Je ournal Xpress Volume 3 #29, November 26, 2008 Headlines ＊＊＊＊＊＊＊ Journal Express は、通常 1-2 ページの Headlines とこれに続く本文との 2 部構成になっています。 Headlines 頁の各記事から或いは pdf 機能「しおり」の項目から本文へ直接リンクします。 ＊＊＊＊＊＊＊ 国連、金融危機と人道救済に巨額支援を要請 国連が、昨今の金融危機への救済と人道支援という 2 つの局面から巨額の資金援助を呼びかけている。11 月中旬に開催された G20 サミットに先立ち、金融破綻による貧困国での損失補填のために 3000 億ドルの ODA の新規供与が、また 2009 年国連機関共同アピールでは「3000 万人の差し迫ったニーズ」のために 70 億ドルの人道支援が要請されている。 U.N. Seeks $7 Billion in Record Aid Appeal (Japan Times, November 21, 2008, p 7) U.N. Seeks Bailout Package for World's Poorest (Inter Press Service News online, November 13, 2008) 注！ オバマ氏と国連 Note! 次期アメリカ大統領のオバマ氏は 11 月中旬に国連事務総長と会談し、国連改革を促すとともに、アメリカの 国連への支持を強調した。 Obama Seeks Reforms in Talk with UN Chief (Associated Press online, November 20, 2008) ADB、内部監査でPEF投資に批判 アジア開発銀行（ADB）の内部監査機関である業務評価局（OED）が、同行のプライベート･エクイティ･ファンド （PEF）投資における社会・環境セーフガードの弱さを批判する内部報告書を発表した。この指摘は OED が本 年 7 月に発表した公式報告と幾分食い違っている。折しも ADB では現在、民間セクターとのプロジェクトは増 加しており、社会・環境融資基準の改定を進めている。 Reputation on Line over Plans to Update Social Lending Criteria (Financial Times, November 17, 2008, p 8) ADB Attacked on Private Equity Fund Investments (Financial Times, November 17, 2008, p 8) UNDP、アジア地域の経済減速に警鐘 国連開発計画（UNDP）のアジア大洋州局長によれば、同地域の経済減速は社会不安を誘引する危険性が ある。同氏は積極的な財政政策の導入や地域間貿易の強化、アジア金融危機後に採択されたチェンマイ・イ ニシアティブの拡大などの有効性を強調している。 Economic Crisis could Spark Unrest in Asia, UN Warns (Financial Times, November 19, 2008, p 10) 富裕国との土地所有契約に慎重な貧困国 土地の豊富な貧困国から土地を持たない先進国への耕作地の所有権譲渡について、当初の熱狂から一転 し、慎重に受け止める動きが貧困国の間で強まっている。この問題は双方間の新植民地的関係を確立する 危険性も孕むため、貧困国住民にとって有益な契約が結ばれることが重要である。マダガスカルとカンボジ アは対照的な事例を示している。 Cambodia Holds Land Deal Talks (Financial Times, November 21, 2008, p 6) Support Cools for Rich Countries’ Investment (Financial Times, November 20, 2008, p 3) ドーハ最新情報： G20サミットで、交渉年内合意の動き Doha Update: ドーハ･ラウンド貿易交渉の主唱者達は、G20 サミット声明の採択が協議の再開のみならず、年内の合意締 結への前兆だとしている。 Lamy Calls for Support to be Backed up in Geneva Negotiations (Financial Times, November 17, 2008) （続） 1 シンクタンク・雑誌情報： 食糧危機を防げなかった国際機関体制 Thoughts from the think tanks and the journals of opinion: なぜ多国籍機関が昨夏の世界食糧危機を防げなかったかについての説明を試みる上で、この論者は国連 関連機関で食糧問題を取り扱う、国連食糧農業機関（FAO）、国連世界食糧計画（WFP）、国際農業開発基金 （IFAD）の 3 つに着目した。協力と協調という大原則にも関わらず、これらの機関は一つの体制として機能し ていないことが指摘されている。 Revisiting Rome (By Frederic Mousseau, D+C, November 2008) 会議情報： 第2回開発金融国際会議（FfD） Meetings and Conferences: 2002 年に続く第 2 回開発金融国際会議（FfD）がドーハで開かれる。これは、第 1 回会議で採択されたモンテ レイ合意の実施評価を行うために、国連総会が義務付けたものである。 International Conference on Financing for Development: Reviewing the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus (Doha, Qatar, November 29-December 2, 2008) 「ポスト京都議定書」最新情報： 先進国の温室効果ガス排出は横ばい Kyoto Protocol Update: 国連の新刊報告書によると、先進国の温室効果ガス排出量は横ばい状態となっているものの、このデータは 2 年前と古く、主要新興国は含んでいない。米国では、カリフォルニア州知事のアーノルド・シュワルツェネッ ガー氏が、気候変動と闘う活動を取りまとめる先導的な役割を担っている。同知事は、他州や外国政府と合 意を結んだり、次期大統領オバマ氏が演説を行った気候サミットも主催した。気候変動への対処は、オバマ 氏の就任後の優先課題であると明言されている。 UN Report Indicates Leveling off of Emissions (International Herald Tribune, November 19, 2008, p 4) Obama Rejects Easing off his Climate-Change Goals (International Herald Tribune, November 20, 2008, p 1) 2 http://dakis.fasid.or.jp/ Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development (財)国際開発高等教育機構 al Je o up rn X re s s Volume 3, Issue 29, November 26, 2008 U.N. seeks $7 billion in record aid appeal Japan Times, November 21, 2008, p 7 U.N. Seeks Bailout Package for World's Poorest Inter Press Service News online, November 13, 2008 The United Nations has put out appeals for substantial financial donations on two critical but separate fronts: $300 billion in financial/credit crisis relief and $7 billion in humanitarian relief. The $300 billion request was made by Salil Shetty, Director of the UN Millennium Campaign, prior to the mid-November G20 summit in Washington, D.C. According to Mr. Shetty, this is the amount of GDP lost to poor counties by the financial meltdown. He asked that G7 governments, the wealthiest industrialized countries in which the crisis originated, provide additional ODA to compensate for the harm done. The new funds could be in the form of money, debt relief, International Monetary Fund (IMF) gold sales, or some combination. Recipients would be required to ensure that the money is allocated to the scaling-up of education, health and social protection programs that target the poor and most vulnerable. The $7 billion humanitarian relief is being solicited in the context of the UN annual Joint Appeal, a combined statement of anticipated funding needs for the coming year from all humanitarian agencies within the UN system. The $7 billion 2009 Joint Appeal is to meet “the most pressing needs of 30 million people in Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kenya, the occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa, and Zimbabwe.” A statement of the Millennium Campaign request is available at http://endpoverty2015.org/files/key_messages.pdf The UN Humanitarian Appeal 2009 is available at http://ochaonline.un.org/humanitarianappeal/webpage.asp?Page=1709 Obama seeks reforms in talk with UN chief Associated Press online, November 20, 2008 US president-elect Barack Obama spoke with UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon November 19, urging UN reform, but also assuring the Secretary General that the United States wants to “rededicate itself to the organization and to its mission.” The two discussed current crises and how they can work together to resolve them. 3 Reputation on line over plans to update social lending criteria Financial Times, November 17, 2008, p 8 ADB attacked on private equity fund investments Financial Times, November 17, 2008, p 8 An internal report from the Operations Evaluation Department (OED) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) criticizes the regional development Bank’s investments in private equity funds, saying, among other things, that “environmental and other safeguards have been weak.” This report is somewhat at odds with a more favorable official report on the subject issued by OED in July 2008. While the July report asserts that the due diligence process was “comprehensive by industry standards,” the internal report finds that apparently there is “no regular internal ADB assessment, reporting or focused management of reputational, environmental or other non-financial risks.” This evaluation has come as the ADB is trying to increase private sector involvement in its projects to 50% by 2020 while at the same time updating its environmental and social criteria for lending. Observers believe that the Bank may be unaware of some of the problems, if, as OED has found, monitoring standards are weak. US-based Environmental Defense Fund, an environmental NGO, suggests that the private equity fund investments be reconsidered given their poor financial performance and disregard for environmental safeguards. The issue of the ADB’s social and environmental lending criteria is currently in the spotlight because the Bank is now in the process of updating its safeguards policy. Consultations and workshops were held November 18-20, attended by some 70 participants from civil society organizations, government agencies, businesses, academic institutions, and multilateral and bilateral organizations. Thus far 14 consultative sessions have been held and written submissions have been received. A final draft policy paper is to be submitted for ADB Board consideration in early 2009. Economic crisis could spark unrest in Asia, UN warns Financial Times, November 19, 2008, p 10 In a November 18 interview, the head of the Asia and Pacific Bureau of the United Nations Development Programme warned that slowing economies in that region could provoke social unrest. Ajay Chhibber, who left the World Bank for the United Nations in April, 2008, spoke with specific reference to the 300 million Asians who have only recently moved out of poverty. He said that these people are now on the margin, at risk of slipping back below the poverty line. If this happens, the poverty reduction progress that has been made will be undone, bringing resurgent unemployment, ill-health and decreased educational opportunity for children. In Mr. Chhibber’s view, “[h]aving stronger safety nets for these people will … be vital because otherwise you will see a lot of unrest on the streets.” He recommended that governments adopt expansionary budgets and perhaps also pay parents in cash to insure that their children attend school and are appropriately immunized. He also stressed the usefulness of strengthening intraregional trade and expanding the Chiang Mai Initiative adopted by Asean+3 after the 1997 Asian financial crisis to manage regional short-term liquidity problems. 4 Cambodia holds land deal talks Financial Times, November 21, 2008, p 6 Support cools for rich countries’ investment Financial Times, November 20, 2008, p 3 Land-rich poor countries are learning that leasing some of their arable acreage to land-poor rich countries is a transaction that must be managed carefully. After initial enthusiasm, such agreements now received a more measured reception. The potential in these deals for neo-colonialist exploitation has been highlighted by the director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (refer to JX 3:18 9/10/08). Other observers, including the editorial writers of the Financial Times (November 20, 2008 p 8), have condemned such transactions when they are not in the interests of the local population. The problem with the land lease agreements is not in the concept, but rather in the details. Madagascar and Cambodia offer contrasting examples: Madagascar has leased 1.3m hectares of farmland to a South Korean firm for 99 years without any monetary compensation whatsoever. Whatever benefit accrues to Madagascar will come in the form of employment opportunities (Financial Times, November 20, 2008, p 3). By contrast, Cambodia is negotiating simultaneously with several governments to receive investments worth billions of dollars as payment for its land concessions. But there are no guarantees for either party in these transactions. Over time, as conditions change, the acquiring country may find that it no longer controls a resource to which it thought it had legal rights. The FAO has established a task force to study the matter. It expects to issue recommendations before the end of this year on how farmland agreements can be drawn up to benefit both parties. Lamy calls for support to be backed up in Geneva negotiations Financial Times, November 17, 2008 Proponents of a Doha Round global trade agreement are citing the Final Declaration from the recent G20 summit (refer to JX 3:28 11/19/08) as a signal to not only restart the talks but also to reach an agreement by this year’s end. The Declaration states: “[W]e shall strive to reach agreement this year on modalities that lead to a successful conclusion of the WTO’s Doha Development Agenda…We also agree that our countries…each must make the positive contributions necessary…” Agriculture chairman, Crawford Falconer, is urging agriculture sector negotiators to modify their positions quickly, so that consensus can be reached in time to meet an end-of-year target. WTO director general Pascal Lamy also sees in the statement a possible breakthrough, although he noted that this is the latest in a series of promises that lack essential specifics. He has not yet called a ministerial level meeting, saying that “[w]hat we need now is for this strong show of support to be translated into action at the negotiating table in Geneva.” 5 thoughts from the think tanks and the journals of opinion: Revisiting Rome By Frederic Mousseau, D+C, November 2008 Why didn’t the multilateral system prevent the global food crisis that struck last summer? To answer this question, and perhaps discover how to prevent a recurrence of such crises, this analyst looks at the 3 food-related agencies that constitute the multilateral system: the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Though not administered by the UN Secretariat, these agencies are all within the UN family, all are located in Rome and all share a food focus. Logically they should be complementary, cooperative and coordinated; instead, there is incoherence and inconsistency among them. Technically they are interrelated, but because they were established for specific objectives without regard for larger context, they don’t work well together. The FAO was formed in 1945, in the aftermath of World War II to bolster stability and peace. In 1963 WFP was established as a conduit to move food from countries producing surpluses to countries experiencing hunger and famine. In 1974, IFAD was created by the World Food Conference as a vehicle for investing petrodollars in the agricultural sectors of developing countries. These three organizations could be oriented more effectively toward a joint purpose but there is a tension among them which is exacerbated by politicized governance: In FAO, developing countries have influence, while in WFP, donor countries are more dominant. IFAD, the smallest of the three, tends to go its own way. While these organizations have all responded to the food crisis, they have not coordinated their responses and their individual responses have been less helpful than a joint one would have been. The effects of the food crisis continue. There is agreement that the food supply should be increased, that funding in food and agriculture is inadequate; and that additional aid and investment is important. But in the view of this analyst, better use of existing resources is also important, and that means better and more coordinated use of these three agencies. Although these agencies are not administered by the UN Secretariat, the High Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis established in April by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is “an historic first attempt to make the key global institutions work together and develop a single policy framework to guide the fight against hunger.” The article is available at http://www.inwent.org/ez/articles/082740/index.en.shtml 6 Meetings and Conferences International Conference on Financing for Development: Reviewing the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus Doha, Qatar, November 29-December 2, 2008 Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, the outcome agreement from the original Financing for Development (FfD) Conference held in Monterrey, Mexico in March 2002, will be the subject of this FfD follow-up conference. The follow-up was mandated by a General Assembly resolution to "assess progress made, reaffirm goals and commitments, share best practices and lessons learned and identify obstacles and constraints encountered, actions and initiatives to overcome them and important measures for further implementation, as well as new challenges and emerging issues." As is usual with international conferences of this sort, the draft outcome document has been prepared and circulated to participating governments for their prior approval. The draft is dated July 2008, written during the financial/credit crisis, but perhaps before its intractability became clear. Many people believe that the ongoing crisis increases the importance of development assistance, but undoubtedly it complicates the financing of it. There is also a view that the FfD concept is seriously flawed (refer to JX 3:26 11/5/08). The Financing for Development program is currently managed by a UN Financing for Development Office within the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (ESA). The draft outcome document recognizes a need for “a more effective intergovernmental structure to carry out this task.” It asks the UN Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly to take appropriate action. A second follow-up conference will take place by 2013. Information on the conference, including the draft outcome document is available at http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/doha/index.htm Item of interest A summit duel to capture capitalism International Herald Tribune, November 21, 2008, p 12 French President Nicholas Sarkozy has startled international diplomatic circles by announcing that he will hold a summit meeting on the financial crisis on January 8-9. This meeting is totally unrelated to the G20 summit on the same topic recently concluded in Washington (refer to JX 3:28 11/19/08). Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will co-host with Mr. Sarkozy, and Nobel Economic Laureates Joseph Stiglitz and Amartya Sen have agreed to attend. The agenda and names of other invitees are not yet known. Barack Obama, who did not attend the G20 summit because he is not yet president, is unlikely to participate in this on either, as at the time he will still not be president. 7 UN report indicates leveling off of emissions International Herald Tribune, November 19, 2008, p 4 Obama rejects easing off his climate-change goals International Herald Tribune, November 20, 2008, p 1 A report from the United Nations finds that greenhouse gas emissions from industrialized countries leveled-off in 2006 after 6 years of increases. This data, however, does not reflect activity over the past two years nor does it include large emerging economies such as China and India. The report was issued in advance of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference in Poznań, Poland December 1-12. This will be the 14th conference of the parties (COP 14). The 15th COP, to be held in December 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark, is expected to adopt a successor agreement to the expiring Kyoto Protocol. In the United States, where the Bush administration has been reluctant to address global warming, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has actively taken the lead by signing agreements with governments at various levels. California, which has the largest economy of the 50 states, has concluded agreements with several other US states, 4 Canadian provinces, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Indonesia and the Australian state of Victoria. Mr. Schwarzenegger is also talking with China. Although these agreements are not comprehensive, each addresses one or more aspect of the climate change problem (AP online, November 19, 2008). Mr. Schwarzenegger also convened and co-hosted the Governors’ Global Climate Summit November 18-19 in Beverly Hills. It was attended by governors from the 50 states and representatives from 19 countries. Although not in attendance, US president-elect Barack Obama gave a 4 minute address at the opening in which he re-iterated support for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. Unlike the Bush administration, both Mr. Schwarzenegger and Mr. Obama believe that there will be economic benefit from efforts to combat global warming. Mr. Obama has already indicated that when he takes office, action to deal with climate change will be high on his agenda. His objective is to reduce CO2 emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and by 80% by 2050. He intends also to invest $150 bn in green technologies. The president-elect re-emphasized his position in his statement to the conference. ”Now is the time to confront this challenge once and for all. Delay is no longer an option. Denial is no longer an acceptable response.” Information on the UNFCCC Poznań Conference is available at http://unfccc.int/2860.php Information on the Governors’ Global Climate summit is available at http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/11082 The report “National greenhouse gas inventory data for the period 1990-2006” is available at http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2008/sbi/eng/12.pdf 8
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