Communication and Stakeholder Engagement in Japan's SDG Process: A Focus on Environmental Aspects

The process to define the sustainable development goals (SDGs), which took place between 2012 and 2015, was based on broad stakeholder engagement. As such, it was a unique communicative effort to integrate diverse voices into the process and its outcomes. After nearly a decade, the year 2023 marks the midpoint in the implementation of the SDGs, which is an appropriate time to take stock of some activities thus far. This chapter provides a unique look into stakeholder engagement in the implementation, follow-up, and review of the SDGs process as it has been carried out in Japan. It does so by first examining stakeholder engagement in the overall SDG structure and process and then taking a closer look at the environmental work and the associated Stakeholders Meetings (SHMs) under the existing SDG structure in Japan. The more traditional stream of environmental work is described next to show the Government of Japan’s notable efforts to expand opportunities for stakeholder engagement for government-linked SDG initiatives. The expansion of opportunities for stakeholder engagement is consistent with the government’s “facilitative” role in SDG implementation, follow-up, and review in Japan. Despite these efforts, the authors argue that there are some limitations to the outcomes of this communication, as it is unclear whether expanded stakeholder engagement has had a meaningful impact on the government’s direction, strategies, and plans for the SDGs. In this context, the chapter also points out the disconnect between traditional environmental work and environmental work under the SDGs and recommends possible ways forward.