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| NEWS |
New Reports Added to the VLR Lab
IGES manages the VLR Lab, an online platform offering comprehensive information about local government actions on the SDGs. The Voluntary Local Review (VLR) is an international initiative in which local governments conduct their own evaluation of actions on the SDGs and publish the results as a report comparable with other local governments. The VLR Lab received new reports from Rottenburg am Neckar, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Münster (Germany), Ghent (Belgium), Gladsaxe (Denmark), Barcelona (Spain), Lviv (Ukraine), Agadir (Morocco), Fatih, Karatay (Turkey), Jambi, West Java, Jakarta (Indonesia), Sado (Japan), Pingtung and Tainan (Taiwan). A total of 17 local governments have published new reports.
 More details available here |
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
"Just and Responsible Energy Transition Minerals Value Chain" - The 9th Insight of 10 New Insights in Climate Science (10NICS) (19 February)
The global transition to clean energy has increased demand for key minerals such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements. While these minerals are essential for renewable energy technologies, their extraction and trade often come with significant environmental and social costs, particularly for resource-rich countries in the Global South. This webinar will explore the governance challenges along the energy transition minerals (ETM) value chain, focusing on trade dynamics, socio-environmental impacts and policy gaps. With experts from academia, industry and policymaking, the discussion will highlight solutions for a responsible ETM value chain toward a just and equitable energy transition. Join us as we dive into these crucial topics and explore how to create a better energy transition.
More details available here |
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"Strengthening Follow-Up and Review of the SDGs at the Local Level" (19 February)
Accelerating the localisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is more critical than ever. Local and regional governments play a pivotal role in implementing the SDGs. In a context where local contributions to SDG implementation risk being underrepresented in national and global reviews, we invite you to join this webinar to discuss practical approaches to strengthen FUR processes through Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) by integrating them into local policymaking among municipalities, particularly in Japan. The webinar aims to share the findings of the research "A Comparative Study on the Governance of Follow-Up and Review for the Achievement of the SDGs", supported by the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund.
More details available here |
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| PAST EVENTS |
"City-to-City Collaboration for Zero Carbon Society 2025 - Contributing to Local Decarbonisation through Technology & International Solidarity-" (23 January)
Cities are responsible for approximately 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, making their transition to a decarbonised society crucial for achieving the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target. Since 2013, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ), has been implementing the "City-to-City Collaboration Programme for Zero Carbon Society (C3P)," which promotes knowledge sharing and technical cooperation through city partnerships to support local decarbonisation efforts. This seminar, held on 23 January, brought together C3P stakeholders and experts from Japan and abroad to discuss strategies for accelerating decarbonisation and addressing urban challenges, such as pollution and the circular economy. The discussions aimed to inspire collaborative action and foster a domino effect of decarbonisation both domestically and globally. This seminar highlighted the importance of partnerships in driving sustainable urban transformation and advancing global climate goals.
More details available here |
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High Level Talks "A Review on Progress made for Smart, Zero Carbon and Climate-Resilient Cities in Malaysia and Japan" (21 January)
Malaysia and Japan have strengthened their partnership through the 2023 “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” reaffirming their commitments to sustainable development and net-zero emissions. The collaboration between Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Saitama City underscores the importance of international cooperation among local governments. These cities, recognised for their smart, zero-carbon and climate-resilient strategies, have shared knowledge on energy efficiency, low-carbon infrastructure and clean technologies. This event, held on 21 January, reviewed the progress of this partnership and its impact on achieving zero-carbon goals and climate resilience. It also explored strategies for transitioning to low-carbon construction materials, with insights from Malaysian experts. By showcasing this successful example of sustainable urban development, the high-level talks aimed to inspire municipalities across ASEAN and beyond to adopt similar initiatives.
More details available here |
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| RECRUITMENT / INTERNSHIP |
There are no employment opportunities at this time.
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| Details about the internship programme are available here |
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