1. “Messages from Asia and the Pacific” The 15 th Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change & The Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Art.6 of the Convention -Keys on how to enjoy your event- 11-15 September, 2005 Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

2. Welcome to Yokohama, Kanagawa ! The Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change has served as a unique forum for policy makers in the region. The organizers are very pleased to have you here today as a participant. To ensure that you will enjoy participating in lively discussions, we would like to introduce key features of the 15 th Seminar that run through the entire discussion on the next 5 days.

3. What are the Key Features?

4. Practical Approaches One of the distinguished features of the AP Seminar is its way of discussion. The Seminar has highlighted practical aspects of climate change issues, so that policy makers may obtain “hints” for their daily efforts at home. In view of providing useful inputs to participants, the 15 th Seminar promotes discussion at a practical level, not limited conceptual ones.

5. Policy, not Politics AP Seminar is not a forum for negotiation. Although participants include many negotiators from countries, all of us need to be continuously updated with new information, findings and lessons learnt from activities of studies, surveys, and other practical efforts. And such enhanced understanding on the issue will help us move for solving real problems. The Seminar supports exchange of information, views and experience that may enhance effectiveness of formulation and implementation of policies.

6. Regional Cooperation Regional cooperation is another key to the Seminar in addressing climate change issues. The Asia-Pacific being a region of diversity, and rapid development, the discussion on approaches to international cooperation is always a topic of interest for countries. The Seminar provides participants with opportunities to blend with other participants, which may lead to a start or strengthening partnerships among countries.

7. Implication for Art.6 One extra flavor of the 15 th AP Seminar is the joint organization of the Regional Workshop on Art.6 of UNFCCC. Recognizing the importance of Education, Training and Awareness Raising in any efforts to address climate change, the discussion of the 15 th Seminar may note the relevance of Art.6 activities in respective agenda items.

8. Messages from Asia and the Pacific The Seminar’s has grown to be an interesting showcase of climate policies. Recognizing the unique development and the need for further improvement, the Seminar endeavors to output “Messages from the Asia-Pacific”. Key findings will be summarized as Chairpersons Summery, and it will be conveyed to other forum in the region and the world.

9. Let us make a fruitful Event together!!