The objective of this network is to carry out monitoring of acid deposition by
harmonized methodologies in East Asia, and thus to create a common
understanding of the state of acid deposition which will be the scientific basis for
further steps such as measures to reduce adverse impacts on the environment
caused by acid deposition. In 1998, the network started its preparatory phase
activities. The Interim Network Center was established in Niigata, Japan. The
network was participated by 10 countries: China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia,
Mongolia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam. The
Second Intergovernmental Meeting for EANET concluded that the preparatory
phase activities were successful in demonstrating the feasibility of EANET and
decided, through the joint announcement, that the participating countries would
cooperatively start the activities of EANET on a regular basis from January 2001.
The Ministry of the Environment, Japan, would serve as the Interim Secretariat
for EANET until UNEP assumed the role of the Secretariat. Acid Deposition and
Oxidant Research Center (ADORC), which is located in Niigata, Japan, was
designated as the Network Center for EANET, and started its Network Center
functions from January 2001.
(iii) UN ESCAP Expert Group Meeting on Emissions Monitoring and Estimation
A regional project on ‘Technical Assistance for Environmental Cooperation in
North East Asia’ was initiated in 1996 by the UN Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) with the support of the Asian
Development Bank (ADB). The project focuses on promoting regional cooperation
for environmental protection amongst China, the DPRK, Japan, Mongolia,
ROK and the Russian Federation, and has included technology demonstrations
and workshops, expert meetings and review meetings.
Africa. Many African countries are implementing new national and multilateral
environmental policies; however, their effectiveness is often low due to the lack of
staff, expertise, funds and equipment for implementation and enforcement.
Current environmental policies are mainly based on regulatory instruments but
some countries have begun to consider a broader range, including economic
incentives implemented through different tax systems. Some industries have
adopted cleaner production options but this is not widespread in the region;
however, some multilateral corporations, large-scale mining companies and local
enterprises have voluntarily adopted precautionary environmental standards in
recent times.
Southern Africa. While many of the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) countries acknowledge that air pollution is a problem, only South Africa
and Zambia are seen as the major contributors to industrial air pollution.
Practices such as domestic fuel burning and grassland burning for grazing are
widespread in the region, but the impacts on human and ecosystem health are not
apparent. In terms of atmospheric pollution, the main issues in policy initiatives
are on ozone depleting substances and greenhouse gases (driven by the global
process). Virtually all SADC member states have policies on air pollution control
Environment Agency of Japan, Summary of the Expert Group Meeting on Emissions Monitoring
and Estimation, 27—29 January, 1999, Niigata, Japan, 1999.
A Perspective on Global Air Pollution Problems
51
harmonized methodologies in East Asia, and thus to create a common
understanding of the state of acid deposition which will be the scientific basis for
further steps such as measures to reduce adverse impacts on the environment
caused by acid deposition. In 1998, the network started its preparatory phase
activities. The Interim Network Center was established in Niigata, Japan. The
network was participated by 10 countries: China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia,
Mongolia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam. The
Second Intergovernmental Meeting for EANET concluded that the preparatory
phase activities were successful in demonstrating the feasibility of EANET and
decided, through the joint announcement, that the participating countries would
cooperatively start the activities of EANET on a regular basis from January 2001.
The Ministry of the Environment, Japan, would serve as the Interim Secretariat
for EANET until UNEP assumed the role of the Secretariat. Acid Deposition and
Oxidant Research Center (ADORC), which is located in Niigata, Japan, was
designated as the Network Center for EANET, and started its Network Center
functions from January 2001.
(iii) UN ESCAP Expert Group Meeting on Emissions Monitoring and Estimation
A regional project on ‘Technical Assistance for Environmental Cooperation in
North East Asia’ was initiated in 1996 by the UN Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) with the support of the Asian
Development Bank (ADB). The project focuses on promoting regional cooperation
for environmental protection amongst China, the DPRK, Japan, Mongolia,
ROK and the Russian Federation, and has included technology demonstrations
and workshops, expert meetings and review meetings.
Africa. Many African countries are implementing new national and multilateral
environmental policies; however, their effectiveness is often low due to the lack of
staff, expertise, funds and equipment for implementation and enforcement.
Current environmental policies are mainly based on regulatory instruments but
some countries have begun to consider a broader range, including economic
incentives implemented through different tax systems. Some industries have
adopted cleaner production options but this is not widespread in the region;
however, some multilateral corporations, large-scale mining companies and local
enterprises have voluntarily adopted precautionary environmental standards in
recent times.
Southern Africa. While many of the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) countries acknowledge that air pollution is a problem, only South Africa
and Zambia are seen as the major contributors to industrial air pollution.
Practices such as domestic fuel burning and grassland burning for grazing are
widespread in the region, but the impacts on human and ecosystem health are not
apparent. In terms of atmospheric pollution, the main issues in policy initiatives
are on ozone depleting substances and greenhouse gases (driven by the global
process). Virtually all SADC member states have policies on air pollution control
Environment Agency of Japan, Summary of the Expert Group Meeting on Emissions Monitoring
and Estimation, 27—29 January, 1999, Niigata, Japan, 1999.
A Perspective on Global Air Pollution Problems
51