IGES envisions sustainable societies as those that are low-carbon, resource efficient and conservation-oriented, so as to ensure a safe, inclusive and equitable future for all.
Realising sustainable cities and societies requires taking actions at the local level. We work closely with local and city governments, international organisations, including ASEAN, and other development partners on issues such as building low-carbon societies, ensuring sustainability transitions, developing sustainable cities and transport, and forging sustainable lifestyles and education.
Related Publications
Related Events
Upcoming Event
Workshop on 1.5°C Lifestyles in Kitakyushu 2026 - Exploring Global Warming Through Food -
The Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change, aims to limit the average global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. To achieve this, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions must be reduced to net zero by around 2050...
Past Event
Asia Waste Methane Comparative Analysis Webinar
Summary The discussions underscored that effective methane mitigation in the waste sector depends on strong implementation, reliable data, and adequate financing. Participants highlighted the importance of waste prevention, segregation, and...
Past Event
Online Public Event
Breaking the Plastic Habit in ASEAN: Behaviour-Centred Interventions for Lasting Plastic Reduction
Plastic pollution is a growing challenge in Southeast Asia, where rapid urbanisation and rising consumption are driving sharp increases in plastic waste. While ASEAN countries are introducing policies and awareness campaigns to address the issue...
Related News
Announcement
IGES Contribution to UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook 7 (GEO-7): A Future We Choose
On 9 December, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the "Global Environment Outlook 7 (GEO-7): A future we choose". A total of 10 researchers from the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) contributed to this report...
Announcement
Dr. Johan Rockström Visits IGES and Delivers Special Lecture
On 9 October, Dr. Johan Rockström, the globally renowned scientist on planetary sustainability and leading researcher on planetary boundaries (Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Professor in Earth System Science at the...
Announcement
Six ASEAN partners selected for ‘Breaking the Plastic Habit in Asia’ project (Phase II)
Tokyo/Jakarta 20 September 2024 IGES and the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris of ERIA (the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia) have announced the launch of Phase II of the ‘Breaking the Plastic Habit in Asia’...
Related Projects
Project
Updated: November 2025
IGES Activity on COP30
From 10 to 21 November, the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held in Belém, located at the gateway to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. As the highest decision-making
Project
Updated: November 2024
Summit of the Future (2024) Special webpage
From September 22-23, the United Nations Summit of the Future was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The aim of the Summit of the Future is strengthening global governance and accelerating the implementation of internationally...
Project
Updated: January 2024
IGES Activities on the Better Air Quality (BAQ) conference 2023
The Better Air Quality (BAQ) conference 2023, the region's largest and most prestigious air quality gathering, was held on 15th -17th November 2023, with pre-events on 13th -14th November, at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila, Philippines...