Home > What is AP-Net ?     A knowledge-based on-line clearing house for Asia-Pacific region on climate change issues Provides platform for policy dialogues and consultation within the region Provides access to latest information and data on climate change issues and developments focusing on the Asia-Pacific Supports capacity building for developing counties in the region   Background and recent developments of AP-Net   Sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, AP-Net was established as result of the Eighth Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change (AP-Seminar. 22-25 June 1998, Phuket, Thailand): to facilitate policy dialogues and consultations, enhance access to climate-change-related information, and, and promote information exchange on climate-change-related programs and projects within the Asia-Pacific region. In 2002-2003, AP-Net has been further developed into a World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Type 2 partnership initiative, as an outcome of the 12 th AP-Seminar, held in Bangkok, Thailand, in July-August 2002. "Enhancement of regional strategy on climate change through AP-Net" was jointly proposed as a Type 2 partnership by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and UN-ESCAP, and was signed by 29 parties including national governments, international organizations, and NGOs. This latest revision on the website aims at improving regional capacity for implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, as a knowledge-based on-line clearinghouse for the Asia-Pacific region, with particular interest in the clean development mechanism (CDM), which reduces information/data collection and analysis costs to all prospective stakeholders.   Future Developments   As a WSSD Type 2 partnership initiative, AP-Net will further strengthen its existing functions and expand its thematic coverage in line with to international developments regarding climate change issues, in close collaboration with the AP Seminar. AP-Net will specifically target the following activities for initiation in the next two or three years: Strengthening of the clearinghouse function for information related to the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol related information, focusing on issues specific to the Asia-Pacific region; Enhancement of the e-learning function to promote knowledge related to CDM, other GHG abatement projects and adaptation, for capacity-building of the region; Gathering, analysis, and provision of information on climate-friendly technologies; Strengthening of the Data Center and the Documents Center incorporating GHG inventories, and information related to CDM and other GHG abatement projects; Development of a regional strategy towards climate change mitigation.   Partners in the AP-Net Type2 initiative   Australia, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Global Environment Center Foundation (GEC), and the AP-Net secretariat.   What is a Type 2 partnership initiative?   "Type 2" partnerships are non-negotiated initiatives which contribute to implementing Agenda 21. A total of 251 initiatives have been registered by countries, international organizations, and NGOs as Type 2 partnerships at WSSD, which has become an important part of the WSSD output, manifesting the international community's commitment towards sustainable development.