20th
Anniversary
Anniversary
The adoption of Agenda 21 at the Earth Summit (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) raised international awareness on the environment and sustainable development. Japan also wanted to contribute internationally through research on global environmental challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, and so in 1995, a consultative body of the Prime Minister proposed to establish the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). In 1997, the Preparatory Organisation for the Establishment of IGES was launched to look into ways to implement advanced sustainability research, sending several missions to research/governmental/international organisations.
Proposal to establish IGES by the Council of Global Environment in the 21st Century, a consultative body of the Prime Minister of Japan
ECO ASIA 96 welcomed the Japanese government’s initiative to establish IGES
Launch of the Preparatory Organisation for the Establishment of IGES
Adoption of the Charter for the Establishment of IGES: signatories include regional governments, international organisations and research institutes
Following the convening of UNGASS (Earth Summit+5) in 1997 and the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, awareness was growing among Asian countries with regards to sustainability toward the agreement on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the UN Millennium Summit (2000). IGES offered support including the creation of a regional network of researchers and practitioners, as well as developing research activities under Prof. Akio Morishima, who was appointed IGES Chair of the Board of Directors following on from his role on the Preparatory Organisation.
Start of IGES First Phase Strategic Research: Inauguration on 31 March as a Japanese foundation hosted by Kanagawa Prefecture, located in Hayama, with research activities beginning on 1 April
IGES Opening Ceremony, Opening Symposium
Launch of Post-COP seminar series conveying results of UNFCCC/COP as well as the IGES seminar for affiliate members series
Launch of “Top News on the Environment in Asia”
Open Meeting of International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP)
Establishment within IGES of Technical Support Unit (TSU) for the IPCC Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Establishment of IGES Kitakyushu Office with support from City of Kitakyushu to disseminate Japanese environmental technology and systems to Asian cities
1st Japanese German Policy Dialogue (Tokyo) by top private companies co-organised with Wuppertal Institute
Initiation of commercial publications “IGES Series of Strategic Research on Global Environment (in Japanese)” and “IGES Book Series (in English)”
Inaugural edition of “International Review for Environmental Strategies (IRES)” as an academic journal on sustainability research
Proposal to the Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development (MCED 2000), becoming implementing body for Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment
2nd Japanese German Policy Dialogue (Wuppertal) with discussions between IT industry and research community ahead of COP6
Launch of bilingual e-mail newsletter “E-alert”
