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In May 1991, UNEP's Governing Council took a decision to further strengthen
UNEP's role in sustainable urban and freshwater basin management by calling for
the creation of an International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC). The
Centre was inaugurated in October 1992 in Japan and its offices in Osaka and
Shiga officially opened in April 1994.
Prime Minister Kaifu's G-7 Meeting Announcement of a Proposal
to Establish the UNEP Global Environmental Technology Centre, July 1990
Mr. Kaifu, the then Prime Minister of Japan, made a proposal at the Houston
G-7 Summit to establish "the UNEP Global Environmental Preservation Centre" (provisional
name). This would be an integral part of a UN-related organization along the
lines of the United Nations University in Tokyo. The centre's main objective
would be to develop a database on technology information for global environment
protection and provide advisory service/training.
Shiga Prefectural Government and Osaka City Government
Continue Dialogue with UNEP, August 1990
Staff of the Shiga Prefectural Government (SPG) visited UNEP headquarters in
Nairobi to request the establishment of a new UNEP unit in Shiga Prefecture.
In the meeting, SPG offered one hectare of land at Cape Karasuma in Kusatsu
City and proposed to build an office facility to accommodate for the UNEP unit
free of charge. Osaka City also announced its intention to invite UNEP to establish
a new unit in Osaka. The Municipality indicated its intention to establish
the "Global Environmental Preservation Centre" (provisional name)
at the site of Expo '90.
UNEP GC Decision 16/34 Which Calls upon the Executive
Director of UNEP to Establish UNEP IETC in Japan, May 1991
In this Decision, the UNEP Governing Council called on the Executive Director
to continue his efforts toward the establishment of IETC which would operate
as an integral part of UNEP and be, thereby, under its supervision. The Decision
called upon Governments, United Nations organizations and bodies, other intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations to cooperate in the establishment of UNEP
IETC. Provided the establishment of the Centre, the Governing Council recommended
the gathering of an International Advisory Board composed of members with various
backgrounds.
Establishment of Global Environment Centre (GEC) Foundation,
January 1992
For the purpose of supporting the establishment of the UNEP IETC offices in
Osaka, the IETC Osaka Establishment Preparation Office founded the Global
Environment Centre (GEC) Foundation on January 28, 1992 with a capital
endowment received from the Osaka Prefectural and Municipal Governments. In
addition to providing staff and logistical support to UNEP IETC Osaka, GEC
collaborates on joint projects and serves as a liaison between UNEP IETC and
related organizations in Japan.
UNEP IETC Inauguration, 30 October 1992
The Government of Japan, represented by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Mr. Koji Kakizawa, and UNEP, represented by then Executive Director,
Dr. Mostafa K. Tolba, signed an agreement to set up the UNEP International
Environmental Technology Centre (IETC). Following the signing, an official
inauguration ceremony for the new UNEP Centre took place in Osaka.
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