Keynote presentation on SDGs and Cities Dr. Kazuhiko Takemoto (UNU-IAS) 2018 ProSPER.Net Young Researchers' School 5 March 2018

1. SDGs and Cities
March 5, 2018
Kazuhiko (Kazu) Takemoto
Director of UNU-IAS
2018
ProSPER. Net
Young Researchers’ School

2. Contents
1. Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) for Cities
2. Efforts toward Achieving SDGs
3. Actions for Sustainable Cities
2

3. 3
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Sep. 2015)
17 Goals and 169 Targets
were adopted at the UN
General Assembly (Sep. 2015)

4. 4
Background of the SDGs
Following-up remaining
issues of the MDGs
Serious
Consideration
of Planetary
Boundaries
Policy making process with a
wide range of stakeholders
Steffen et al. (2015)

5. SDGs for Cities
Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive,
safe, resilient and sustainable
• Goals focusing on issues related to cities such as settlements, transportation,
disasters, environment, culture and natural heritage in a cross-sectoral
manner (Evolved greatly from the MDGs)
• Many other goals are linked to SDG 11 (Examples: health and well-being
(Goal 3), education (Goal 4), gender (Goal 5), water and sanitation (Goal 6),
employment (Goal 8), etc.)
• Encourage all stakeholders engaged in urban activities
― Cities provide a platform for the partnership among
Government, citizens and local industries.
5

6. 1. Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) for Cities
2. Efforts toward Achieving SDGs
3. Actions for Sustainable Cities
6

7. 7
International Actions
Global
Asia and the Pacific Region
 Holding of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
(HLPF) at the UN headquarters in July every year.
 A voluntary review for 43 countries including Japan took place in July 2017
 The next HLPF will review SDG6 (Clean water and Sanitation), SDG7
(Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities),
SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG15 (Life on Land)
in July 2018 in NY
 Development of a regional roadmap and support towards implementation
of SDGs and capacity-building by the United Nations Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The UNU-IAS is
supporting the development of guidelines for partnership.
 Regional follow-up review by the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development
(APFSD) (APFSD 2018 will take place late this March)
 The Guidelines for Partnership will be launched then.

8. 8
Countries in Asia
 Inter-ministry cooperation,
reinforcement of organization
 Clarifying responsibility of
implementation (mapping)
- India
 Establishment of a coordinating agency
- Japan, Indonesia, Philippines,
Turkmenistan, Armenia, China
 Establishment of a specialized agency
- Sri Lanka
 Reflecting SDGs to domestic law
- Indonesia, Pakistan
 Including SDGs to national
development plan or national policy
- China, Philippines, Azerbaijan
 implementation plan for SDGs has been
developed in each countries
（出典）ESCAP資料を基に作成

9. 9
National Level: Case in Japan
 SDGs Promotion Headquarters (established in May 2016)
• Chaired by the Prime Minister, and consists of all Ministers.
• Japan has committed itself to achieving
SDGs by mobilizing policies and
measures by all Ministries.
 G7 Ise-Shima Summit (May 2016)
• The heads of G7 states committed
themselves to taking the lead in
achieving the SDGs.

10. 10
Round Table on SDGs
• Established under the SDGs Promotion Headquarters in September
2016.
• This round table has contributed to developing the “SDGs
Implementation Guiding Principles” as the platform to reflect a
wide range of views from multi-stakeholders.
Members from the stakeholders
Toshio Arima Global Compact Network Japan Tetsuo Kondo UNDP
Masaki Inaba Ugoku/Ugokasu (NGO) Norihiro Takahashi Government Pension Investment Fund
Ren Onishi
Moyai Support Center for
Independent Life (NPO)
Kazu Takemoto UNU-IAS
Fumiko Kasuga
National Institute for Environmental
Studies / Future Earth
Akihiko Tanaka Tokyo University
Norichika Kanie Keio University Kaoru Nemoto UNIC
Kaori Kuroda NN Net/CSO Network Japan Masaya Futamiya
Japan Federation of Economic
Organizations
Yasuko Kono
National Liaison Committee of
Consumers' Organizations
Masaya Yoshida Japanese Trade Union Confederation

11. SDGs Implementation Guiding Principles
11
• Developed by the SDGs Promotion Headquarters on 22 December 2016
• Vision: “Become a leader toward a future where economic, social and environmental
improvements are attained in an integrated, sustainable and resilient manner while
leaving no one behind”
• Major principles: 1) Universality, 2) Inclusiveness, 3) Participatory approach, 4)
Integrated approach, 5) Transparency and accountability
• Follow-up: the first round of follow-up and review of the present Implementation
Guiding Principles will be completed by 2019
Eight priority areas
(Prosperity)
3. Creating Growth Markets,
Revitalization of Rural Areas,
and Promoting Science
Technology and Innovation
4. Sustainable and Resilient
Land Use, Promoting Quality
Infrastructure
(People)
1. Empowerment of All People
2. Achievement of Good
Health and Longevity (Planet)
5. Energy Conservation, Renewable
Energy, Climate Change
Countermeasures and
Sound Material-Cycle Society
6. Conservation of Environment,
including Biodiversity, Forests and the
Oceans
(Peace)
7. Achieving Peaceful, Safe
and Secure Societies
(Partnership)
8. Strengthening the
Means and Frameworks for
the Implementation of the
SDGs

12. 1. Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) for Cities
2. Efforts toward Achieving SDGs
3. Actions for Sustainable Cities
12

13. International Initiatives
• Adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable
Urban Development (HABITAT III) (Quito, Ecuador; October 2016)
• This is an international initiative to provide policies and measures toward
sustainable cities. Guidelines for the comprehensive implementation and
localization of the SDGs, including SDG11.
• Aiming for sustainable cities and communities through international, regional,
national and local partnerships.
• Emphasized responsibilities and roles of local governments (= cities).
The New Urban Agenda
13

14. Initiatives in Japan
14
• In the G7 Toyama Environment Ministers'
Meeting (May 2016), the Parallel Session
on "The Role of Cities" was held.
G7 Summit Process

15. SDGs Implementation Guiding Principles
(December 22, 2016)
15
Partnership
Roles of Local Governments
The Government of Japan will foster a participatory approach in
which all stakeholders play a role in our efforts to build a
sustainable society.
Local governments and other local stakeholders are absolutely
essential to the nationwide implementation of SDGs-related
measures. The national government will therefore encourage local
governments to incorporate the SDGs into their strategies and
policies as much as possible. Government ministries will support
the efforts of local governments through measures to promote
partnership among various stakeholders in achieving the SDGs.

16. Education
Medical
Care
Energy ICT Mobility
Housing
and
Buildings
Environment
Response to
Aging Society
Others
Social Value
Environmental Value
Economic Value
Health Care/Medical Care/
Welfare/DRR/Education
Job Opportunity/
Income/New Business
Low Carbon Technologies/
Air and Water/Biodiversity/3R
16
Same concept as SDGs in
the context of the
integration of
environmental, social,
and economic
dimensions:
Future Cities

17. List of Future Cities
・Yokohama City (Kanagawa)
・Kitakyushu City (Fukuoka)
・Toyama City (Toyama)
・Kashiwa City (Chiba)
・Shimokawa Town (Hokkaido)
・Kesennuma City (Miyagi)
・Kamaishi City (Iwate)
・Iwanuma City (Iwate)
・Higashi-matsushima City(Miyagi)
・Minamisoma City (Fukushima)
・Shinchi Town (Fukushima)
17

18. Further Step:
SDGs Future Cities
18
Future
City
Environmental model city
Promotion Council for the “FutureCity”
Initiative
SDGs
FutureCity
Cities who are fully engaged in
addressing SDGs will be designated by
the Government this year!

19. 19
Role of Cities in Achieving SDGs
1. Cities are the administrative organizations closest to the
citizens. They produce realistic and highly effective policies
taking into account local circumstances such as the history,
culture, society and economy, and have the capacity and
responsibility to implement policies.
→ Enhancing the quality of life of residents
2. Their position stands between the Governmental Ministries
and local communities including industries and citizens, and
therefore, they can enhance partnership between stakeholders
in implementing measures toward achieving SDGs.
→ Leaders for local vitalization
3. Initiatives and experience in advanced cities (pioneers) will be
shared with local governments in Japan and overseas through
SDGs as a “common language”.
→ Leaders for international cooperation

20. 20
Cities’ initiatives will contribute to the global
sustainability through SDGs as a
“common language”!
Future
City
Environmental
model city
Promotion Council for the
“FutureCity” Initiative
SDGs
FutureCity