[ Symposium / Lecture ]
Second U.S.-Japan Roundtable on "Bioterrorism and Consequence Magagement: New Approaches to U.S.-Japan Cooperation"
On July 15 and 16, NIRA and the Japan Society co-hosted a roundtable on the above subject in New York. The fist roundtable on this subject was held in October 2000; this was the second such gathering. Scientists, media representatives, and experts working on the front lines to prevent bioterrorism in the U.S. and Japan met together for discussions.
The details on this roundtable will be on the web shortly.
As part of its research activities focusing on energy and environment in Northeast Asia, NIRA has been conducting a project entitled "Environmentally-Friendly Energy Use in Northeast Asia -- Towards an Environmentally Advanced Region" since 2001, and has provided assistance to the research projects "Possibilities for Utilizing the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in China" (Energy Research Institute, State Development Planning Commission of ChinaqERIr) and "South Korea's Energy and Environmental Issues -- Towards Northeast Asia's Sustainable Development in the Twenty-First Century" (Korea Energy Economics Institute qKEEIr). Following the completion of the subsidized research projects in July 2002, a meeting was held on July 12th and 13th between ERI, KEEI and NIRA as a forum to allow presentation of research results and the exchange of opinions.
Final Research Report (ERI)
In this project, ERI attempted to explore the possibilities for utilizing the Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM), a measure stipulated in the Kyoto Protocol, between Japan and China by conducting a case study in China's power sector.
The final research report presented the results of this case study followed by proposals formulated on their basis. The report suggests that in order to promote cooperation between Japan and China it will be necessary to (1) select a CDM project that is acceptable to the two countries, (2) examine the feasibility of the proposed CDM project without delay, (3) establish the systems essential to conducting such a project in both Japan and China, and (4) exchange information concerning the technologies necessary for conducting the project between Japan and China, in order to reduce costs.
Final Research Report (KEEI)
From the economic and technological perspectives, South Korea is considered to occupy a position between Japan and China. Given this positioning, it is possible that South Korea could play an important role as a mediator between Japan and China in efforts to promote environmental cooperation in Northeast Asia.
The KEEI research report presented an overview of current trends and future prospects in energy demand, in addition to estimates of future CO2 emission levels. The report suggests environmental technologies should be comprehensively evaluated from the standpoint of their conformity with environmental regulations and technology transfers should be promoted in Northeast Asia focusing on technologies which pass such an evaluation. A special focus was placed on natural gas, the fossil fuel with the least environmental impact. The report also presented a proposal to establish a multinational pipeline (PL) network to transport gas from the Russian Far East, as a measure to increase the demand for natural gas.
Exchange of Opinions between the Three Countries
In this session, frank opinions representing the standpoint of the respective countries were exchanged based on the research results presented.
(1) Agenda 1: Regional Cooperation: Necessity and Future Possibilities (From the respective standpoint of the three countries)
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[ Presentation ]
1) Japan -- The necessity of conducting CDM projects utilizing environmental technologies proven in use in other countries.
2) China -- The necessity of depending on foreign capital in order to spread the use of clean energy technologies.
3) South Korea -- Although it is important to improve the level of domestic environmental technologies, efforts should also be made to utilize business opportunities generated in the environmental sector of developing countries (China).
[ Exchange of Opinions ]
Discussants agreed that the possibility exists to utilize CDM and other market mechanisms to create a new type of "Win-Win" business, the goal of which of which goal is to improve Northeast Asia's environment.
(2) Agenda 2: Natural Gas Pipeline (PL)
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[ Presentation ]
1) Japan -- Prior to establishing a multinational natural gas pipeline, it will be essential to establish the necessary domestic infrastructures.
2) China -- The establishment of a multinational gas pipeline is important for China from the perspective of ensuring energy supply and the promotion of energy and economic cooperation in the region.
3) South Korea - Given the fact that South Korea already possesses a domestic pipeline, it is interested in the next step, a multinational PL capable of providing gas at a more competitive price. Efforts should be made to explore specific measures to reduce possible risks which may occur during the process of construction of the pipeline.
[ Exchange of Opinions ]
A variety of perspectives were taken in discussions, including politics, the environment and deregulation. The three countries agreed that (1) it is important that Northeast Asian countries should adopt a unified stance with regard to suppliers of natural gas, such as Russia and the major American and European companies in the field, and (2) measures to reduce the price of gas should be examined, given the key importance of this factor in enabling the establishment of the PL
(3) Agenda 3: CDM
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[ Presentation ]
1) Japan - Importance of establishing a framework for promotion of CDM
2) China -- (See results of ERI final research report)
3) South Korea -- Although South Korea is unable to invest in CDM according to the stipulation of the UNFCCC, it should examine possible methods of utilizing CDM to enable South Korean environmental technologies to be exported to China and other countries.
[ Exchange of Opinions ]
Given the fact that Official Development Aid (ODA) cannot be used to fund CDM projects, there was some discussion concerning the utilization of Japanese public funds. This is not an issue for Northeast Asia alone, but one which will require extensive international discussion in the future
(4) Agenda 4: Optimal Framework for Regional Cooperation
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NIRA suggested that a "forum for the exchange of opinions" on a wide range of issues concerning environmental cooperation should be established with the participation of NGOs. It was agreed in relation to this suggestion that 1) the goals of such a forum should be explicitly defined, 2) the deficiencies of existing frameworks should be clarified, and 3) an entity should be nominated to provide financial support and oversee organizational arrangements.
Conclusion
Until the meeting described above, exchanges of opinions concerning energy and environmental cooperation in Northeast Asia have been exclusively bilateral, taking place between NIRA and ERI or NIRA and KEEI. This meeting marked the first occasion on which the three research institutes met for discussions. This three-way meeting has allowed further clarification of the similarities and differences between the positions and perspectives of the three institutes.
NIRA's own project on energy and environment in Northeast Asia, "Environmentally-Friendly Energy Use in Northeast Asia," is scheduled to be completed in December 2002.
[ NIRA TOPICS ]
Introduction of a New Visiting Researcher
- Current position: Assistant Research Fellow, Korea Development Institute (KDI)
- Research theme: An analysis of North Korean economic policy under the Kim Jong Il government
- Research period: August 19, 2002 - August 18, 2003
Mr. Kim Sang Kee
It has been reported that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) commenced economic reforms in July 2002. What kind of changes are taking place in the country?
Since its inauguration, the Kim Jong Il government has implemented practical economic policies to resurrect the nation's moribund economy. These policies differ from those adopted in the Kim Il Sung era, while remaining within the framework of the centrally-planned socialist model. Since 2000, the government has also stressed development in the IT and high-tech fields. Continuous observation and evaluation will be indispensable to the ability to predict the future course of North Korea's economic reforms.
My research will focus on the characteristics of the economic policies adopted in the post Kim Il Sung era, and the nature and limitations of the Kim Jong Il government's economic reforms. I will base my research on official documents and newspapers published by the North Korean government since 1995, when the Kim Jong Il government was inaugurated, and economic data compiled by the South Korean government and international organizations. I would also like to make use of interviews with Japanese researchers on North Korea.
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