21世紀における北東アジアの経済発展と環境 : 国連地球サミット宣言・アジェンダ21の視点から(<特集>北東アジア地域間協力の課題)
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North East Asia has an abundance of geographic and socio-economic diversity and economic development in this area is extremely important for the world. Therefore, economic development should be implemented in order to increase the richness and welfare of countries and citizens in this area with the close relationship between the countries of the region and the United Nations. Meanwhile, when we look at economic development in many countries around the world, developed nations have bitter experiences in keeping the harmony of economic development and the environment. Also, when economic development is rapid, it is true that problems of the environment are taking off. Therefore, it is necessary to promote economic development, taking political measures to ensure no more bitter environmental experiences in the future. 1. Harmony of Economic Development and Environment-Common Understanding The United Nations held the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in June, 1992, developing Brundtland Committee Report in 1987: Our Common Future. The declaration that was adopted in the Summit, Agenda 2l: Programme of Action for Sustainable Development takes all the issues into consideration that the countries and the areas around the world and the United Nations have to confront. Declaration is the crystal of human beings' intellects in the last 10 years of the 20th century and our common understanding. 2. Sustainable Development and Sustainable Society that Agenda 21 is Aiming for Agenda 21 says that especially in developing countries, combating poverty is the most important object keeping the conservation of environment and promotion of people's health. Action for this object is sustainable development and the society in which these conditions are realized is sustainable society. Those who make policies and proposals for economic development should consider not only development, but also the environmental conservation. 3. Sustainable Economic Development and Technologies for Environmental Conservation Direct technologies for treating and mitigating environmental burden and problems from production activities and civic life are called End of Pipe technologies. Now, these technology system, which has been developed mainly in developed countries, can be applied for the solution of most environmental problems. Also, these technologies are being developed from the individual technique to the whole system focusing on sustainable development and environmental improvement. It is important and urgent to utilize these existing technologies towards economic development and environmental conservation in North East Asia. 4. Economic Development and Environment of North East Asia 4-1. Necessity of Cooperative Organization of Countries in this Area Abundant natural resources, increase of skilled people, and the introduction of advanced technology and capital will accelerate economic development. When economic activity is low, environmental burden is small. However, when activity is boosted, environment often deteriorates. We can see an example of these in Japan during the 1960's and 1970's, and it is reported that in some areas of China, environmental deterioration is a concern. Countries that are currently in the stage of development can learn lessons how to harmonize economical development and environmental conservation from previous experiences and apply them to their policies and measures. Developed countries can tell of their political and environmental ways for solving such hardship. For this purpose, the cooperative systems of the countries in the area and the United Nations are expected to play a great role. Especially, when each country establishes the industry developmental plan of using natural resources, if they can get political and the environmental advice by contacting regional cooperation organizations of North East Asia, a big merit will be created not only in improving environment, but also in accelerating industrial development. Although some costs will be generated, the initial protection cost can be much less than the cost for mitigating the caused environmental destruction. Also, it is expected that advanced countries will defray the cost for eradicating poverty and protecting environment in the area. 4-2. Economic Development Strategy That Is Harmonious with the Environment and Necessity of Environmental Investment Since the 1970's, Japan has been implementing the environmental investment continuously and succeeded to overcome many environmental problems. As a result, although the environmental cost was 6,000-7,000 billion Yen a year and the ratio to NDP was 8-9% in 1970, the cost was kept in this order and the ratio was relatively reduced to 1-2% in 1995 through the increase of NDP. It is necessary for other countries to formulate and implement such kind of strategy. 5. Recognition and Proposition in Order to Promote Economical Development That Harmonize with Environment in North East Asia 5-1. Recognition (1) In North East Asia, there are abundant natural resources and utilizing these resources is very important for economic development in the world. (2) In this area, developing countries, semi-developed countries and developed countries coexist. (3) Combating poverty is the most important task for developing countries and some regions in semi-developed countries. (4) It is necessary to establish policies that include the consideration of environment in developmental strategies. (5) Technologies for pollution protection and mitigation have already been developed in advanced countries in this area. 5-2 Proposition (1) Agenda 21 is the common understanding of countries in North East Asia for Economic Development and Environmental Conservation in the 21st Century. (2) The most important tasks in this area are the eradication of poverty and economic development conserving the good environment and all countries must collaborate accordingly regarding personal, technical and financial resources. (3) In North East Asia, in order to promote the objective of (2), the establishment of a cooperative organization for economical development and environmental protection will be very important and urgent with the cooperation of the United Nations. Each country should defray for this object accordingly.