Environmental impact and policy evaluation centering on Asian countries

2012-0313-01
researcher's name
about researcher MATSUOKA, Shunji Professor
affiliation
Faculty of International Research and Education Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
research field
Environmental impact assessment
keyword

background

Environmental issues such as waste products and water pollution are becoming big issues in developing countries. At the background to this are causes such as a lack of awareness about environmental issues among communities and insufficient governance structures of governments.

summary

There is a need to grasp each situation from every angle and develop solutions that will allow for the creation of sustainable societies in developing countries while safeguarding the environment. This project will propose methods from among those solutions that utilize the special characteristics of each region. 

One example of this can be seen in a past example of river water pollution measures in Indonesia. By conducting research related to problem points of decentralized environmental management systems and on the ideal for effective environmental policies, it was possible to work on the construction of relations between social actors, conduct discussion toward the creation of action plans for the improvement of environmental management systems, and make proposals toward action. 

A method was used to incorporate the various opinions of the community by organizing discussion into the following two formats. The method allowed for the selection of the appropriate discussion body for each topic and management of discussion.

Round Table (RT) – A variety of opinions were incorporated through this organizational format, which brought together provincial governments, municipal governments, chambers of commerce, regional universities, environmental NGOs, and other groups with the objective of conducting participatory research engaging social actors – governments, corporations, and citizens – and building social environmental management capabilities. 
Steering Committee (SC) – this committee comprises the central government, chambers of commerce, the University of Indonesia, and other stakeholders, brought together to discuss the ideal for national systems and policies meant to support local initiatives. 

application/development

This project could develop a variety of environmental impact assessments for countries outside of Asia as well by linking with universities and research institutions around the world. 

predominance

There are countless initiatives underway that span national borders (the following are examples):
●A JICA/JST SATPERS project: “The project for development of pollution control and environmental restoration technologies of waste landfill sites taking into account geographical characteristics in Sri Lanka.”
Planning and maintenance management guidelines were created for permanent and applicable waste disposal sites.
●Research by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE)
A project to consider the creation of desertification countermeasures that consider the impact of measures on climate change.

purpose of providing seeds

Sponsord research, Collaboration research, Technical consultation
posted: 2014/05/21