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Outcomes
Inaugural
TumenNET Council
Beijing China 28 - 29 May 2001
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Introduction
The Inaugural TumenNET Council Meeting was held
in Beijing on 28-29 May 2001. More than 40 senior executives attended, representing
national governments, non-government organisations, the business sector, the
banking and investment sector, the diplomatic corps in Beijing, the United Nations
Organisations and academic and research institutions. Mongolia, the People’s
Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation were represented
by their respective GEF Focal Points. The Government of the Democratic Peoples
Republic of Korea had conveyed its apologies for not being able to attend this
time. The Japanese Government was represented by a senior officer from the Global
Environment Bureau in the Ministry of Environment.
The 1˝-days meeting explored a range of strategic,
political and management issues. Following a presentation by national expert
institutions (project lead agents) of achievements and challenges, the discussion
quickly turned to post-project issues like SAP implementation, funding and enabling
measures. Green business and the role of green investment in the long-term ecologically
sustainable development of the region were discussed in detail, and the sole
reliance on aid funds was rejected as being unrealistic and unsustainable. Day
Two was devoted to technical project management issues such as modifications
to the 2001 workplan, expenditure, component progress and the forthcoming launches
of several project initiatives.
Summary of Outcomes
- The Government of Japan responded positively to an
invitation to join the TumenNET Council and a representative of the Japanese
Ministry of Environment attended. Japan is supportive of the aims and objectives
of TumenNET and the CTA will explore the establishment of more formal links
with the Japanese Government.
- Provincial governments were for the first time represented
in the project. The presence of three governors and one vice governor underlined
the need to ensure that the TDA/SAP process does not operate in a political
vacuum and that it is consistent with national/provincial policies and development
strategies.
- Council supported the concept of a diversified funding
strategy that aims to partner potential projects with prospective financiers.
These could include national budget/finance authorities, private sector investors,
the international donor community, multilateral lending agencies or the NGO
sector. The successful implementation of the SAP will require a range of inter-related
interventions at provincial and national levels to facilitate the successful
and sustainable transfer of resources (funds, technologies and know-how).
Council endorsed in that context that countries consider a range of possible
national enabling measures such as: tax incentives to entice green business;
regulatory & legislative reforms and simplified approval procedures to
enhance transparency; risk mitigation and sharing schemes to lower financial
risk and exposure for investors; involvement of local communities in the decision
making process; and, a commitment to best practice environmental management.
- Green business was recognised as a key element in
the long-term sustainable implementation of the SAP. A very practical definition
of green business was suggested, one that results in environmental net benefits
accruing to the community and that embraces social responsibility and environmental
best practice. Council endorsed the TumenNET goal of attracting green business
for the protection of transboundary biodiversity and international water resources
in Northeast Asia. The establishment of a sustainable green business network
was seen to complement the existing policy, coordination, research, information
and community networks that have been set up under TumenNET.
- Council endorsed the idea of explore the concept of dedicated
transboundary zones which could pilot the successful co-existence of
green business with environmental excellence, social responsibility, good
governance and trans-border policy dialogue. Three such potential zones can
be delineated in the TumenNET project area: the Tumen River Basin Zone (China,
DPRK, Russia), the Daurian Steppe Zone (Mongolia, Russia) and the Manchurian
Steppe Zone (China, Mongolia). An early focus on discrete geographic areas
would not only facilitate the involvement of local politicians, but also enable
donor agencies to build projects into their pipelines of activities. Activities
that are supra-regional by nature (eg migratory birds, regional EIS, etc)
will have to be treated separately from, but integrated with, these zones.
- The SAP component will commence in the second half of
2001 and National GEF Focal Points agreed to nominate appropriate national
SAP leading institutions by the end of June to the PCU. National as well as
provincial governments should be represented by policy, foreign affairs, finance,
national planning and environment management agencies. In addition, they should
include the private sector (national as well as expatriate), NGO and R&D
interests and community representation. The ROK, the regional lead agent for
the SAP component, will organise an early regional workshop to discuss regional
and national activities under this component. Council agreed that the SAP
was an ongoing process, rather than a one-time document, and that it constituted
a significant evolution from the technical/scientific to the political level.
- The SURVEY component will be launched during the second
half of 2001 and Council agreed that it would focus on trace metals, pesticides
and other harmful pollutants in the Tumen River Basin. Pending their full
participation in the project, DPRK will be the regional lead agent for this
component, assisted perhaps by other member economies. A two-phase approach
was adopted with phase I (2001) outlining general target areas in the Tumen
River Basin and phase II (2002) conducting detailed targeting of potential
highly polluted areas. The issue of data release authority was raised and
will be pursued by the PCU in consultation with Jilin EPA, MOFTEC-CICETE and
China’s State Environmental Protection Administration.
- The Environmental Excellence Award proposal was discussed
and endorsed. Council agreed that it was necessary to involve top government
leaders such as provincial governors, vice governor or national ministers
in the process and to seek national and international media exposure. The
awards would be national awards and National SAP Planning Units and GEF Focal
Points undertook to approach their respective governments and provide feedback
by the end of July 2001. The PCU will provide draft guidelines to countries.
- Council endorsed the evaluation of tranche I of the Small
Grants Program and agreed to ask WETLANDS International to manage the
evaluation. Council also agreed, and supported, that the Japan chapter of
Wetlands International be asked to participate in the evaluation. TORs for
the evaluation will be prepared by the PCU in consultation with the AWARE
lead agent and partner institutions. The evaluation will be conducted during
the latter part of 2001 and will focus on administrative efficiency and effectiveness.
Lessons will be incorporated into tranche II of the SGP.
- Council complemented the PCU and Lead Agents on the progress
achieved over the past ten months of implementation. Three out of 5 project
components (TDA, EIS, AWARE) have commenced and several regional networks
have been established and are now fully operational - policy network (GEF
Focal Points); coordination network (SAP Planning Units); research network
(TDA Partner Institutions); information network (EIS Partner Institutions);
community network (AWARE Partner Institutions). The foundations were laid
for a green business and investment network and talks have commenced with
companies and industry associations in South Korea, Australia, Germany, France
and Japan to involve them more formally in TumenNET. National Reports have
been finalized on time and preparation of eight regional sector reports is
on schedule. National EIS and SAP Planning Units websites are accessible via
internet and will be interlinked in the near future. Fund disbursement under
Tranche I of the Small Grants Program will commence this summer.
- The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), which
manages the project on behalf of its client, the Global Environment Facility
(GEF), will propose to delete the mid term evaluation from the workplan as
no longer being necessary. Council endorsed that. UNOPS also suggested merging
the required tripartite review (TPR) meeting with the next Council Meeting,
tentatively scheduled for November 2001 in Seoul.
- At the closure, representatives from member countries agreed
that the meeting had been very successful due to good organization, involvement
of different stakeholders and a practical approach. Participants wished the
Project Coordination Unit to keep the momentum. According to UNOPS/UNDP, the
project might become a "shining example" and some important lessons
may be used for other GEF and UNDP projects. The meeting also demonstrated
the increased capacities of national professionals and the high level of cooperation
among participating countries
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