SDGs: Asia-Pacific Perspectives for the Post2015 Development Agenda - Inputs from IGES: focus on implementation drawing upon

lessons from March 117 May 2012, ADB HQ in Manila, Philippines

Hideyuki Mori President Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Goods and Services

Market Mechanism

Natural Capital

Physical Capital

Human Capital

Social Capital

Basic Framework for the Integrated MDGs

Basic Framework: An environmentally safe and socially just space for humanity Nine planetary boundaries (Environmental ceiling): climate change, biodiversity loss, nitrogen cycle, ocean acidification, etc. Eleven social boundaries (Social floor); Income, health, education, food, gender, jobs, resilience, water, energy, social equity, etc (Source: Oxfam discussion paper, Feb 2012)

Experiences with NSDS (National Sustainable Development Strategies) are mixed. Key to effective implementation is introduction of specific mechanisms and systems at the national level. Cities played an important role by introducing local agenda 21. Civil society and business are empowered to take their own initiatives. The above remain true, but new trends such as rapidly increasing middle class in Asia and continued vulnerability in most parts of Asia need to be taken into account. Relevant messages in this respect will be drawn from experiences from the Eastern Japan Triple Disaster in March 2011.

Coastal village being engulfed by the Tsunami on March 11

Disaster Management

If natural disaster is not avoidable, we need to establish the way to minimize the damage and way to be resilient. Asia is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. According to UNISDR, from 2000-2009, almost 85% of global deaths from natural disasters occurred in this region.

Sustainable development can be disrupted by big natural disasters like the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake

The resilience of societies is critical for quick and effective recovery

Sustainable and Resilient Society (1)

Why Resilience?
A resilient society has adaptive capacity and robustness Handle shocks while maintaining functionality Grow stronger over time. Extreme events can damage past achievements Delay progress on sustainable development. Greater emphasis in policy and research to resilience and vulnerability in sustainable development.
Sustainable Development Pathway Social, Economic, and Environmental Condition
Disruption from shock due to vulnerability

Resilience enables a quick return

Time

A few Features of March 11

In this emergency, however, no looting and rioting happened in the affected areas. Some report that victims have given up hope but this is not the case. But it is the demonstration of mutual trust and social bonds still existing at local level.

Assistance from the international community including developing countries came and it showed reciprocity in the time of crisis. This reciprocity is the basis of international trust and can also serve as an important basis for sustainable development.

Mountains of debris still remaining in Tsunami affected coastal cities

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Importance of local decision making

Debris still remain in the affected areas and this is due to lengthy government procedures to deliver the necessary budget for debris clearance and a rigid application of the government technical guidelines. Decentralized local governments decision making power is therefore considered critical for quick recovery, which fits into the realities faced in affected areas.
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Swift financing for recovery

Swift financing is a key to revive damaged local industries. In many cases heavy bureaucracy prevalent in the government hindered quick delivery of necessary finance. One good example this time is an attempt made by the association of local oyster farms. They obtained adequate funds through an innovative mechanism utilizing the internet.
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Oyster Farm in a Tsunami Affected Area in Tohoku

Before Disaster After Disaster

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Rescue workers searching for Tsunami victims in Fukushima

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Implications of Fukushima
Perception of risk: To what extent a risk associated with a particular technology should be compared with risks associated with other alternative technologies, Participation in decision making: who should be consulted, what would be the role of experts, and what would be the decision making process agreeable to all key stakeholders. Sound governance: Promotion and regulation of particular technologies should be separated to ensure proper check and balance.

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Decentralized system and life style change

Due to highly centralized energy system in Japan, people suffered from power cuts and had to wait for long time for power recovery. More distributed energy system backed by renewable energy is important to make the society more resilient. Appropriate policies such as the FIT needs to be introduced. Life style change is a key for demand control, for which policies such as peak cut electricity pricing, subsidy schemes (eco-points), and public campaigns are useful.
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Distributed Energy System in Tohoku

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Thank you very much for your attention.

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