10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
[HGG01-05] Nature-based solutions for mountain disaster risk reduction in developing countries and challenges for Japanese stakeholders
Keywords:climate change, natural disasters, disaster risk reduction, international cooperation
1. Introduction
In recent years, as the economies of developing countries grow, land use in mountainous and coastal areas is being converted from forest to farmland, resulting in an increase in the frequency and severity of mountain disasters, exacerbated by climate change. Japan has a long history of reducing the risk of slope failures by utilizing the disaster mitigation functions of forest ecosystems, i.e., mountain control technology (“Chisan”), and has made efforts to apply it in bilateral cooperation projects. Japan has also largely funded multilateral efforts for sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation, but it is unclear whether Japan has sought to promote its own mountain control technology in the resulting projects, and whether experienced Japanese firms have actively participated. In this study, we examined Japan’s contribution to multilateral funds and the share of contracts awarded to Japanese firms. We then analyzed the factors behind the current situation through interviews and discussed the challenges to increasing the presence of Japanese firms in multilateral projects.
2. Nature-based Solutions (NbS)
Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS), are gaining increasing attention in the international development arena. The World Bank has launched a program on “Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience” to promote a strong institutional response, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Forestry Division is also working on NbS. The fundamentals of mountain control technology, which combine mountain revegetation, support structures, and implementation through medium- to long-term land use planning, have a strong affinity with these initiatives and discussions.
3. Study Findings
(1) In 2016-2020, Japan ranks among the top five Development Assistance Committee contributors to seven of the eight climate finance institutions studied, is the largest contributor to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Green Climate Fund, and the Global Environment Facility, and the second largest contributor to the World Bank (WB).
(2) In 2021, Japan’s private sector ranks 21st in value for WB projects and 31st for ADB projects, which is small compared to contributions.
(3) The number of Forest-based Disaster Risk Reduction (F-DRR) and related projects under multilateral funding is small, and their planning and implementation are lagging behind.
(4) Barriers to market entry for Japanese consulting firms are low price competitiveness, lack of diverse international human resources, slow globalization of corporate management, and insufficient track record. Conversely, emerging economies such as China and India, with limited technology but lower labor costs, are highly competitive.
(5) Barriers to market entry for Japanese manufacturers are the high costs associated with the high quality, specifications, and prices of their products, which do not necessarily meet the requirements of developing countries, and the high initial investment and risk involved in setting up production bases abroad.
4. Discussion
The results indicate that only a few Japanese firms are willing to actively participate in multilateral projects, and that in many cases they are not adequately prepared, as such projects are quite different in approach and style from Japanese bilateral cooperation. Many international institutions are increasing their climate-related budgets, and it is expected that NbS for disaster risk reduction will become more widespread in the future. To take advantage of the situation and demonstrate Japan's presence in this field, it is essential for the government, the private sector, academic institutions, etc. to work together. It is also important for academic institutions to deepen the exchange of information and opinions on the various functions of erosion control technology, especially with private companies, and to make efforts to effectively disseminate scientific findings.
In recent years, as the economies of developing countries grow, land use in mountainous and coastal areas is being converted from forest to farmland, resulting in an increase in the frequency and severity of mountain disasters, exacerbated by climate change. Japan has a long history of reducing the risk of slope failures by utilizing the disaster mitigation functions of forest ecosystems, i.e., mountain control technology (“Chisan”), and has made efforts to apply it in bilateral cooperation projects. Japan has also largely funded multilateral efforts for sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation, but it is unclear whether Japan has sought to promote its own mountain control technology in the resulting projects, and whether experienced Japanese firms have actively participated. In this study, we examined Japan’s contribution to multilateral funds and the share of contracts awarded to Japanese firms. We then analyzed the factors behind the current situation through interviews and discussed the challenges to increasing the presence of Japanese firms in multilateral projects.
2. Nature-based Solutions (NbS)
Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS), are gaining increasing attention in the international development arena. The World Bank has launched a program on “Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience” to promote a strong institutional response, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Forestry Division is also working on NbS. The fundamentals of mountain control technology, which combine mountain revegetation, support structures, and implementation through medium- to long-term land use planning, have a strong affinity with these initiatives and discussions.
3. Study Findings
(1) In 2016-2020, Japan ranks among the top five Development Assistance Committee contributors to seven of the eight climate finance institutions studied, is the largest contributor to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Green Climate Fund, and the Global Environment Facility, and the second largest contributor to the World Bank (WB).
(2) In 2021, Japan’s private sector ranks 21st in value for WB projects and 31st for ADB projects, which is small compared to contributions.
(3) The number of Forest-based Disaster Risk Reduction (F-DRR) and related projects under multilateral funding is small, and their planning and implementation are lagging behind.
(4) Barriers to market entry for Japanese consulting firms are low price competitiveness, lack of diverse international human resources, slow globalization of corporate management, and insufficient track record. Conversely, emerging economies such as China and India, with limited technology but lower labor costs, are highly competitive.
(5) Barriers to market entry for Japanese manufacturers are the high costs associated with the high quality, specifications, and prices of their products, which do not necessarily meet the requirements of developing countries, and the high initial investment and risk involved in setting up production bases abroad.
4. Discussion
The results indicate that only a few Japanese firms are willing to actively participate in multilateral projects, and that in many cases they are not adequately prepared, as such projects are quite different in approach and style from Japanese bilateral cooperation. Many international institutions are increasing their climate-related budgets, and it is expected that NbS for disaster risk reduction will become more widespread in the future. To take advantage of the situation and demonstrate Japan's presence in this field, it is essential for the government, the private sector, academic institutions, etc. to work together. It is also important for academic institutions to deepen the exchange of information and opinions on the various functions of erosion control technology, especially with private companies, and to make efforts to effectively disseminate scientific findings.