Sustainable Development Goals - How Can Japanese Local Government's Help?

Abstract

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were set to eradicate extreme poverty in 2000-2015, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are set to replace the MDGs after 2015. The United Nations (UN) is leading several initiatives to elaborate on the SDGs and has recognised the difficulty of achieving all goals together. According to the UN initiatives, achieving the SDGs will be an agenda for everyone, regardless of countries, to prioritize ending extreme poverty and inclusive development for all as well as achieving major global sustainability issues like climate change. This paper explores the Japanese way of achieving the SDGs both in theory and practice. Municipalities are one of the most appropriate scales to enable sustainable development, thus three case studies on Japanese municipalities have been conducted to see if the early stages of achieving SDGs can be enunciated.The results suggest that Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) can facilitate the coordination of the most suitable sustainability practices including environmentally friendly technology transfer to aid-receiving areas in Asia. Its accumulated experiences with the MDGs and human security systems associated with JICA's approach will make the Japanese way of dealing with SDGs unique.There are significant opportunities for Japan to help the Asian region reach their SDGs and Japanese municipalities should be preparing for these.

Unraveling Urban Disaster Management: A Deep Dive into SETS Implications through a Case Study of Toyama City, Japan

“…Toyama City expects these initiatives to have several benefits, including reducing ur ban sprawl, improving mobility and accessibility for its residents, promoting local culture and tourism, and supporting the global pursuit of the SDGs [6]. However, it has not al ways been effective in mitigating calamities, with floods and landslides in several areas o Toyama City in 2018 killing people and destroying property.…”

“…The compact city of Toyama City is designed to concentrate services and population along railway lines, with the objectives of reducing CO 2 emissions and revitalizing the city center [4]. Toyama City's Safe & Environmentally Smart Model Town Blocks project intends to utilize renewable energy sources and promote active community engagement [6]. In 2008, the Japanese government officially recognized Toyama City as a model city for its commendable environmental efforts [11].…”

“…Toyama City is an active member of the 100 Resilient Communities Network, a global network of communities committed to enhancing their capacity to endure and recover from various difficulties [3]. Toyama City is dedicated to sharing knowledge and skills with other cities and actively contributing to global efforts to achieve SDGs [6].…”

“…Toyama City has incorporated SDGs into its overall policy to become a model for all cities in Japan [6]. To enhance the city's ability to recover from disasters, it has strategically positioned itself within the global city network and is currently building a disaster response system [10].…”

“…To enhance the city's ability to recover from disasters, it has strategically positioned itself within the global city network and is currently building a disaster response system [10]. It has recently partnered with other Japanese municipalities, such as Kitakyushu, to create a plan for making cities sustainable and aligned with the SDGs by 2030 [6]. Additionally, it is actively focusing on building a sustainable urban transportation system to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents [12].…”