Circulating and Ecological Sphere (CES)
approach towards the integration ofclimate and Sustainable Development
actions in Asian city-regions

Bijon Kumer Mitra, Deputy Director, Integrated Sustainability Center, IGESSustainable Development Challenges

How we canachievesustainable
development?

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Pathway of Localization of Global Agendas
Globally agreed agendas

Advocacy decentralization

International partnership
City Region integrated planning

Rural

Catalytic partnership

Urban

Collective actions
Integrated policy

Commitments & integrated
planning implementationof Global Agendas

Achieve nationalcommitments

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Urban-rural linkages for optimum utilization of local resources
towards the sustainable development
Carbon neutral

Environmentalbenefits••

CO2 absorption forest

Reduce emissions
Maintainsequestration
capacity of theecosystems

Carbon off-setResilientCity(High demand &limited resources)

Localization of globalgoals•

Improving humanhealth at local andregional level
Mitigate effect ofexternalities

Carbon absorption
marine life
100% RE

Contribute to net
zero commitment
Contribute to various
SDGs including SDGs
1, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG
7, SDG 11, SDG 13••

Capture RE•

Social benefits

Revitalization of localeconomy

Carbon off-set
Agroforestry for low
carbon food•••

Create local jobs
Promote Paymentfor ecosystem forbenefit sharing
Create new business
opportunities

Inclusive andsustainable economic
growth4

The Regional-CES is framed based on integration of low-carbon
society, resource circulation, and living in harmony with nature

Basic Approach◆ Explore simultaneous solutions for
economic, regional and international
challenges◆ Maximize sustainable use of regional
resources◆ Enriching and strengthening partnerships

EconomyEco-DRR5

CES in Action in Japan for localization of SDGs andclimate actions

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The CES-Asia Consortium was established on 14th October, 2021
Goal: Mainstreaming theRegional-CES concept to address
sustainability challenges throughintegrated actions in city regionsof Asia

Ten (10) consortium members have signed the Partnership Agreement

Footprint of CES-Asia Consortium
Bangladesh I Bhutan I India I Indonesia I Japan I Nepal I Philippines I Thailand I Vietnam

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Our Approach: Towards Advancing the CES-application
StagesWhom to engage

Milestones
Setting up a vision, aligned with local needs/ interests/ focus areas

Knowledge
BuildingStage(Eg. Localization of SDGs, Net Zero, Low carbon development, Self-reliance, Economic Revitalization)

Identifying avenues of collaboration/shared interest(Eg. agrivoltaics, decarbonization)

Local governments, Private
sector, Civil society, Academicand Research Institutions

MoU/Formal Agreement
Consideration
Stage(defined roles and responsibilities for long-term engagement)•••

Local partner +Research + Local government(facilitate local
research work)(Technicalsupport)(Facilitate stakeholder
coordination)

Local government (city, prefecture)
All relevant stakeholders
IGES and local collaborator

Co-design and co-development ofCES Action Program

ActionStage

Integration with existingdevelopment plans/policies

DecisionStage

Launch ofCES-Action PlanNational Goals•••Local government
Local community
All relevant stakeholders

Government officials (local, national), IGES, local partner

Global agenda
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Evidence based Scientific Knowledge Generation for CES for
Application of CES in the Local Context
Punakha, Bhutan

Pokhara,Nepal

Udon Thani, Thailand

Nagpur, India

Hachinohe, Japan

9Exploring Entry points for CES Application in Hachinohe: Stakeholder
consultations and evidence based knowledge generation

2006 to 2016 Agriculture land became vacant 60.24km 210

Leveraging Co-benefits for A Healthy Net Zero Transition: Long-term
partnership with Hachinohe City

IGES and Hachinohe city signed
MOU of collaboration

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Challenges for implementation of CES approach● Lack of information and knowledge on the integrated approach concept● Lack of understanding of spatial linkages and integration (eg. differentapproaches between urban and rural settings)● Need evidence based knowledge generation (eg. Assessment of locallyavailable resources● Incompatibility between top-down implementation and local needs.
● Lack of location-based law, regulation, policies (eg. Existing policies are notsupportive to urban-rural partnership)● Obstacles of financial supports, research funds, lack of awareness ofRegional-CES among local people, and lack of networking
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Enabling environment for implementation of CES approach
for integrated localization of SDGS and Climate goals● Need assessment based knowledge
generation● Co-development and implementation ofresearch with local/regional stakeholders thatshould have very clear framework of science
policy interface● Long-term partnership and engagement withstakeholders● Co-development of local solutions in order togive ownership to the stakeholders● Facilitate collaboration and cross learning
through regional platform

Japanese Approach: Platform to connects
people, goods, money and skills
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