plenary Session
9:00-9:40	Opening Session
Opening Remarks Mr. Hikaru Kobayashi, Administrative Vice-minister, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
Welcome Statement Mr. Shigeru Mochida, Deputy Executive Secretary, ESCAP
Welcome Statement Mr. Atsushi Ueno, International Cooperation Global Level Issue Sectional Manager, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan
Welcome Statement Hon. Mayor Kenji Kitahashi of Kitakyushu City, Japan
Welcome Statement Professir Hironori Hamanaka, Chair of Board of Directors, IGES
10:00-11:00	Session 1: Achievements of the Kitakyushu Initiative Chair: Professor Ryokichi Hirono
Keynote Presentation: the Achievements of the Kitakyushu Initiative Mr. Masakazu Ichimura, Section Chief, ESCAP
The Kitakyushu Intiative for a Clean Environment Programme: 2000-2010 Mr. Hideyuki Mori, Vice President, IGES
Environmental Commitments: 2007-2010 Ms. Peachie Ann Aquino- IGES-Kitakyushu Office
Presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to Outstanding KI Network Members by UNESCAP, IGES, and Kitakyushu City
11:00-12:00	Session 2: Review of the Thematic Sessions Chair: Professor Hironori Hamanaka and Mr. Masakazu Ichimura
Summary of the Thematic Session (A-E):Good Practices Replication Models Mr. Toshizo Maeda, IGES-Kitakyushu Office
13:00-15:00	Session 3: Way Forward and Post-Kitakyushu Initiative Chair: Professor Hironori Hamanaka and Mr. Masakazu Ichimura
The Kitakyushu Intiative Network (KIN): Overview and Future Direction Mr. Kengo Ishida, Kitakyushu City
Transition to Low Carbon Soceity: Public Private Financial Partnership Mr. Takashi Hongo, Special Advisor and Head of the Environment Finance Engineering Department, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
Way Forward and Post-Kitakyushu Initiative Mr. Toshizo Maeda, IGES-Kitakyushu Office
Summary of Session F: Ongoing and Future Initiatives on Sustainable Urban Development Mr. Lorenzo Santucci- ESCAP
Continuing the KI Legacy: Voluntary Environmental Targets
15:15-16:00	Session 4: Messages for the Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development (MCED) 2010 Chair: Professor Ryokichi Hirono
Messages from KIN5 to MCED 6 Mr. Lorenzo Santucci- ESCAP
Chair's Proposal on Message for MCED 2010
Closing Remarks Mr. Shigeru Mochida, Deputy Executive Secretary, ESCAP