Sustainable Development Solutions Network Japan

Newsletter

Vol.3

11 July 2016

First Anniversary ofSDSN Japan

Hironori Hamanaka

Chair, SDSN Japan Council/
Chair of the Board of Directors, IGESOne year has passed since the Sustainable DevelopmentSolutions Network Japan (SDSN Japan) was officially launched,last July at the International Forum for Sustainable Asia and thePacific (ISAP 2015). We have developed a variety of activities,
in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, aimed towards
realizing a sustainable society.
In particular, we have made efforts to raise awareness of theSustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are the coreelement of the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly last September. Furthermore, we developed a set of policy recommendations for mainstreaming the SDGs, based on discussions at anexpert workshop. The policy recommendations focused on six
areas, namely (i) Governance, (ii) the Roles of Stakeholders, (iii)
Climate Change, (iv) Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), (v) Biodiversity and (vi) Development/International
Cooperation and Education. While these recommendations
originally targeted the 2016 G7 Summit and its related
ministerial meetings, they
have a broad scope and canthus also contribute to theG20 Summit which will beheld in China this September,and provide guidance foractions by other stakeholders
Mr. Oniki, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment,in addition to governments. receives the policy recommendations. (April 2016)

In light of this, our policy recommendations were not only
delivered to relevant agencies of the Government of Japan,
which has been holding the G7 Presidency, but will also be
disseminated widely through the global SDSN network. Inaddition, SDSN Japan organized a special symposium lastApril, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders toengage in intensive discussion focused on effective implementation to achieve the SDGs.
During this year, the international community has alreadystarted developing various activities for achieving the SDGs.
The first High Level Political Forum (HLPF) will be convened in
New York from 11 July. The Government of Japan establishedthe SDGs Promotion Headquarters only last May. While theheadquarters is expected to play a leading role in steering all
relevant policies in an effective, flexible and comprehensive
manner, it remains to be seen whether this will work asexpected. National implementation strategies and plans should
also be developed as early as possible, as guidelines for achieving the SDGs at the national level. We would like to continue
our engagement with the government to help ensure that theestablished mechanism fulfills its functions effectively.
SDSN Japan is currently developing its work plan, based on
which we will further our activities in collaboration with relevant
stakeholders. I would like to seek your kind cooperation andsupport towards achieving our common goals.

Special Symposium toward the 2016 G7 Summit

Website Renewal

SDSN Japan organized the special symposium “Mainstreaming Sustainable Development: Toward the 2016 G7Summit and Beyond” on 16 April at the headquarters of theUnited Nations University in Tokyo. In the opening session,
Prof. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, SDSN Japan Council Vice-Chair(UNU Senior Vice-Rector) gave a keynote speech focusing
on policy recommendations produced by SDSN Japan,
followed by a dialogue session with the SDSN Japan Council members who had been
fully involved in developing them. Intensive discussions took place in the panel discussion, moderated by Ms. Hiroko Kuniya (newscaster), on what actions should be taken bystakeholders in order to achieve the SDGs.

The website of the SDSN Japan will berenewed with new design in August.
http://sdsnjapan.org

Objectives of SDSN Japan
1. To achieve a sustainable society through effective implementation of the SDGs
2. To develop platforms for engagement of multi-stakeholders
3. To contribute to global discussions on sustainability issues in close collaboration with relevant organizations and networks

SDSN Japan Secretariat
yuigawa@sfc.keio.ac.jp

11 July 2016
/ http://kanie.sfc.keio.ac.jp/sdsnjapan/