The Fourth Kitakyushu
SDGs Training
K I T A K Y U S H U

March 2023

G O T OC I T YC I T YJ A P A N

R E F L E C T I O N

N O T Eby the ParticipantsThis Reflection Note is voluntary made by the participants of the 4th Kitakyushu SDGs Training, co-organized by

Issued in May 2023

the Kitakyusyhu Urban Centre of Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and NPO Satoyama in March2023 in Kitakyushu City and Goto City.
(About this training in Japanese) https://www.iges.or.jp/jp/events/20230306-10(About this training in English) https://www.iges.or.jp/en/events/20230306-10

The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training

The Participants listed below of the 4th
Kitakyushu SDGs Training cooperated andworked closely on this report, which includes
main highlights, insights and take-aways fromthe programme.

Photos used in this report and design by Mariam Kvaratskhelia

Authors:
Aoto Horiuchi
Keio University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of MechanicalEngineering, Tokyo

Josephine Wouda Kuipers
United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS),Tokyo

Masahiro Seki
Toho University, Faculty of science Department of Environmental Science, Chiba

Novelia Triana
Nagasaki University, Graduate school of Fisheries and Environment science, Nagasaki

Mariam Kvaratskhelia
Kyoto University, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Global
Environmental Policy Laboratory, Kyoto

Sari Nomura
Kyushu University, School of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation, Fukuoka

The above affiliations are as of March 2023

The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

ReportThe Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

"As yet the wind is an untamed, unharnessed force, and quitepossibly one of the greatest discoveries hereafter to be madewill be the taming and harnessing of it."
- Abraham Lincoln

1Introduction

2

The SDGs and Renewable Energy
Policy of Kitakyushu City and Goto City

3

Wind Power Plants: Operation and
Maintenance4

Wind Power Plants and Fishermen

5

Solar Panels: Energy Generation and6

Support by Local Community

7

Learning with Games: 2030 SDGs Game

Recycleand LEGO®SERIOUS PLAY®

8

Conclusion

The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

Table of Contents

Introduction
Josephine Wouda Kuipers

The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

The 4th Kitakyushu SDGs Training Programmeorganized by the Institute for Global
Environmental Strategies (IGES) and NPO
SATOYAMA, allowed ten university students
from across Japan to visit Kitakyushu City of
Fukuoka Prefecture and Goto City of Nagasaki
Prefecture to understand their frontrunnerpractices that make them two decarbonisation
leading cities in Kyushu, southwestern regionof Japan.
The programme took place from 6 to 10 March
2023, of which the first half was spent exploring
Kitakyushu City and the second half exploring
Goto City, as seen in Figure 1.
Kitakyushu City and Goto City are both leading
the decarbonisation initiatives in Japan, buthave different reasons for doing so, making thevisit to both very multifaceted. The industrial
city, Kitakyushu, demonstrates how apreviously polluted city can transform and leadthe transition to carbon neutrality by utilizinghydrogen from the local steel industry andgenerating renewable energy from its solar
panels and wind farms in the Next-Generation
Energy Park within the Kitakyushu Eco Town.

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Goto City, on the other hand, wants to reverse the ageing andshrinking population dynamics of the island by pursuing thesefrontrunner renewable energy practices.

Figure 1. Schedule of the 4th Kitakyushu SDGs Training

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The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

The first floating offshore wind power pilot in Japan that wasplaced off the coast of Goto proved to be a success, as they founda way to coexist with the local fishery industry and were able toboost employment on the island. The wind park is currently being
expanded and has stepped forward to commercial operation. The
programme gave us the opportunity to visit actual sites ofrenewable energy and decarbonisation projects, as well as todiscuss with a range of stakeholders from each city about thevarious efforts.

Additionally, the programme inspired us, students from ninedifferent universities, to collaborate and explore how
decarbonisation projects and initiatives towards the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) can be further pursued.
Brainstorming with the innovative 2030 SDGs Game and LEGO®
SERIOUS PLAY® we were able to share and develop ideas in an
effective and enthusiastic way.

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The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

Due to the valuable experiences from the 4th Kitakyushu SDGs
Training Programme, the aim of this report is to recount the varietyof activities, as well as reflect on key takeaways for our own
journeys related to decarbonisation in Japan and beyond. The
report is composed of a collection of short articles voluntarily
written by some of the participants of this programme.

The SDGs and Renewable Energy Policy:
Kitakyushu and Goto City
Novelia Triana

In response to the Japanese Government's
target of achieving zero carbon emissions by
2050, were plants, sufficient solar power
generation facilities, and biomass thermal
power plants. Kitakyushu City has also set its
own target to achieve net-zero emissions by
2050 and has been collaborating with various
sectors, including industry and businesses, totake action towards this goal. To achievesynergy from all sectors, the Kitakyushu
government plays a crucial role in forming
feasible subsidy to encourage commercial or
voluntary involvement to be concrete.
Promoting the entire system of the NextGeneration Energy Park, Kitakyushu City set
up an exhibition center in Eco Town.
.

The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

The city of Kitakyushu has successfully beenchosen as one of Japan’s national model city
programmes called the SDGs Future Cities,
due to its efforts to develop a low-carbon
energy production hub, improve the city'squality energy’s problem, and promotecoexistence with all sectors of society andnature. This introduction provides an overview
of Kitakyushu's current development in theseareas.

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There are also increasing number of wind power plants, sufficientsolar power generation facilities, and biomass thermal power
plants.

From the experience of Kitakyushu City and Goto City, the lesson
to learn is multisector work together. By fostering partnerships andcooperation among diverse stakeholders, the cities have beenable to improve outcomes and better quality of life for theircitizens.
I was amazed to see how the unpleasant history of pollution in
Kitakyushu has pushed people to become aware and act for the
citizen’s movement, “We want our blue sky back”. Also, the people
in Goto, although in the past, were uneasy about the renewableenergy project, eventually has harmony in living with the project.
All sectors in Kitakyushu and Goto have been taking respective
actions to create solidarity and achieve the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) by exploring advanced knowledge
and technology to address the current energy consumption of thepeople and to save resources for the next generation.

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The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

Goto Island has become a pioneer of floating offshore windenergy generation. This project involved high levels of
engagement multiple stakeholders, including the local
government, corporations, and local people, including fishermen.
Together, they built a self-sustaining energy generation system on
the island.

Wind Power Plants:
Operation and Maintenance

Aoto Horiuchi

We visited a branch of Hokutaku Co. Ltd. in
Kitakyushu and received a lecture from E-Wind
Co. Ltd. in Goto. Both of them are maintenancecompanies for wind turbines.
The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

Maintenance companies are divided into three
types; manufacturers of wind turbines,
business operators of wind farm, and thirdparty that specialise maintainance. Hokutaku
and E-Wind are third party and have multiple
branches in Japan.
Maintenance of wind turbine mainly includes
servicessuchasreplacingblades,transmissions and other parts when broken.
Especially offshore wind turbines require
unique tasks such as painting the foundation toprevent the metal from rusting and removing
seaweeds sticking to the foundation.
In Hokutaku, there are various parts of windturbines from different manufacturers stored ina big warehouse. That makes it possible toreplace the broken parts of wind turbines muchearlier than other maintenance companies.

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E-Wind is leading an association called "Nagasaki Wind Service
Group'', where companies can share construction equipment, andget support in human resource development.

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The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

Local maintenance companies have a distinct advantage because
they can reach and provide parts to the wind farm quickly in caseof emergency. Associations of local companies like Nagasaki
Wind Service Group can be more promoted to help them earnfrom wind power generation and stimulate local economy.

Wind Power Plants
and Fishermen

Masahiro Seki

Mr. Chokichi Kumagawa, the chairman of theGoto Fukue fishery cooperative association,
provided us with a story about a wind turbine
project in Goto city.
The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

He told us how the project was promoted, how
he approached solving the problem among
stakeholders and his own expectation of
floating wind turbines. It is one of the bestpractices of installing floating wind turbines
including the fishery resident as a stakeholder.
In 2010, following a proposal from Toda
Corporation, a demonstration test of floating
offshore wind power generation began on
Kabashima, mediated by Mr. Kumagawa. It was
not easy process in the beginning since it was avery first case of offshore wind power pilot inJapan, however, a series of tireless discussions
took place to overcome the difficulties.
Mr. Kumagawa summarized the opinions of thefishery association side of Kabashima,reconciled them with Toda Corporation, andcontributed to the coordination of therelationship among stakeholders, which led tothe success of the 6-year demonstration
experiment.

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Toda Corporation participated in local events every year, helping
out and engaging with local residents to build a relationship oftrust.

“I wanted a precedent of a new fishery” - This is how Mr. Chokichi
Kumagawa justified his efforts of making pilot projects possible.
Great knowledge and experience with fisheries helped him to
identify the benefits of offshore wind turbines. By thinking ofcreating a precedent of artificial fishing ground, it would bepossible to establish a new form of fishing, attract young people
and eventually revitalize the fishing industry.
Mr. Kumagawa concluded that “floating wind turbines are means
to revive the fishing industry”. In the huge scale of regional
development, such as the floating wind turbine farm construction
project, I think the probability of success will depend on the local
community support. For example, in Goto’s case, Mr. Kumagawa
was the nexus between local residents and the development entity
and made it possible for the project.

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The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

In 2018, the project stepped up for commercial use on an
expanded scale, but unlike the demonstration project, it wasnecessary to obtain consent from six villages on Fukue Island,
Kuga Island, and Kabashima. In response to this challenge, Mr.
Kumagawa accompanied the project team whenever the local
government and Toda Corporation visited each fishing community
to explain the details of the project, thereby building trust andachieving smooth consensus building.

Solar Panels: Energy Generation
and Recycle

Sari Nomura

The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

During the visit to a citizen-funded solar-power
station in the Kitakyushu Next Generation
Energy Park and Recycle Tech/Shinryo
Corporation, a photovoltaic (PV) recycling
company, we learned the great potential ofcross-stakeholder partnership and cutting-edge
technology for recycling PV panels.
The citizens’ solar power station was amunicipal project to celebrate Kitakyushu City’s
50th anniversary. The construction cost wascovered with public bonds issued by the
Kitakyushu City at an interest rate of 0.5%,
which were bought by around 6000 citizens aswell as companies and organisations in
Kitakyushu. The procurement of the materials,
installation, and operation are handled locallyand 30% of the revenues are given back to
citizens by organising local events and funding
the community activities such as planting trees
in the city.
Despite the great benefits that PV panels could
bring to society, they have a limited life span of
about 30 years. This is where Shinryo’s
recycling technology is expected to play animportant role.

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Although they still need to conduct life cycle assessment (LCA)
and minimise the cost, the technology will be in great demandconsidering that a lot of panels will fulfill their role in the coming
years.

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The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

I was impressed with the fact that the spirit of partnership between
citizens, companies, and the government that was nourished in
the late 1960s has been reflected in the citizens’ solar-power
station to this date. Also, I felt the strong motivation of the local
municipality to utilise the local resources as much as possible,
which was further enhanced by citizens' active involvement andthe company’s technology.

Support by Local Community
Mariam Kvaratskhelia“This city is what it is, because our citizens arewhat they are”
- Plato

The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

When Japan’s first smog alert was issued in
Kitakyushu in late 1960s, probably no one
would estimate what the next 20 years would
look like. Heavy industries almost destroyed
the natural environment of the city, which
resulted in drastic air pollution andcontaminated Dokai Bay. However, soon after,a big miracle happened and within 20 years
Kitakyushu’s water and sky were sparkling inblue again.
While it may seem like a fairy tale with
mysteries and happily ever afters, Kitakyushu
city’s miracle is rather simple and down-toearth as it was initiated by the movement oflocal housewives, who were concerned about
the health of their children. Their courageous
action triggered the whole process ofrevitalisation by bringing local government,
private sector and citizens together with acollective action that could transform the entire
future of the city.

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I’m grateful that I had a chance to see a comprehensive elementsof the renewable energy - from the heart of wind turbines to the
local community’s support. Importance of the local citizens in the
success or failure of any renewable energy project, which has
been embedded in the 5-day SDGs training programme, was a big
highlight and lessons learned for me. Now I know that if I ever getmyself across wind, solar or any other type of renewable energy
projects, I will always start with the locals!

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The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

Similarly, but differently, Goto appeared to be another city with aninspiring story of the local fishermen, who greatly contributed tothe establishment and continuation of Japan’s first offshore windturbine project. Speech of Mr. Tokichi Kumagawa, who is the
Chairman of Fishermen’s Association of Goto City was one of theinspiring parts of the programme as we understood how important
it is to have a local support and if you don’t have one, how a single
person with the right communication and mediation skills canregain community trust and alter the whole situation.

Learning with Games:
2030 SDGs Game and
LEGO®SERIOUS PLAY®

Josephine Wouda Kuipers

The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

In addition to the exciting visits to renewableenergy projects in Kitakyushu City and Goto
City, the programme introduced two facilitation
tools to enhance people’s engagement in
discussion and brainstorm about a sustainable
future and evaluate our experiences of theweek.
On the first day we played the 2030 SDGs
Game, where we engaged with the questionsof why we need the SDGs and what kind of
possibilities the SDGs create for the future.
This was an effective way to see the 17 goals
and 169 targets as a whole and as a tool tosimulate the future world and humanbehavioral change. Every player was able tocomplete multiple actions that impacted theenvironmental, social, and/or economic
indicators shown as the world condition meters
on a white board.
By assessing the state of the world, halfway
through the game and at the end of the game,it became clear that our individual actions had
consequences for the whole world and that we
all would need to work together to create abalanced environmental, social and economic
outcome.

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Furthermore, it highlighted that we were inclined to first pursue
individual numerical goals, and only afterwards became able tobroaden our mind to pursue qualitative goals that aided others.
Stepping back from acting and observing the state of the world
was an effective way to mentally reset and understand what weneeded to do to build a sustainable future together.

The Lego Serious Play was a very effective way to explore ourperspectives on what a sustainable future looks like, and what role
we, as individuals, would like to play. During the group sharing of
everyone’s sustainable future, it was impressive to see thedifferent ideas that came up, which reflected the variety andbreadth of experiences we all had during the week in Kitakyushu
City and Goto City.

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The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

On the last day of the programme, we reflected ourselves in a
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop, where everybody was
encouraged to express themselves by using lego blocks. Upon theguidance asking about your learning through the past week, andhow you envision your sustainable future, everyone built their own
response using lego, and explained the reasoning and emotions
behind it briefly. Emphasis was placed on expressing your true
mind regardless of the potential judgements from others. To dothat, we were instructed to look at the LEGO® block while
explaining, and not have eye contact with each other.

Conclusion
Throughout the programme, we were able todeepen our understanding of the SDGs anddecarbonisation initiatives necessary forpromoting the renewable energy sources.
The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

By hearing from various stakeholders including
municipal
officials,
fishery
personnel,
professionals in O&M industry and recycling,
we could expand our knowledge and outlook
regarding the operational, financial and social
dimensions of the relevant renewable energy
technologies. In addition, we understood thatany big and positive change in the society
stands upon versatility of perspectives,knowledge and resources.
The programme was a valuable opportunity forgroup discussions and negotiations. Not only
did it contribute to capacity building for our
future professional career, but it also enabled
us to build strong friendships and bonds
despite many of us meeting for the first time..
We hope that the training programme
continues to provide great opportunities for the
next generations and be a trigger for the futurecollaborations in creating a sustainable world.

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Highlights of the Programme

Hydrogen Town

Exploring Eco Town

IGES Kitakyushu Urban Centre

Kitakyushu City

Kitakyushu, Eco Town

Wind O&M

Solar Panels Recycling

Wind Turbines

Kitakyushu, Eco Town

Kitakyushu, Eco Town

Goto City

Exploring Goto CityLEGO Serious Play

Reflection

Goto City

Goto City

Goto City

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The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

SDGs Simulation Game

Our Voices"The training programme was not only about learning
new things, but also building friendship with likeminded students. Can't wait to work with you in the
future!"Sari

Mariam"I could update my knowledge about sustainableenergy by discussing with speakers in eachsession. It was so nice that we all are majoringin different fields and had various points of view.

Aoto

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The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

"It was a journey full of inspiring stories,
impressive sights and lots of Tsubaki flowers.
Definitely, one of the memorable experiences inJapan both on professional and personal levels."

"Gained insightful and valuable experiences,
and allowed us to see firsthand how the theory
and concept of SDGs translates into practice"

Novelia

Josephine"The program helped understanding multi
aspect of thinking about installing the new
system of renewable energy, which various
stakeholders have."

Masahiro18

The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Reflection Note

"It was powerful and inspirational to see
firsthand how renewable energy projects canprovide benefits for local communities, beyond
their role in decarbonising energy systems."

Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the organisers of
the programme of IGES and of NPO
SATOYAMA for giving us such a great
opportunity to learn about renewableenergy and decarbonisation initiatives in
Kitakyushu and Goto cities.

for funding the programme. Without the
support, we would not be able to havesuch a great opportunity.
Thank you to all the speakers for sharing
your stories and experiences with us,
and thank you to the translators formaking the programme accessible to all.

DISCLAIMER
The contents of this Reflection Note are the opinions of the authors
who are the participants of the 4th Kitakyushu SDGs Training, and do
not reflect the views of IGES.
For more information on the Kitakyushu SDGs Training,please visit the website of Kitakyushu SDGs Training or inquire via:

https://sdgs-kitakyushu.iges.jp/
IGES Kitakyushu Urban Centre
International Village Center 3F, 1-1-1, Hirano, Yahatahigashi-ku,
Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, 805-0062, Japan
Tel: +81-93-681-1563
E-mail: kitakyushu-info@iges.or.jp
https://www.iges.or.jp/en/about/research-units/kitakyushu-urban-centre

The Fourth Kitakyushu SDGs Training | Insight Report

Also, we are grateful to Kitakyushu City