EPP Forum website is established to facilitate knowledge and experience sharing with the mission of EPP implementation among APEC member economies. This website covers the initial APEC EPP Guideline and the framework of Public Consultation in order to obtain comments from the experts to develop final APEC EPP Guideline. (Anyone who is interested in this topic can download the initial APEC EPP Guideline and participate in the Public Consultation process in the EPP Forum page).
What is EPP about?
At the 9th APEC Energy Ministers Meeting (EMM9), held in Fukui, Japan on 19 June 2010, focused on the theme “Low Carbon Paths to Energy Security”, the Ministers observed that “Introduction of low-carbon technologies in city planning to boost energy efficiency and reduce fossil energy use is vital to manage rapidly growing energy consumption in urban areas of APEC”. In order to achieve the Low Carbon Town Concept, people oriented approach by participation of all stakeholders especially local people is very importance. In the APEC Low Carbon Model Town Phase 2 (SAMUI Island), the feasibility study has proposed an Eco-Point Program (EPP) - originally developed and implemented by Japanese government since 2009 - as a bottom-up approach to promote low carbon lifestyles and measures. A program incorporating all low carbon measures and encouraging the public for low carbon consumption shall be developed to overcome the constraint.
EPP is an incentive program promoting green consumption towards low carbon society by giving points and rewards to the consumers who purchase certified eco-goods and services. This eco-point program is voluntary basis with main elements consisting of eco-point certification systems, eco-point valuation approaches, EPP office (or EPP certification body; EPP-CB), eco-products (including both goods and services), eco-point funds and eco-point rewards. The EPP guideline will assist APEC to achieve these development aspects of low carbon town by implementing EPP as local based program or regional based program.
Who is the guideline aimed at?
The guideline can be used by all actors with an interest in EPP implementation. This includes national and local governments, policy-makers, investors, service providers, practitioners and researchers. The guideline covers process on developing and implementing eco-point program for APEC economies intended to promote green consumptions. The process has been reviewed and formulated from eco-point or similar programs implemented in several countries.
The objectives of EPP guideline
The EPP guideline is intended to provide an accessible operational guide to put EPP framework into practice in all APEC member economies. The EPP guideline provides a holistic approach to integrate the existing low carbon schemes and to systematically shift demands towards low carbon consumption. This guideline does not replace the existing systems but facilitate how to utilize them under a common approach for promoting low carbon society.