| Despite a reversal of forest losses, increased nature reserves and improved air quality with respect to SO2 in some cities and the decreased consumption of ozone-depletion substances, population, the push for economic growth, high and rising incomes, industrialization, urbanization, high energy intensity, changing lifestyles and unsustainable patterns of consumption are the source of significant environment pressure upon the limited environmental carrying capacity. As a result, environmental challenges of the North-East Asian sub-region remain serious and daunting. The air pollution in many of the cities is among the highest ever recorded though the efforts at the use of cleaner fuels and many policy measures are positive signs. Water quality is also degraded in industrial and urban centers and major rivers. The coastal and marine environment is experiencing serious problems of pollution and depletion of resources. Some areas are still suffering from deforestation and desertification and loss of biodiversity. Waste disposal needed greater attention as some of the big cities recorded as low as 5 per cent treatment of household wastes.
To address the environmental problems concomitant with rapid economic development, the countries of North-East Asia launched environmental cooperation in 1993 in the light of the Earth Summit in 1992 on a step-by-step basis. The Framework for the North-East Asian Subregional Programme of Environmental Cooperation was developed and adopted through the consultation process in a series of Senior Officials Meetings— the principal vehicle for evolution and carrying forward this programme. Ccollaborative environmental programmes in the subregion are based on the following principles:
| a) |
Step by step and practical approach towards subregional cooperation with the
emphasis on priority environmental concerns of the countries of the subregion; |
| b) |
Decision making by consensus; |
| c) |
Programme thrust on capacity building, information sharing and technology transfer. |
To reduce the pressure put on the environment, so far NEASPEC member countries have stepped further than Environment Performance (EP) improvement of pollution control. Rather they, to different extent, have incorporated in their national strategies the action plans for eco-efficiency and Environmental Sustainability (ES). For example, China's Eleventh Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2006-2010) has prioritized building a Resource-Efficient and Environment-Friendly Society and circular economy. Mongolia has adopted in 1998 National Action Programme for Sustainable Development for the 21st Century (MAP-21). The Republic of Korea has adopted Green Vision 21 (1995-2005) and National Environmental Vision for the New Millennium. Japan has amended the Basic Environment Plan in 2000 and promoted a Sound Material Cycle Society aimed at reducing the resource intensity and waste production of the Japanese economy. In addition, institutional and legislative frameworks have been augmented. The diversity in natural endowments and commonness in policy aspirations of these six countries creates vast potential for extensive sub-regional cooperation, as the North-East Asian countries can complement and supplement their efforts according to the strengths and weaknesses of their respective economies. Moreover, countries are likely to benefit from information sharing and exchange, technology development and transfer, capacity-building and collaborative financing. As an overarching intergovernmental forum, with shared vision ( 45 kb) of the member countries, North-East Asia Subregional Programme of Environment Cooperation currently aspires to redress the traditional dichotomy between environmental quality and economic growth; and instead, to render ecological efficiency and environmental sustainability opportunities for economic development in this sub-region. |
