TY - JOUR
T1 - Transfer of environmentally sound technologies from Japan to China
AU - Asuka-Zhang, Shouchuan
N1 - Funding Information:
The Japanese government supports NGOs' activities by providing operating subsidies. An example of a government program that specifically targets NGOs is MOFA's “NGO Project Subsidy System,” which began in 1989. This program has expanded its subsidy budget to 920 million yen for 1997, more than nine times its initial 100 million yen budget. The program has offered financial assistance to 224 Japanese NGO activities in 52 developing countries. The ODA's Grass-roots Gratuitous Assistance program was established in 1989, and it had a 1997 budget of 5 billion yen. This program offered financial assistance to 964 cases in 89 developing countries (MOFA 1998a) . Additionally, the Global Environment Fund, a 50-50 joint investment by the government and the private sector, has offered financial assistance (in the form of grants) to environmental NGOs in Japan and abroad since 1993. The Fund's total annual budget is between 500 and 700 million yen.
Funding Information:
MITI's Green Aid Plan faces a problem that is quite typical for any kind of technology transfer effort: insufficient project follow-up. In the case of the Green Aid Plan, it is not uncommon to find less progress than anticipated in the transfer and diffusion of technologies within the developing country. To date, no projects funded by the Green Aid Plan have resulted in a joint venture that moved beyond the project demonstration phase. One of the major obstacles to developing this kind of full-scale joint venture is the financial burden placed on the local enterprise for the initial operation and start-up process that follows the technology demonstration phase. To address this problem, MITI is considering requiring that project applicants have funds set aside for post-demonstration activities in order to be considered for project selection.
Funding Information:
Local governments and NGOs face a common set of challenges: shortages in financial and human resources, and weak channels of communication with recipient countries. Although the technology transfer activities performed by local governments and NGOs are generally not expensive, they still require financial support from the Japanese government. Despite problems related to resources and communications, however, some NGO programs have enjoyed notable success. For example, the Green Earth Network in Osaka is widely known for its efforts to stop desertification in the Huanghe highlands. This program as well as several other Japanese NGO efforts at afforestation in China have been very successful because of the high degree of public awareness and the relative ease of participation.
PY - 1999/9
Y1 - 1999/9
N2 - This article discusses the transfer of environmentally sound technology from Japan to developing countries, particularly China. The focus is on the main Japanese Organizations involved in environmentally sound technology transfer, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and Japanese industry. The article also describes the main activities involved in Japan's technology transfer efforts, such as grants, loan, information exchange, and demonstration projects, with specific examples of Japan's technology transfer work in China. Finally, the paper analyzes the successes and challenges of various technology transfer mechanisms and provides insight on the direction of Japan's future environmentally sound technology transfer projects and programs in developing countries.
AB - This article discusses the transfer of environmentally sound technology from Japan to developing countries, particularly China. The focus is on the main Japanese Organizations involved in environmentally sound technology transfer, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and Japanese industry. The article also describes the main activities involved in Japan's technology transfer efforts, such as grants, loan, information exchange, and demonstration projects, with specific examples of Japan's technology transfer work in China. Finally, the paper analyzes the successes and challenges of various technology transfer mechanisms and provides insight on the direction of Japan's future environmentally sound technology transfer projects and programs in developing countries.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0195-9255(99)00028-1
DO - 10.1016/S0195-9255(99)00028-1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0032823284
SN - 0195-9255
VL - 19
SP - 553
EP - 567
JO - Environmental Impact Assessment Review
JF - Environmental Impact Assessment Review
IS - 5-6
ER -