Publications

The author explained about the roles of hydropower in ensuring the energy security in the Mekong region. Based on a critical review of the current trend of hydropower development, it argued that existing approach of uncoordinated Mekong mainstream hydropower development cannot ensure sustainable development; rather it causes negative impacts on...

IGES Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (CCET) was established in 2014 as a unit within IGES with a mandate to assist countries in improving their waste management capacities. As an implementing body of the join-project by IGES and International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) of UN Environment, the Centre is...

This presentation, delivered at the 11th Policy Forum of the Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth (SINGG), held in Seoul, Korea 7-9 September 2016, co-organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Ministry of Environment, Korea and , discusses international cooperation on the resource...

Special Issue on: Absolute Reductions in Material Throughput, Energy Use and Emissions

This paper introduces the case of the transition from trade protection to trade liberalization, a major about-face which completely transformed global trade governance, to draw some lessons for the sustainability transitions community from the discipline of political science. Explaining trade policy trends is a well-researched topic, and many...

This report updates the 2001 Guidance Manual for Governments on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which provided a broad overview of the key issues, general considerations, and the potential benefits and costs associated with producer responsibility for managing the waste generated by their products put on the market. Since then, EPR policies...

Assuming all thermal power plants currently planned for construction and replacement are put into operation, coal-fired and gas-fired power plants need to operate below 56% and 43%, respectively, of their capacity factor in order to achieve Japan’s electric power sector’s voluntary emissions intensity targets for 2030. However, the voluntary...

While many Asian countries have introduced EIA systems, there is still room to improve the systems and to strengthen. Ministry of the Environment in Japan hold Ministry of the Environment in Japan hold Ministry of the Environment in Japan hold Ministry of the Environment in Japan hold Ministry of the Environment in Japan hold "Asia EIA Conference...

This case study covers the experimental Japanese voluntary ETS, the J-Credit System, the Tokyo Cap-and-Trade Program, the Joint Crediting Mechanism, Commentary on Market Functioning, and Policy Distinction. Remarks: This case study is co-authored by the IGES, the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), and the Environmental Defense Fund...

The question of how to assess the societal impact of transition research conducted by specific research organizations is a very important but difficult challenge, especially in short planning periods of 1 or even 2 to 5 years used by most organizations. This is because social systems are very complex, and changes in them are caused by many complex...