Strengthening Local Resilience to Planetary Crises: Scaling up Synergistic Solutions
The triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution—is no longer an abstract concept but a part of much of the world's lived experiences. These threats are complicated by the impact of conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, further undermining global peace and prosperity. Local communities in Japan are not immune to these frequently interrelated causes and consequences of these crises, and they are being tested on multiple fronts to build resilience to environmental risks caused by climate change, whilst mitigating economic risks, such as price inflation.
We live in challenging times - and resolving these complex issues swiftly and efficiently requires a decisive move away from siloed efforts. It is essential to fully embrace a synergistic approach, by strategically designing measures to generate and scale up synergies, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. For instance, investing in renewables can reduce dependencies on fossil fuels, strengthen energy security, and create jobs for local communities.
Promoting this synergistic approach has become a global trend in recent years, and actionable initiatives are currently being implemented across multiple levels. At the international level, since 2019, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have been promoting initiatives to enhance synergies, publishing the Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergies annually since 2023. At the regional level, an Asia-Pacific version of the Synergy Report is set to be launched this year at the Committee on Environment and Development of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), held from 1 to 3 July. This report, in which IGES has been deeply involved, is expected to feature over 30 best practice examples of synergies gathered from across the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan. The key to bringing about a transition to a sustainable society lies in demonstrating how these experiences can be shared among stakeholders and translated into lessons that make synergies a core principle of policy and action across Asia and the Pacific.
The 18th International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific (ISAP), held for the first time in Hyogo Prefecture, will discuss how strengthening and promoting synergies—currently advancing on an international level—can be implemented within the Kansai region and other regions in Japan. Furthermore, we will examine what mechanisms and approaches are required to scale up local problem-solving initiatives to regional and international levels. And with your participation, we would like to deepen discussions with various stakeholders by exploring the potential pathways and levers to generate collective results that exceed the sum of individual actions, aiming to contribute to a synergies platform that spreads this idea far and wide.