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Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

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APN joined ISAP2015 in Yokohama

27–29 July 2015, Yokohama, Japan — APN joined the 7th International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific (ISAP2015) held in Yokohama, Japan, organised by the United Nations University (UNU) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).

The theme of the international forum was “Solutions for Change: Forging Multi-stakeholder Partnerships towards 2030” aimed at generating discussions on how to achieve a sustainable and better world by 2030 with a global point of view and share lessons to be used at the local level covering the two major themes of climate change and sustainable development goals (SDGs).

ISAP2015 covered various active discussions on forging successful multi-stakeholder partnerships between governments, private sectors, and the civil society and strengthening regional integration, and expert opinions useful in making policy recommendations and implementation.

APN’s national Focal Point (nFP) for Japan, Dr. Akio Takemoto, Director, Research and Information Office, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ), spoke in one of the parallel sessions on Day 1 and emphasised that there are research needs in terms of MRV (Measuring, Reporting, Verification) of GHG emissions/reductions, and establishment of national environmental research fund is one of the strategic approaches to go about this. He cited the case of Japan having domestic research programme as supported by the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (ERTDF) and the co-financing partnership between APN and the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia.

Another highlight at the forum was the parallel session “Satoyama and Sustainable Development: Bridging Project Financing and Knowledge Generation” where speakers explored linkages between project financing and knowledge-generation mechanisms such as IPBES and GEF in supporting implementation of the SDGS in Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SELPS) and beyond.

Two conclusions drawn from ISAP2015 are: (1) building a low carbon infrastructure in developing countries; (2) creating a “compact city” to respond to the ageing population in developed countries.

(Reported by Christmas de Guzman and Rieko Tamura, APN Secretariat)