Report: International Seminar on “Climate Change and SDGs:
In and Behind the International Stage and Japan”
Norio Okada
Advisor, Institute of Disaster Area Revitalization, Regrowth and Governance

1. Introduction
The 26th Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is being held in Glasgow, UK, starting on
October 31st this year. From Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, fresh from a generalelection, rushed in to give a speech about Japan’s goals.
Climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are also related tothe frequency of natural disasters, have become critical policy issues for the international
community in the 21st century.
Taking up this timely theme, the International Study Group on Sustainable Regional
Revitalization at the Institute of Disaster Area Revitalization, Regrowth and Governanceinvited Dr. Kiyotaka Akasaka. The international seminar was held on Friday, October 1,
14:00–16:00, at the Institute’s conference room in a hybrid face-to-face and Zoom format.
2. Lecture Overview
The speaker, Mr. Akasaka, is a prominent former diplomat of Japan who has diverse
experience in international organizations. He participated as a key executive member of the1997 Kyoto Protocol, in which Japan played a crucial role. He also served as Deputy SecretaryGeneral of the Secretariat of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD) in Paris. In February 2007, he was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon as Under-Secretary-General for Public Information. As head of the PublicInformation Department, he oversaw UN Public Information Centers around the world,
including information strategy and communications. In his speech, he introduced someinteresting anecdotes about the negotiations between countries over climate change andSDGs in the international arena, as well as the roles played by international organizations.
The lecture consisted of (1) Climate Change: International Framework and Recent Related
Events, and (2) the SDGs 2015–2030. The following is a list of the items that caught Okada's© 2021 Institute of Disaster Area Revitalization, Regrowth and Governance, Kwansei Gakuin Universityattention.
Kyoto Protocol of 1997
Akasaka described an exceptionally uplifting experience. At the same time, upon reflection,(1) the agreement was rushed, even though there were many unknowns, such as greenhousegases, sinks, and emissions trading; (2) it was limited to legally binding protocols andreduction targets; (3) developing countries were given a free hand, including voluntaryparticipation; and (4) the way the burden was determined by the developed countries wasarbitrary.
Paris Agreement, 2015
The Paris Agreement, the successor to the Kyoto Protocol, was agreed in Paris in 2015 at
the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (commonly known as COP), which discussed
international agreements on greenhouse gas reductions. Akasaka cites the following points asproblems with the Paris Agreement: 1) common long-term targets were only about efforts,
not results; 2) with the unfeasible national targets of 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius, it will not be
possible to achieve the goal of limiting increased temperatures; 3) national greenhouse gas
emission reduction targets are not legally binding; 4) there are no compliance rules orpenalties; and 5) the targets for China and India are too low.

SDGs Adopted in 2015
These were unanimously adopted at the UN Summit in September 2015. To achieve asustainable, diverse, and inclusive society where “no one is left behind,” 17 international goalswere established for the period ending 2030.
The principles were established as universality, inclusivity, participation, integration, andtransparency. All countries, including developed countries, will act. All stakeholders will playa role to ensure that “no one is left behind,” reflecting the philosophy of human security. The
initiative includes social, economic, and environmental efforts. There will be regular followups.
© 2021 Institute of Disaster Area Revitalization, Regrowth and Governance, Kwansei Gakuin University

Mr. Akasaka also mentioned the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the predecessor
to the SDGs, to which Japan has made a significant contribution. Japan was the creator of thenumerical development goals (MDGs and SDGs). This began with the 1996 OECDDevelopment Goals.
Japan’s Potential Contribution
Mr. Akasaka mentioned air pollution control, energy conservation, medical health care,education, traffic control in large cities, waste disposal, food loss control, preservation ofbiodiversity in places such as forests and oceans near towns, low birthrates and aging
populations, mass disaster prevention and relocation promotion projects after the Great East
Japan Earthquake, and experiences in creating naturally diverse rivers.
“Can I do without it?” (Jane Goodall)
He concluded his lecture with this question posed by the British animal behaviorist and UN
peace ambassador.
3. Q&A Session (Examples)
How do we communicate that the SDGs are not only about economic growth but also about
the environment, human rights, poverty, and peace in an international and comprehensive
manner, and that this is an issue that developing countries desperately need to address? Japan
should also take advantage of its steady performance in overseas assistance.
The fact that there is a movement away from coal in utilizing natural energy, but that it does
not lead to a shift away from nuclear power, is troubling.
The SDGs are important goals that I agree with, but how will they be achieved in practice?
There are more and more young people who see the global environment situation as dire, anda new generation of young people aspires to a way of thinking and living that is not bound by
global capitalism. How do we draw on the wisdom of their drive to change things in the future?
SDGs are not only about reducing consumption and saving money but also about fundraising
to create a new style of living and working.
Finally, “What kind of country should Japan aspire to be? Is it no longer realistic to be an
economic superpower, and should Japan aim to be a respected middle power?” The seminarcovered a wide range of topics.
November 2021

© 2021 Institute of Disaster Area Revitalization, Regrowth and Governance, Kwansei Gakuin University