 |
 |
| NEWS |
ISAP2020: “Just Transitions Toward Sustainable Societies in Asia and the Pacific”
From 9-13 November and on 30 November, IGES will hold its annual “International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific” (ISAP2020), in an online format. This year’s theme is “Just Transitions Toward Sustainable Societies in Asia and the Pacific: Building Forward Better for Our Future Beyond COVID-19”. The range of Thematic Tracks include topics such as “Bolstering Green and Zero Carbon Cities”, “Can Co-innovation Accelerate Japanese Technology Transfer to Asia?”, “Collaborative Learning & Co-creation of Sustainable Living”, “Redesign Towards a More Resilient and Sustainable Society”, “Transforming Asia toward Net-Zero Emissions”, and “The Satoyama Initiative, Transformative Change, and Societies in Harmony with Nature”. In addition, there will be five plenaries, including a focus on “Bridging Science with Action and Implementation”, and looking at “Synergy among Biodiversity, Climate and SDGs”. This year’s forum will also feature a virtual exhibition, where participants can see publications, watch videos, as well as chat with other avatars (automatically generated upon entering the forum via the link below) in the venue. With the need for a swift response and recovery from COVID-19, as well as the chance to think about how we can redesign our societies and transform them to be more sustainable, resilient, just and inclusive, ISAP2020 will showcase IGES’ position on current and future risks, and make a call for stronger partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
 For general information and the individual session pages with live video and chat boxes (no registration required) here
For the virtual venue (open as of 12 November) and videos of the sessions after they are edited: here
|
|
Commentary on Prime Minister Suga’s Declaration to Achieve a Decarbonised Society by 2050
On Wednesday, 28 October, IGES released a commentary on Japanese Prime Minister Suga’s declaration to achieve a decarbonised society by 2050, a pledge made in his first general policy speech to the lower house of Parliament on 26 October 2020. By indicating a way forward and a timeline for decarbonisation, the Prime Minister’s pledge serves to support companies and investors so they can make long-term business and investment decisions. With respect to the Prime Minister’s intention to “radically transform [the country’s] long-held policies regarding coal-fired power plants”, the commentary states that if Japan is really to achieve decarbonisation over the next 30 years, then it is crucial to look at how technology such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) can be disseminated, and find ways to overcome the challenges to implementing this and other related technologies. The IGES commentary also emphasises the urgent task of incorporating Green Deal elements into budget planning for the next fiscal year, and expresses views on a range of issues including specific lifestyle options to balance the achievement of a better quality of life and decarbonisation, and re-evaluation of operational rules for power lines to promote the dissemination of renewable energy, among others. IGES supports the national policy to aim for a decarbonised society by 2050 and will make every effort going forward, to contribute to its achievement.
Press Release (in Japanese only): here
For details, please see the full commentary (in Japanese only. English version will be published soon.): here |
|
MoU between IGES and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, to Strengthen Plastic Pollution Prevention in Cities
On 29 October, IGES and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste signed a Memorandum of Understanding on developing mutual initiatives to strengthen engagement with cities over the next three years. Under the MoU, both organisations will work in partnership to: 1) Develop and implement projects in cooperation with cities to stop plastic waste leakage into the environment and advance cities’ movement up the waste management value chain; 2) Share information, learnings and best practices on waste management and circular economy approaches, and 3) Disseminate good practices of plastic pollution measures and mobilise actions among multiple stakeholders. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, IGES President, stated, “Plastics have widely permeated our day-to-day lives, but their improper disposal has had tremendously negative impacts on ecosystems and the environment … I am confident that this partnership will lead to science-based, effective policy recommendations that will allow us to make progress on green recovery and create sustainable cities.”
More details available here |
|
Launch of the Special Webpage on “Decarbonised Cities”
As the impacts of climate change increase in frequency and intensity every year, many local governments are under pressure to take action to protect the health and daily lives of their residents. This page provides information on decarbonisation in cities, based on IGES' contributions to the promotion of climate action and other SDGs in cities and collaboration among Japanese and other Asian cities. The page features relevant events, including the 11th High Level Seminar on Sustainable Cities, and showcases publications such as the “Role of the Satoyama Initiative for the Achievement of the SDGs and Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in the Face of COVID-19”.
More details available here |
|
Reflections and Analysis of UNGA75
Eric Zusman, Research Leader of IGES’ Sustainability Governance Centre, reflects on the UNGA75 and offers the main takeaways from the sessions in his short video commentary, outlining five interrelated crises related to the environment and sustainability. In an extended version of this video, he explains the background of this year’s UNGA and offers perspectives on highlights including China’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2060.
More details available here |
|
IGES Researcher sent to Mauritius to Assist with Cargo Ship Oil Spill
On 24 October, IGES dispatched a researcher to Mauritius as a member of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) research team, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for the purpose of fleshing out future support measures. Koji Miwa, a researcher of the Natural Resources and Ecosystem Services unit at IGES, is visiting the site of the oil spill as a member of the survey team to conduct basic research for the restoration of coastal ecosystems. He will spend about two months there to collect information necessary to promote rapid and effective cooperation from Japan, focused mainly in the fields of the environment and fisheries.
More details available here |
|
Presentation at the Annual Earth League Workshop
On 20 October, Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President of IGES, and Eric Zusman, Research Leader, made a presentation titled: “Greening the COVID-19 Response, Recovery and Redesign: Building Blocks of a Coherent Planning Framework”. The Earth League is an international alliance of institutional and individual members, who work together to respond to some of the most pressing issues faced by humankind including climate change, depletion of natural resources, land degradation, water scarcity, and food security.
More details available here
Presentation Material: here
"Earth League" Official site: here (External site)
|
|
| EVENTS |
“Composting”, a Webinar from the CCET Guideline Series
On 20 November, IGES and its partners will present the second of three webinars dedicated to assisting policymakers and practitioners in developing countries with their selection of appropriate waste management technologies, and carrying out related policies and strategies to improve management of waste. Focused on composting, the seminar aims to give participants a deeper understanding of the CCET guideline series on intermediate municipal solid waste treatment technologies, which discusses existing options, their advantages and disadvantages, and related challenges people may face on the ground. The webinar series was developed by the IGES Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (CCET) and the United Nations Environment Programme International Environmental Technology Centre (UNEP IETC), in collaboration with the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) and the Japan Society of Material Cycles and Waste Management (JSMCWM). The third webinar, on Mechanical - Biological Treatment, is tentatively planned for February or March 2021.
More details available here |
|
APO Productivity Talk: “Greening the COVID-19 Response, Recovery and Redesign”
On 6 October, IGES experts gave a lecture on “Greening the COVID-19 Response, Recovery and Redesign”. While COVID-19 has caused tremendous socioeconomic loss and suffering, it has also opened opportunities for an environmentally sustainable future. The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Productivity Talk was led by Eric Zusman (Research Leader, Sustainability Governance Centre), Andre Mader (Programme Director, Natural Resources and Ecosystem Services), and Matthew Hengesbaugh (Communications Coordinator, Sustainability Governance Centre).
More details available here
|
| MEDIA COVERAGE |
Contribution to NHK World’s Programme: “Zeroing In: Carbon Neutral 2050” |
In mid-November, NHK World will broadcast its programme “Zeroing In: Carbon Neutral 2050”. The second segment, Chapter 2, “Sharing Our Bounty”, features interviews with Atsushi Watabe (Programme Director) and Satoshi Kojima (Principal Coordinator) of IGES, who are both authors of the 1.5-degree lifestyles report. This programme will be broadcast live at 10:30, 16:30, and 19:30 on 12 November and 4:30 on 13 November (JST). The content will also be available on demand, via the link below, after the programme airs.
Link to livestream: here |
|
| RECRUITMENT & INTERNSHIP |
 |
Regional Centre in Bangkok (BRC) seeks Climate Change Technical Officer.
The position will remain open until filled.
 More details available here
The Research and Publications Unit of the Strategic Management Office Calls for Internship Applicants
More details available here
 |
|
|
