Asia Pacific Position Paper Towards Rio2012 (Agreed Ad Ref 18/07/2011)

8/6/2019 Asia Pacific Position Paper Towards Rio2012 (Agreed Ad Ref 18/07/2011)

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ASIA PACIFIC YOUTH POSITION PAPER

TOWARDS RIO2012


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Preamble1. In recent years, the Asia-Pacific region has experienced robust economic growth. However, key

challenges remain in ensuring that negative environmental and social consequences are

vigorously tackled and that economic opportunities benefit all.

2. Severe and pressing issues which have arisen as consequences include climate change,

biodiversity loss, energy and food security, natural resource management, natural disaster risks

and deforestation. The transition to a green economy, revision of institutional frameworks on

sustainable development and enabling of low-carbon solutions to energy issues are therefore

central to address these interconnected challenges.

3. It is our firm belief as Asia Pacific youth, that Rio+20 marks an important milestone for the

global community to critically reassess our collective commitment towards sustainable

development and to implement the reforms that are necessary to transform our societies and

economies. The decisions made at Rio+20 will have potentially widespread implications for the

Asia-Pacific region. It is us, the youth, who will lead the new era in effecting change, establishing

economic structures and the preservation of our natural environment.

4. Therefore, it is crucial that we effectively and strongly participate in decision making processes

through the provision of important perspectives, thereby taking ownership of the trajectory of the

Asia-Pacific's development path leading to a more sustainable future.

5. Keeping in view the diversity of the Asia-Pacific region, this paper sheds light on the most

pragmatic recommendations made by youth, as vital change makers, to address our regional

problems.


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Green Economy to Eradicate PovertyIntroduction

6. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines a green economy to be one thatresults in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmentalrisks and ecological scarcities. We, the youth of Asia Pacific, call for action at all levels towardsthe implementation of a green economy. We believe that it will address the problems we face inthe region. With respect to problems of human welfare and equity, progress has been relativelyslow. As for environmental problems, the region faces threats such as deforestation, pollution andimpacts of climate change. Given that all countries face shared issues, we reaffirm the importancefor nations to synchronize their national interests with that of regional goals and help each otherprogress towards achieving a green economy.

7. The Green Economy to Eradicate Poverty is an approach of three integrated sectors; Planet,People and Profit. The Asia Pacific region is more vulnerable towards the impact of climatechange; therefore, urgent adaptations and actions to protect the environment have become anutmost priority. The world is faced with a dual challenge: climate change and poverty. If thecurrent generation does not adequately address these, the planet in 2050 could becomeunbearable for human habitation. Every person on the planet has the right his or her share ofconsumption and production opportunities; right to access his or her share of resources and theright to live a life of dignity and quality. This will minimize ecological scarcities and environmentaldegradation. Horizontal economic growth will develop the quality of life, ensuring social equity andthe right to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and futuregenerations. Therefore, we need to take leadership in designing a better world where equity, well-being, happiness, prosperity and peace for all is assured.

8. About 1.4 billion people in developing countries live under US$1 a day (World Bank, 2008). Arecent study shows that in the Asia-pacific region, yields in 2050 for wheat will decline by 50%from 2000 due to climate change (IFPRI, 2009). We need to alter the current trickle downapproach to actual action to alleviate poverty. Food security can best be achieved via a greeneconomy.

9. The benefits of a green economy can be seen in the three sectors which are environment,economy, and society. It increases the resilience capacity of the ecosystem and quality of life aswell as creates employment and business opportunities. Although it is difficult to shift to a greeneconomy as there are short-term costs involved, we can take strategic steps to minimise thesecosts in view of the long term benefits.

10. The upcoming Rio+20 summit could be our last chance to save the planet. The world does nothave the luxury to wait; steps must be taken to provide international policies and an actionableframework to transit to a green economyin the future.

Challenges

Poverty11. Barring a few outliers, the Asia Pacific region has seen a significant amount of economicgrowth in the recent past. However, the standard of living of the lower strata in their respectivesocieties has changed little, if not worsened. The promise of growth has often resulted in a massinflux to urban areas, creating slums, while corporate and urban oriented policies have meant thatrural areas, and areas most in need of government help have been neglected. Thus, the poverty


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cycle is perpetuated by problems such as a lack of access to affordable education, malnutrition,poor sanitary conditions and unemployment. In many cases a blind drive for improved economicindicators has meant that environmental issues have been sidelined or ignored, furtherexacerbating the problems faced by the poor as they are directly affected by a worseningenvironment, with polluted water supplies being the most common culprit.

Climate change and natural disasters in Asia Pacific

12. The Business As Usual (BAU) attitude has caused climate change which led to an increasedfrequency in occurrence ofnatural disasters. Much attention has been placed on the recentnatural disasters in the Asia Pacific region such as floods, earthquakes, glacial melting, coastalerosion, and other problems. Additionally, the worsening climate is closely bound with problems ofcoastal erosion, which affects island nations such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS)including Singapore, Sri Lanka and Micronesian states as well as nations which have populouscoastal/low-lying areas such as Malaysia and Bangladesh.Glaciers in the mountains, the watertower of Asia, are also melting rapidly due to climate change and consequently, sea levels arerising, putting the entire human civilization at risk. To minimize the impact of climate change, wehave to consider a new economic model which safeguards our natural capital.

Industrial Pollution

13. BAU can also lead to environmental destruction from pollution released by companies. Someindustries can indirectly cause damage to the environment; for example, shipping industries andtourism destroy coral reefs through unsustainable practices. A green economy with cleanerprocesses can help reduce industrial pollution.

Over-exploitation of natural resources14. People depend on natural resources for their basic necessities and other commodities.However, due to over exploitation by human activities, our natural environment has beencontinuously destroyed, and has made people susceptible to various health risks, naturaldisasters and loss of biodiversity, among others. Moreover, over-exploitation of natural resourceshas resulted in their rapid depletion and their inability to replenish themselves, making them nolonger available for future use. An example would be marine pollution leading to the destruction of

marine biodiversity and nurseries, and the contamination of food supplies from the sea.Furthermore, the lack of political will has paralyzed the policy making process preventing therealization of environmental aims. Already, Indonesia and Malaysia are facing deforestation ratesof up to 70%. We have to balance economic growth and sustainable development so that we canlet the environment and resources replenish themselves.

Unsustainable agriculture practices15. A large sector of Asia Pacific country economies is agriculture, usually accounting for most ofGross Domestic Product figures and/or employing the most people out of all other industries.There is extensive research that indicates strong correlation between agricultural growth andpoverty reduction in such countries whose primary resource is arable land, including Indonesia,Nepal, Pakistan and Philippines Therefore, if our agriculture is unsustainable, we cannot solveproblems of the development of insect resistance to pesticides and consequent use of strongerchemicals; destruction of primary rainforest; environmental pollution (soil, water, air) due tosurface run-off; loss of land fertility, we will not have enough food to eat and consequently loseour land while sustainable agriculture will offer us the opportunities to diversify economies, reducepoverty through increased yields and creates new green jobs especially in rural areas, ensurefood security on sustainable basis, and significantly reduce the environmental and economic costsof agriculture.

Depletion of fresh water resources16. Asia has more than 60 percent of the world population but only 36 percent of river runoff. Inaddition, our population and industries are growing exponentially. Therefore, there is an


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increasing need for quality water. The lack of freshwater is likely to become one of the majorfactors limiting economic development. Water shortages are implicating the global grain markets,as regions highly dependent on agriculture have to rely on imports instead. The industrial pollutionof water has simultaneously led to the deteriorating quality of water, spreading water-relateddiseases. As such there is a dire need to move away from the current economic model.

Poor waste management

17. As a rapidly growing region, more and more waste is being produced at the individual andcorporate level. Such wastes, especially chemical and hazardous waste substances, have to betreated properly before disposal. Recycling and waste-to-energy initiatives also have to beencouraged to reduce waste volumes and lessen strain on need for new raw materials.

Lack of access to clean and renewable energy technologies18. Access to a reliable and abundant source of energy is inextricably linked to sustainedprogress and growth. However, the most common sources of energy production in the regioncontinue to be fossil fuelbased and thus pose considerable risks to the environment in the shortand long-term. These risks can be found in both the extraction of these fuels, where issues suchas the toxicity of open-cast mines for coal and oil spills must be dealt with, as well as in theirusage in production of these fuels. A concerted effort needs to be made to encourage new, and

utilize existing, alternative energy sources that are less burdensome on the environment.Successful precedents already exist in the region, although a true transition is yet to be underway.Without more widespread implementation or research into the viability of other potential optionssuch as wind and solar power, the present dependence on oil and other fossil fuels could lead toboth an acute energy-shortage and a significant environmental crisis. We would also like toreduce the usage of renewable but unclean sources of fuel like biomass.

Unsustainable urban development19. More Asia Pacific cities have become the focal points as major consumers and distributors ofgoods and services. However, many cities tend to lack sustainable services such as buildings andtransport systems. Therefore the need to build eco-friendly green cities is crucial since greencities will bring us a better quality of life for future generations.

Inefficient Institutions and governance20. There is a general lack of good institutional frameworks and structure in the Asia Pacific. Alsolacking is the understanding of the concept of the green economy at governments, public andprivate sectors which leads to ignorance towards the benefits of a green economy. The currentgovernance system is a centralized system which is based upon concentration of supreme powerto a higher body resulting in an inefficient string of procedures that leaves way for corruption andtime consumerism. The Governance has to be decentralized and adopt a bottom-up approach.The green economy initiative provides an opportunity for community based governance thatbenefits all.

Lack of priority given to research and development21. Achieving a green economy is also not a priority of many Asia Pacific governments because itis seen as a luxury and an impediment to economic development. More focus is placed on short-term growth and problems, rather than long term sustainable development goals. This requires achange in mindset both on the ground and at the higher levels. Investing in greener practices inimportant sectors of the economy like agriculture and fisheries can not only increase efficiencyand reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, it also creates new employment opportunities whileconserving the natural resources of a country, giving the Asia Pacific countries a competitiveedge.

Unsustainable production practices22. Asia Pacific has been in the spotlight for unsustainable production and consumption practices


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on the global forum and is pressurized to comply with international environmental standards.Intellectual property protection rights prevent third world countries to reproduce the sametechnology for themselves. They are unable to purchase these eco-efficient technologies due toits high cost. The lack of resources for research and development hinders green growth and limitsthe potential of the youth of Asia Pacific who want to work on these issues and make a difference,but are held back because of unavailability of funds.

Quality of Life23. It is commonly agreed that there is an alternate way of measuring success in developmentinstead of relying traditionally on economic growth. Currently, happiness, mindfulness and well-being of society that reflects the true quality of life is not taken into account.In a green economy,the social and environmental aspects of life have to be given equal weight. For example, althoughThailand had 4.5% GDP growth rate in 2006, this does not capture the fact that in Bangkok alone,gaseous pollutants emitted from industries have led to an average of 100 deaths per day. Lesspollution in a greener world means cleaner air and rivers, decreasing pollution-related healtheffects. Less harmful chemical use in the production of commodities will also lead to healthierwork places and environmentally friendly products. Holistic indicators like the Gross NationalHappiness Index can be used to evaluate the quality of life in a country, which includesenvironmental health and standard of living.

New concept24. The green economy is still a relatively new concept, commonly believed to be a term usedonly amongst the educated.Poverty and social inequality in the region represents a largechallenge to the achievement of a green economy. The large informal sector in various industrieshere might not be governed formally, and requires better integration into the economy.

Recommendations

25. As the Asia Pacific youth, we believe that everyone, from governments to industries to thepeople, has a role to play in working towards a green economy to eradicate poverty. Ourrecommendations below are thus categorized based on action points for these 3 groups. A

problem-based recommendation matrix according to the challenges above is available in theAppendix.

Government26. Current institutional mechanisms and infrastructure have to be strengthened, and goodgovernance supporting sustainable development is also necessary. Governments need to bemore involved in stewardship of natural resources rather than privatizing their management. Theyneed to provide and commit to a clear and consistent long-term policy framework, includingspecific carbon emission reduction targets. Sustainable development strategies also have to beincluded in all sectors of government policy. In addition, the governments also need to ensure thatthese policies are implemented with continuous evaluations. Some policy options are to:

26 a) Introduce legislation and ensure strict enforcement of new and existing environmental lawswhich can provide for clean air, clean water, community-based trade and solid wastemanagement, as well as implement international programmes like REDD+, among others. Thesenot only regulate the extraction of our natural resources, they also improve the condition of ourenvironment.

26 b) Introduce economic and financial reforms, starting with the government policy to internalizethe externalities associated with unsustainable practices, for example, a tax on specificgreenhouse gas emissions or implementing carbon trading. Subsidies for development ofresource-efficient and renewable energy industries, investment schemes for research anddevelopment of such industries and payments for ecosystem services can create green jobs and


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materials.

27 e) Reduce use of harmful chemical substances in agricultural practices which will end up in ourfoods. To this end, we recommend organic farming as a method towards cleaner food production.

27 f) Make publicly available reports on corporate social responsibility initiatives and impacts ofbusiness practices by introducing green reporting systems to monitor, report and evaluate

progress based on environmental, social and economic indicators.

27 g) Develop the eco-tourism industry to educate locals and tourists on environmentalconservation, including sound management of such tourism to prevent green-washing, withguidelines and a council set up to monitor and evaluate progress.

27 h) Provide training programmes and workshops on corporate sustainability for white- and blue-collared employees.

28. Companies should be held accountable for polluting public goods like air and water. Theyshould be held liable for the cost of cleaning up any polluted areas.

PeopleIncreasing awareness29. Education of the general public will reinforce government policies and legislationtargeted atchanging the unsustainable lifestyle of a consumerist society. It can address the lack ofawareness and understanding of the people, empowering consumers to create demand for moreenvironmentally friendly practices to reduce current unsustainable options. Education can nurturethe paradigm shift in mindset required for sustainable living. Such can be achieved throughincremental steps:

29 a) Observance of days and celebrations, for example, Earth Hour, Earth Day and World WaterDay to increase the profile of the environmental movement and inculcate a greener culture in thecommunity.

29 b) Youth making use of all channels of communication, for example, social media, traditionalmedia, arts and cultural activities, to advocate the benefits of a green economy and lifestyle. Anetwork of activists can be established to continue engaging with the public.

29 c) Encouraging youth to participate in the legislative process as a youth parliament to gainbetter understanding of how policies are created and implemented in their local communities.Additionally, youth can participate through feedback channels on government legislation, givingthem a sense of representation and ownership in the development of their respective countriesand thus encourage them to be more active in shaping their future.

Monitoring Mechanisms30. The people can serve as a system of checks-and-balances on corporations and on thegovernment to prevent corruption by keeping track of implementation of policies.

Regional and Global Cooperation31. Regional and global cooperation has to be fostered to enhance management andeffectiveness of implementation of environmental policies. This enables a better fit to globalmovements and conventions like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

31 a) Knowledge and technology transfer from developed to developing countries should beencouraged to aid developing countries in the transition to a green economy. This can be donethrough conferences and meetings within the region to share information and ideas, or review of


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the barriers to technology transfer, while respecting Intellectual Property rights .

31 b) Increase the collaboration in waste management, including a regional monitoring andrestriction of trans-boundary movement of waste.

31 c) Instead of countries trying to focus on localized damaged control, better coordinationbetween the regional governments should be fostered to avoid fragmentation in environmental

protection initiatives.

Using a different development index32. Holistic indicators of development like the Genuine Progress Index and Gross NationalHappiness Index may be used as better indications of true development of a country. Althoughdifficult to quantify, these indices can help gauge the social, economic and environmental aspectsof development. Such factors, when included in measurements of progress of a country, can helpurge governments not to focus only on economic growth but other aspects of growth as well.

Conclusion

33. According to UNEPs Green Economy Report, just 2% of global GDP can kick-start atransition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy. By achieving such a green economy,

mutual compatibility of the environment, society and economy can be increased. A green

economy can alleviate poverty, outperform the Business As Usual scenario, create employment

and improve energy efficiency, while at the same time preserving natural capital. In this region

where natural resources and ecosystem services make up 47% - 89% of the GDP of the poor, a

green economy is the only way to secure our present and our future. As Asia Pacific youth, we

call upon man, woman and child to take a step forward to a green economy now.


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Energy for Low Carbon FutureIntroduction

34. This section of the position paper presents the collective vision of the Asia Pacific youth onmeasures to be adopted to drive a low carbon future.

35. The Asia Pacific youth envisions a low carbon future as one in which

35 i) sustainable energy management is practiced;

35 ii) renewable energy sources are used widely effectively and safely;

35 iii) access and affordability of energy are enhanced thus ensuring the well-being of all; and

35 Iv) emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants are minimized to combat adverse

climate change.

36. Firstly, this section of the position paper discusses the importance of the need to drive a low

carbon future by highlighting the consequences of not doing so. Secondly, it discusses the key

barriers to transitioning to a low carbon future. Finally, it describes the recommendations of the

youth on how these barriers may be overcome through participation of various key stakeholders

whilst emphasizing the role of the youth and the support the youth desires.

Key Issues & Barriers

Key Issues

Adverse impact of global warming on the ecosystem

37. The use of fossil fuels and other conventional sources of energy is contributing to globalwarming, which is impacting hydrological regimes, and leading to consequences such as increase

in sea levels, accelerated glacial melting, changing monsoon patterns, and extreme weather

events. The increase in sea level is endangering the very existence of island nations in the Asia

Pacific. With the increasing water levels, not only is the geographical landscape of the islands

changing, but salt water is entering the water tables and destroying vegetation that is necessary

for the survival of island people. If this pattern is to continue, displacement of people is inevitable

due to lack of land and food. Similarly due to the accelerated melting of glaciers, several regions

are faced with the risk of intensified floods, destruction of habitats, droughts and food shortages.

Rise of energy prices and competition for energy resources

38. Rapid economic growth has led to the increase in energy consumption and production.Without a corresponding surge in the supply of energy, energy prices will increase. Competition

for energy resources will leave many developing countries at a disadvantage.

Lowered energy security because of increased competition of energy resources

39. The dependence of several Asia Pacific countries on certain other nations for fossil fuel

imports is currently high and expected to grow steeply with rapid population increase and

economic development. This is especially so for those countries with no known reserves of fossil

fuels within their territories. This leaves the region highly vulnerable to volatile oil prices which can


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bedictated by strong industry players in the energy market.For example, 98% of Singapores fuel

mix is comprised of imported fuel oil and natural gas.

Lack of affordable and accessible energy

40. In the present economic climate, energy is not sufficiently available and affordable to the

masses which hinders equitable socio-economic growth. As supplies of fossil fuel dwindle, low

carbon technologies will have increasing importance in meeting the ever-growing demand forenergy and keeping energy prices affordable especially to poorer communities. Hence, it is

foreseen to have multiplier effects on other markers of sustainable development such as health,

education, access to clean water and sanitation, etc.

Adverse Impact on Human health

41. There is also growing concern on the adverse impacts of fossil fuel use on human health, for

example, emissions from fossil fuel combustion may lead to some respiratory illnesses. Such

health impacts have tremendously increased the medical cost burden to the people and

contributed to a reduction in labour productivity.

Conflict over territorial rights which will provide access to limited supplies of crude oil42. Crude oil, yet another leading fuel in the region is at the core of complex geopolitical

entanglements triggered by conflicting territorial claims.

Barriers

43. The Asia Pacific faces several challenges in the development of a sustainable low carbon

future despite strong consensus that this is of significant long-term socio-economic benefit to the

region.Key barriers to a low carbon future have been identified in following paragraphs.

Ineffective collaboration & partnership

44. There is a lack of effective collaboration between public and private sectors and amongst

nations in pursuing a low carbon future.

45. Lack of effective cooperation between national-level and regional-level governmental bodies

and between governmental bodies and the public has led to inefficient and incongruent energy

policies.

46. Governments are not participating actively enough in international environmental frameworks.

Without international consensus, it is difficult to coordinate a concerted effort towards achieving a

low carbon future between countries.

Financial Barriers

47. The high start-up and operational costs and long payback periods associated with investment

in low carbon technologies such as renewable energy production pose a financial barrier to

potential investors. As such, it is difficult to attract investors. Consumers may not switch from

conventional to alternative energy consumption as it is relatively more expensive which may affect

the future profitability of alternative energy producers. Unless grid power parity is achieved

between conventional and low carbon energy technologies, companies may not be willing to

embark on renewable energy production.


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48. Moreover, the financial attractiveness of renewable energy is dependent on the relative price

of fossil fuels, which can be volatile. As such, this heightens the uncertainty of returns on

investment. All these reasons pose financial constraints, which serve as a high barrier to entry for

this industry.

49. In addition, there is a lack of seed funding for youth driven entrepreneurial initiatives in thearea of low carbon energy for instance, innovations in energy efficient appliances.

Barriers to social change

50. Currently, a majority of the society is using fossil fuel without sufficient knowledge of the

consequences of their actions. This will cause a decrease in the reserves of fossil fuel, thus

driving up the fossil fuel prices in the market. Moreover, it also decreases the demand for

renewable energy. That creates more barriers for businesses interested in entering therenewable

energy industry.

Resistance to change

51. People seem unwilling to change due to the difficulties in both accessing renewable energyresources and changing their own daily lifestyle. There are only few companies working in the

renewable energy industry currently, which further worsens the problem. Also, attitudes and

habits are quite hard to break.

Technological Barriers

52. Low carbon energies have shortages and limitations that hinder them from large-scale

adoption. For example, as solar power is intermittent, efficient storage, which has not been

realized technologically, is necessary if it is to be used as a main source for energy supply.

Similarly, nuclear technology has not come into wide spread use because of residual problems

related to safety and nuclear waste disposal. However, in most Asia Pacific countries, research

and development (R&D) is quite insufficient due to limited funding amongst other factors.

53. In addition, the lack of human expertise slows down the speed of development of low carbon

energy. Without researchers with rich knowledge and experience in green energy, technology

breakthroughs can hardly be realized. Furthermore, the application of green energy calls for an

increasednumber of skilled workers.

Lack of Sustainable Urban Development

54. As a result of growing urbanization, cities in the Asia Pacific region have to deal with rising

motorization and energy consumption which lead to an increase in the global demand for energy.Cities suffer from a lack of institutional and policy frameworks to balance the increasing energy

demand with the need to achieve sustainable development. Problems such as the lack of efficient

energy infrastructure, public transport availability, and clean energy access have led to the rise of

emissions contributing to climate change which impede a low carbon future.

Absence/Lack of enforcement

55. There is a lack of definitive policies and strong legislation promoting the development of low

carbon energy. The existing policies and regulations are not implemented effectively due to weak


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and ineffective institutional mechanisms. In particular, there is significant potential for energy

efficiency improvements particularly in the transport and building sector. However, lax

governmental policies governing energy efficiency and conservation have resulted in little action.

Recommendations

To address Ineffective collaboration & partnership56. National-level governmental bodies should communicate with regional-level governmental

bodies in a timely manner. This will enable governmental institutions to perform their duties by

certain deadlines. A way that we as youth would like to see the government increase its

collaboration at the national level is by enhancing civil societys role, especially the youths role

and having an open channel of communication with the government, allowing civil society to have

a say in the policy making process, increasing NGO funding and increasing awareness of local

NGOs.

57. Governments should actively participate in international frameworks and inter-governmental

collaborations. Such collaborative processes should be transparent, fair, inclusive and demand

accountability. Further, it is important to ensure continued collaboration, and sharing ofknowledge and good practices after such collaborative events to ensure that the words are

translated into effective action.

To address Financial Barriers

58. In order to lower the high financial costs associated with alternative energy setups, it is

imperative for governments to provide greater funding and incentives to encourage the production

of alternative energy by the private sector. Potential measures include tax concessions or

exemptions, feed-in tariffs, subsidies, grants, and easy credit availability for the procurement of

production equipment. In addition, international energy agencies can also provide seed funding

for alternative energy start-ups and research. Youth can encourage a higher willingness to pay for

green products.

To Address Barriers to social change

59. We need to improve education on low carbon technologies, sustainability, sufficiency and

efficiency in using energy. This can be implemented via the increase in workshops, trainings,

social environmental activities, public campaigns, advocacy via social networking platforms such

as Facebook and environmentally oriented competitions which generate interest within the youth

population. Innovative and interactive educational initiatives on environment and energy should be

encouraged and institutionalized as well. This will increase peoples awareness on long-term

benefits of a low carbon future and help them to tackle the fear of change. Implementation of

carbon footprint labeling can help the public to make better purchasing decisions.

To Address Technological Barriers

60. There needs to be enhanced diffusion of low carbon technologies from technologically

advanced nations to other nations. It is proposed that efforts be made to establish an attractive

investment climate for foreign clean energy companies and thus make technology transfer

mutually beneficial to both the donor and recipient parties. Knowledge transfer through

educational scholarships and student exchange programs should go hand-in-hand with


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technology transfer. There needs to be more research & development into alternative energy

technologies such as nuclear power to enhance their viability.

To Address Lack of Sustainable Urban Development

61. As dominant consumers of energy, cities have an important role in energy conservation and

efficiency. Being aware of unsustainable energy patterns and practices, cities should focus more

on an integrated view of urban development including environment protection, which does notemphasize on socio-economic growth alone. Sustainable urban planning should integrate land-

use and transportation planning that take into account sustainable energy production and

consumption. The local context is critical for determining the policies and programs that should

be undertaken by each country in Asia Pacific. In order to progress towards a low carbon future,

urban planning should setlow carbon footprint as one of its strategic objectives

62. Policies and programs to be considered for sustainable urban infrastructure whose adoption is

contingent on each countrys and citys situation include those that:

62 a) Encourage the development and use of public transport systems and the decrease in the

use of personal vehicles;

62 b) Promote the use of non-motorized transport i.e. walking and cycling;62 c) Promote integrated and collaborative energy demand management initiatives;

62 d) Promote the development of energy efficient and energy conserving buildings, industries

and districts

62 e) Increase and connecting green spaces and wildlife corridors

Lack of enforcement

63. The legislative framework needs to be strengthened in a way that would promote a low carbon

future, enhance compliance monitoring and accountability and establish an index for the

measurement of energy sustainability.


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Institutional Framework of Sustainable

Development

Introduction

64. The Asia Pacific youth recognize public awareness & engagement, capacity building, policy

and governance as key areas that encompass the concept of sustainable development.

65. This paper looks into identifying the issues and challenges in the Asia Pacific region and

proposes recommendations under the above-mentioned categories.

66. Public awareness & engagement allows the community to identify the problems, while

capacity building ensures a good and effective deliverance of policy implementation for

sustainable governance. In addition, as policies are the tools towards better governance, the use

of the right policies is mandatory to ensure authoritative and operative governance in setting the

values towards sustainability. Finally, good governance is necessary for effective implementation,

monitoring and evaluation of the policies.

Issues & Challenges

Public Awareness and Engagement

67. There is a lack of public awareness and sense of individual responsibility and civic

engagement in the change of environmental laws. The basic definitions and the importance of

environmental laws, conservation and sustainable development are not understood. Due to this

lack of awareness, the public becomes less open to positive environmental change.

68. The public, especially youth, does not receive adequate impactful education on the

participatory processes that enable effective engagement with the government or government

agencies on sustainable development. On the government side, there is a lack of political will to

engage different stakeholders and the public in these participatory processes.

69. The inability to access pertinent information, as well as the absence of proper benchmarking

of environmental standards that can be referred to, contributes to the lack of accountability of the

government to the public. Information on environmental policies and initiatives that are already

available in public, such as Local Agenda 21, is not communicated effectively to communities,

especially the youth. Due to this lack of accountability and information, the capacity and

motivation of the public, especially the youth, to engage effectively with the government regarding

the environment is minimized.

70. Even if there is growing interest among the youth to engage in the processes of environmental

protection and sustainable development, most countries in the Asia-Pacific region do not have a

sufficiently effective platforms for the youth to convey their messages, initiatives, and innovations.


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In many countries, it is widely perceived by the youth that governments will not fully support their

environmental initiatives.

Capacity Building

71. There is an absence of by-laws, a lack of full understanding of technical regulations, and also

unclear regulations and mechanisms for enforcement, which have left government and voluntary

authorities relatively free to interpret them. They are also limited by their own knowledge andcapacities, leading to difficulties with proper implementation of policies.

72. Most of the communities consulted across the Asia Pacific reflected on the poor state of

environmental governance as a result of the ineptitude of the government and government

officers, and their lack of knowledge, skills and political will to deal with environmental problems.

Government officials low technical capacity and the high cost of training hamper their ability to

incorporate environmental issues into their plans for their areas.Government officials also lack

knowledge and experience in partnering positively through participatory processes with civil

society organizations and local community groups in sustainable development. In addition, they

lack awareness of available funding for environmentally friendly projects.

73. The insufficient skills, knowledge and experience of government officials leads to poor

conceptualization, implementation and enforcement of policies, resulting in ineffective practices,

inefficiencies, incongruent policies, and the lack of a long-term perspective. Insufficient

governmental capacity makes it difficult to identify synergies of existing and future policies,

resulting in the lack of an integrated and cohesive approach towards sustainable development

polices.

74. People who are less well-informed about environmental issues make poor choices which

leads to further environmental degradation, as they do not fully realize the consequences of their

actions are contributing to the deterioration of the environment. There is also insufficient emphasis

on environmental studies in Asia Pacifics education system. This accounts for inaction and

apathy of the people.

Policy

75. The existence of several Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), conventions, and

organizations with no proper coordination and authority hinders progress regarding solving

environment and sustainable development issues.

76. There is a lack of youth participation in policy making processes which in turn neglects the

voice, opinions, and ideas of the future generation that could be vital in the formulation of

comprehensive environmental policies.

77. The complex nature of the socio-economic and political fabric of communities is not always

taken into consideration during the design and implementation of fair and equitable policies.

78. Lack of incorporation of environmental issues into socio-economic development policies and

plans make it difficult to address sustainable development goal. Also, weak implementation of

existing laws, rules, and regulations regarding environmental regarding environmental

conservation is a major issue in most Asian countries.


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79. As evident from the recent economic downturn, there is a greater tendency for governments to

prioritize the expansion of the countrys fiscal and defence policy at the expense of implementing

sustainable development plans.

80. There is a lack of awareness of potential revenue and economic growth from other resources

that do not damage the environment, such as REDD (Reduces Emissions from Deforestation andForest Degradation) projects, if necessary safeguards are taken.

81. The lack of advanced scientific expertise along with inconsistencies in research

methodologies, creates a barrier to the formulation of effective environmental policies.

Governance

82. Although most Asia Pacific countries have introduced a number of globally accepted principles

on natural resources and sustainable environmental management in their legislative systems, in

effective implementation, lack of monitoring and evaluation systems, and corruption hinders

sustainable development.

83. Corruption, vested political and business interests across countries in the Asia Pacific

contribute to massive exploitation of natural resources, that impacts sustainable development and

stifles innovations.

84. Where there is corruption there is often obstruction of access to information and justice and

en-curtailment of the freedom of speech. Hence, the participatory process is negatively

compromised and the voice of youth is nullified.

85. There are a number of issues during the design and implementation of equitable policies such

as the chain of corruption, poor compliance, poor due process, lack of accountability,

transparency and ineffective monitoring processes within the communities. These issues

exacerbate environmental degradation.

86. There is a lack in management and monitoring of sustainable development policies and

programmes. If carried out, they usually are not open to public scrutiny and processes for change.

87. Ineffective evaluation results in a lack of accountability weakening the implementation and

rationalisation of environmental policies. Absence of evaluation also means the youth fail to learn

from past initiatives. Therefore their capacity is compromised.

Recommendations

Public Awareness and Engagement

88. Impactful environmental initiatives from the youth, civil society organisations (CSO), non-

governmental organisations (NGO), academia and the private sector should be encouraged to

create a focused and targeted approach in order to raise public awareness and engagement in

environmental issues. The government and relevant stakeholders should cooperate and

coordinate in order to support these initiatives.


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89. The youth should have access to official and professional platforms to voice out and their

concerns tobe heard at every level of the decision making process, in regards to issues such as

environmental policies. There should be structural mechanisms in place to facilitate their voice,

such as setting up youth councils, giving proper consideration to their recommendations, and

implementing them at the local, national, and international level.Therefore, assistance must be

provided to help youth to build awareness and capacity to take on such a role and be able to

impact sustainable development in their respective countries and the world.

90. Development of discussion platformswhich areparticularly inclusive of affected communities

on environmental issues is critical in ensuring the success of government initiatives. Having a

more open public consultation process gives better access to information about government

policies. This will also create an avenue for the government to better communicate their position

of sustainable development and garner support for environmental policies. To diversify and gather

perspectives as well as to promote the exchange of ideas and solutions, it is recommended that

multiple generations and stakeholders be included in environmental dialogues and consultations.

91. Governments should also prioritize and allocate proper funding for mechanisms which are

designed to increase public awareness and engagement regarding environmental policies andissues through education.

Capacity Building

92. Government officials involved in the policy making process must be selected through a

stringent selection process based on merits, experiences, academic achievement and technical

knowledge. A review on the countries environmental regulations must be carried out and time-

lines must be set and kept through proper monitoring and evaluation and the youth should be an

integral part of this process.

93. Governments should address low capacity of their officer to handle partnership collaborations

with all stakeholders especially the youth through training and building up skills in community

development.

94. Governments should form collaborations with international organizations so that knowledge,

expertise and external help are available to the country to actively tackle environmental issues.

Governments must maintain an open channel of communication with the grassroots so that

feedback from the public can be worked out between the youth, other communities and the

government, and partnership practices, for example participatory dialogues set in place. This

builds a cohesive relationship between the people and the government.

95. Environmental studies can be introduced as a compulsory subject in pre-tertiary educationinstitutions. Civil society and private sectors should establish an active collaboration with local

communities, especially the youth, to educate the community and act as an avenue where

members of the community can turn to for environmental advice and help. Annual events that

promote awareness such as Earth Day can be adopted and actively participated in across Asia

Pacific. These actions will enable better understanding and keep the people updated on

environmental know-how. Capacity-building should be carried out by all stakeholders to enable

the youth to take the lead in organising such events.


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Policy

96. An effective development policy strategy should involve innovative and creative thinking

supported by the youth while taking into account each countrys unique situation. This will be

important in ensuring sustainable economic growth without compromising the environment and

standard of living.

97. As each country has been guilty of causing pollution at some level, price-based policyinstruments should be created by integrating environmental considerations into every day market

decisions.

98. International, national, and local governments need to recognize the importance of

environment services under the existing development plans carried out by communities. This

could be carried out by using mechanisms that facilitate payment for environmental services.

Furthermore, countries could raise awareness and facilitate the implementation of mechanism

among the youth and public.

99. Governments should direct more funds towards environmental protection such as research

and development for environmental initiatives. More importance should be given to other policiesthan it is being given right now so as to increase the facilitation of sustainable development.

100. Governments should take steps to create non-price instruments such as the implementation

of performance standards that are at scaled and managed levels as opposed to being punitive.

This could allow a certain level of reduction in environmentally damaging practices such as

pollution.

101. Minimum environmental standards for areas such as energy consumption can be set to

encourage use of green technologies. In addition, the value-added system should be revised to

include direct and indirect environmental benefits encouraging businesses to implement green

practices.

102. Governments should take steps to ensure the equitable and fair distribution of economic

gains to communities, while ensuring that policies are sustainable and designed to be robust

enough to withstand economic downturns.

103. The design and formulation of environmental policies need to accommodate environmental,

social and political aspects. To promote environmental policy innovations, it is recommended that

environmental innovation policy centers and pilot projects be established. The innovation policy

centre can be set up based on a partnership approach, spearheaded by a governmental inter-

agency committee with collaboration with academic institutions, private associations, CSOs,NGOs and youth groups.

104. Existing organisations with more governing and implementation power could push countries

towards more environmentally friendly trade, for example, the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

This could be carried out by methods such as environmentally- friendly trade and eco-labeling.

This will help countries to evolve from a Business-as-Usual (BAU) system to a more sustainable

one.


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105. Governments should work together in creating an umbrella organization, with active

participation of youth and public, to solve the coordination and authority problem caused by the

fragmented existence of several MEAs, conventions, and organizations.

106. Civil society, academia, and the government should exchange ideas, information, and

scientific expertise regarding environmental research and development through dialogue sessions

and public seminars. Governments should also take steps to collaborate with the youth inenvironmental projects which could lead to better understanding of environmental issues.

Governance

107. Comprehensive environmental governance must be a top priority and all sectors must co-

operate towards it.

108. A general regulatory framework for the development and enforcement of environmental rules

and regulations should be created and a specific global body should be assigned the general

responsibility for this framework. This specific governmental body should co-ordinate with other

government agencies, UN agencies, youth NGOs and other key development stakeholders,

regarding the development and enforcement of environmental standards and imposes penaltiesfor violations of any applicable environmental standards.

109. The chain of corruption can be broken by increased accountability transparency and

responsiveness on a local, district level or a federal system through the involvement of community

governance.

110 NGOs and the public can be empowered to take on responsibility of monitoring and

evaluating the protection of the environment. They also need to be held accountable for their

actions and remain independent from government.

111. There should be an international environmental assessment tool to annually measure how

well countries are moving towards their commitments to sustainable development under Local

Agenda 21. Youth organisations can produce a shadow report to complement the official

government report.


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Conclusion

112. Since 1972, the international community has been trying to reconcile economical growth withenvironmental protection. In the past 40 years, there has been a change in focus to protecting theenvironment as a basis for societies to progress and economies to flourish.

113. In this respect, this paper has outlined our priorities for Rio+20 as the Asia Pacific youth. Webelieve that the achievement of the three themes will provide for a future that ensures thewellbeing of all people in an equitable manner while conserving natural capital for current andfuture generations. As youth, we will be facing the implications of any action plans implementednow that are the stepping-stones towards such a future.

114. Therefore, we are eager to be a part of the forward momentum towards a green economy toeradicate poverty, towards energy innovations for a low carbon future and towards an institutionalframework for sustainable development. However, in charting these territories and amidst newterminologies, the original intent of the meeting of the nations in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992, shouldnot be obscured or forgotten.

115. Principle One of the Rio Declaration states that human beings are at the centre of concerns

for sustainable development. Chapter 25 of Agenda 21 states that The involvement of today's

youth in environment and development decision-making and in the implementation of

programmes is critical to the long-term success of Agenda 21. We, the youth, are not simply the

germinal core of human beings. We bear the consequences and impact the nexus of the past,

present and future actions and decisions. Any agenda or outcome of Rio+20 that sidelines the

youth, at this opportune moment, is one that is not realistically sustainable. It is not participatory; it

is not equitable. It goes against the spirit of the Rio Declaration.

116. We, the youth, as global citizens reaffirm and advocate the Rio Declaration to our nations, to

the international bodies concerned, to private sector organizations and to all stakeholders. We

must be heard in the policy arena. We must be involved in the planning and implementation

stages. We must participate in the design of good governance structures. We must be included in

accountability and evaluation processes.

117. We hold the guardianship of the planet. We are the future.

Asia Pacific Position Paper Towards Rio2012 (Agreed Ad Ref 18/07/2011)

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Transcript of Asia Pacific Position Paper Towards Rio2012 (Agreed Ad Ref 18/07/2011)