Co-developing Circulating and Ecological Sphere (CES) pathways for
integrated and localized actions towards decarbonization and revitalization

ISAP2023

Vibhas Sukhwani1, Bijon Kumer Mitra1, Sameer Deshkar2, Shreya Joshi2, Smita Pednekar2, Miki Fukuda1, Kaoru Akahoshi1, Eric Zusman1, Naoki Mori1, Tetsuo Kuyama1, Jun Ichihara1, Satoshi Kojima1, Mika Tachibana1

ISAP2023: The 15th International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific; Pacifico Yokohama; 19 December 2023
• Adopted in 2015, the 2030 Agenda provides a shared blueprint for sustainable development.

• Adopted in 2015, the framework set clear targets to achieve substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses.

• At midpoint stage, almost half of the set targets show moderate or severe deviations from desired trajectory.

• Till date, DRR planning is not sufficiently considered in policies and investments across sectors.

• The Asia-Pacific region, in particular, is not on track to achieve any of the 17 SDGs by 2030.

• The convergence of COVID-19 pandemic with natural hazards has intensified disaster vulnerability in Asia

• A legally binding international treaty on climate change to hold the increase in the global average temperature.

• Adopted in 2016, the agenda presents a blueprint for our shared and sustainable urban future.

• Despite widespread actions, global emissions till date have not been reduced enough to meet the set goals.

• Even with fall in proportion, Asia and the Pacific still has over half a billion slum dwellers• With extensive coastlines and low-lying territories, Asia and Pacific is increasingly susceptible to rising sea levels.

• With rising urban population, Asian countries are likely to face water-energy-food insecurity

Integrated Approaches for achieving Global Goals
Circular Economy

Green Economy

Economic
Prosperity

Economic
prosperity

Environmentalsustainability(Responsibleconsumptionand production)

Emerged through deliberations on 5th Basic Environment Plan of Japan,Regional CES is an integrated policy approach (covering economic, social andenvironmental dimensions) to stimulate a self-reliant, decentralized andsustainable society, by capitalizing on the unique characteristics of urban-rural
linkages in defined regional space, to simultaneously achieve decarbonization,optimal resource circulation, harmony with nature and economic revitalization.

Footprint of CES in Asia: On 14 October 2021, IGES and START International, together with several
leading academic and research institutes in South and Southeast Asia, signed an agreement toestablish a consortium for advancing the CES concept. Ever since, IGES has been actively working
with its regional partners for stimulating integrated and localized actions.
Spread: Bangladesh I Bhutan I India I Indonesia I Japan I I Nepal I Philippines I Thailand I VietnamSocial wellbeing

Local resource circulation

Urban Areas

Socialwell-being

Economic
prosperity

Economic
prosperity

Environmental
sustainability

Rural Areas

Environmental
sustainability

Circulating and Ecological Sphere (CES)Natural capital,
ecosystem services,human resources

Mountainous,
agriculturaland fishingvillages

Cities andtowns

Towards
integrated
planning &synergetic
development

Produced capital,
funds, technology

Whom to engage

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

Knowledge
Building
Stage

Effective stakeholder involvement

Ecosystems-based ApproachSocialwell-being

Environmental
sustainability

Social wellbeing

Approach towards CES application

StageRediscovery of the regional resources(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(defined roles and responsibilities for long-term engagement)

Consideration
Stage

Local partner + IGES
(facilitate localresearch work)(Technicalsupport)+ Local government(Facilitate stakeholdercoordination)

Co-design and co-development ofCES Action ProgramActionStage•••Integration with existingdevelopment plans/policies

Decision
StageLaunch ofCES-Action Plan

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

Local government
Local community
All relevant stakeholders

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

Impact generation/
policy impact

Explore external/
internal funding

Tapping onto the local renewable energy resources•••

CASE ANALYSIS
Case of Hachinohe, Japan
Background: Hachinohe is a regional industrial
and commercial centre in southeast part ofAomori Prefecture. Its pacific coastal areas areequipped with large-scale industrial, fishing andcommercial ports and the key industries insurrounding municipalities are agriculture,
livestock farming and forestry. Like many parts ofJapan, Hachinohe is faced with the issue of
depopulation, which is causing serious concerns
in maintaining basic services. The increase invacant houses and underutilised agricultural land
further brings environmental and socio-economicchallenges. Presently, Hachinohe is committed to
become carbon-neutral by 2050, in lines with theJapan national government’s vision. However,there is a limited clarity on policy level pathways
towards stimulating local actions on it

Evaluating current
policies on decarbonisation
and renewable energy
development

AOMORI

PolicyReviews

Stakeholderinterviews

3

Map ofJapan

CropAnalysis

Mapping the major crops
grown and determine theiragrivoltaics potential

2

45

MethodologicalApproach:

Codevelopmentof feasible
scenarios

Engaging local stakeholders toco-design feasible scenarios forharnessing solar energy

Map ofNagpur
regionSix Key Components
Map of Hachinohe

61Assessing land use change
patterns and identificationof suitable lands to harness
solar energyLand usechangeanalysis

Scenario
analysis

Nagpurcity

Calculating potential of solar
energy, carbon emission
reduction, jobs creation andgross economic gains, fordifferent scenarios

Ongoing Research Works and Derived Results
Based on a comprehensive understanding of local issues and challenges, theIGES team is working closely with Hachinohe city government and other local
stakeholders (including civil society, private sector, local community) toestablish a CES-based model for localization of climate actions and SDGs,
which can showcase how the integration of solar farms with croplands can
support revitalization of depopulated areas. The ongoing works include:❖ GIS analysis reveals a decline (8.61%) of agricultural lands from 1997-2016

Hachinohe city’s population

Vacant lands owned by households
in AomoriLand suitability
Map of Nagpur
Metropolitan
Area forharnessing
solar energy

Three village
clusters
identified
under 5 kms
buffer ofelectric
substations

Leveraging the vast tracts of agricultural lands in Nagpur’s wider region, theIGES team is working together with VNIT and local stakeholders to enhance
regional energy security through agrivoltaics systems, the co-benefits of which
include improved agricultural productivity, reduced carbon emissions, water
conservation and economic revitalization. The ongoing works include:

Hachinohe city’s agricultural
sector workers❖ GIS simulation reveals suitability of areas around Nagpur city for solar energy❖ Three village clusters are identified for feasibility evaluation of agrivoltaics❖ Engaging with local community to understand their perception towards
agrivoltaics and co-designing feasible scenarios of solar energy generation

Interactions with the Hachinohe City Officials

Land use land cover ofHachinohe in 2016

Media coverage of IGES team’s work in Hachinohe

Output development✓ Synthesis of existing CES-based practices✓ Research publications in journal papers✓ Policy briefs to disseminate action points✓ E-learning modules for capacity building✓ CES action plans for local implementation✓ Field interactions, community sensitization✓ Development of networks and collaboration✓ Policy-oriented research and dissemination✓ Co-development of action frameworks✓ Inputs to Development Plan, Master Plan

Outcome: Implementation pathways

Outcome: Wide Dissemination of resultsOutcome: Emphasis on policy action

IGES funded SRF Project ‘Applying CES approach for carbonneutral city-regions and rural revitalization: Bridging localto-global feedback loops for Post-2030 Agenda’

Ongoing
projects:

Zero Hunger

Good health andWell-being

Interactions with the Rural Panchayat in Nagpur

Stakeholder consultation workshop at VNIT

Field visit to Kadholi village in East Nagpur

Impact Generations✓ Assessment of current trends and forecasts✓ Evidence to harness locally-available resources✓ Simulations of future scenarios and co-benefits✓ Stakeholder perceptions and willingness✓ Review of policy/regulatory frameworks

Acknowledgement of❖ Co-developing village-level CES action plans, with community consultation

Toward bridging local-to-global
feedbackloopsAGENDA
in Post 2030-Agenda
ESSENCE FOR
POST-2030

Potential Implications of ongoing research works
ResearchBackground: Nagpur is one of the fast-developing
metro cities of central India and is being
developed as one of 100 smart cities in India, withemphasis on sustainability and decarbonization.
The wider region comprises farmlands, forests,
water bodies and is a hub of industrial activity.
Located in an arid zone, Nagpur experiences
extremely hot summers, with peak temperatures
as high as 48°Celsius. Due to rapid urbanization,
population growth and changing climate, theregion is faced with growing concerns of waterenergy-food resource insecurity. While Nagpur
city has limited renewable energy resources, therural livelihoods are also increasingly vulnerable
to climate change. Recognizing the Government ofIndia’s priority on improving farmer’s incomes, it
is important to bridge the urban and rural needs
through circulating local renewable resources, andCES approach provides an optimal pathway.

Ongoing Research Works and Derived Results

Land suitability
for solar energy
generation❖ Assessing the local cropping patterns and their sensitivity to agrivoltaics

Field visit to Towada region of Hachinohe

Case of Nagpur, India

Map ofIndia

MAHARASHTRA

Investigating local issues
and stakeholders’ point ofview towards solar energy
transformation

Clean waterand sanitation

Mainstreaming
local needs
and priorities
in development
planning

Bridging localto-regionalto-global
feedbackloops

Co-designing
integrated climateand sustainable
development
actions

Incentivizing
integrated andlocalized actionsin national
development
policies

Effectively
capitalizing on
the locallyavailableresources

CDRI fellowship project on ‘Feasibility Study for
the Development of Agri-voltaic Systems toEnsure Energy Security in the Nagpur Region’Wellcome Trust funded project ‘Leveraging Co-benefits for a
Healthy Net-zero Transitions in Japanese and other G7 Cities: A
Scalable Approach for Transformative Change’

Affordable andclean energy

Decent work andeconomic growth

Recognizing theStimulating
essence andurban-ruralpotential ofpartnerships andintegrated
multi-stakeholder
approaches likeengagement
Regional CES infor balanced
policymaking
development

Sustainable cities
and communities

Climate Action

KEY REFERENCES[1]. United Nations (2023) The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023: Special edition, Towards a Rescue Plan for People and Planet. https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2023-07/The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2023_0.pdf[2]. Sukhwani V, Mitra BK, Takasawa H, Ishibashi A, Shaw R, Yan W (2019) Urban-Rural Partnerships: A win-win approach to realize Regional CES (Regional Circular & Ecological Sphere), Compendium of Good Practices from Japan. Yokohama, Japan: IGES. pp 27.
[3]. Sato H, Mitra BK, Dasgupta R. et al. (2023) Assessment of alternative land resource utilisation towards Net-Zero and regional revitalisation through the circulating and ecological sphere in depopulated city regions in Japan: a case study of Hachinohe City Region. Sustain Sci 18, 2151–2168.
[4]. Morey B, Deshkar S, Sukhwani V, Mitra P, et al (2022). Towards Circulating and Ecological Sphere in Urban Areas: An Indicator-Based Framework for Food-Energy-Water Security Assessment in Nagpur, India. Sustainability. 14(13):8123. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14138123

1 Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan; 2 Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), India