Since 2021, the Goi Peace Foundation has endorsed and taken part in ”Local SDGs”, an initiative of the Japanese Ministry of the Environment that aims to realize a decentralized, carbon-neutral society and circular economy, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Between February and April 2022, the Goi Peace Foundation organized the “Local SDGs Youth Dialogue” in Nagano and Hokkaido, targeting young people between 18 and approximately 30, and the “Local SDGs Campus Meetings” in Fukushima, Okinawa and Okayama Prefectures, targeting high school and university students. Bringing together youth who are either interested in the SDGs or are already engaged in local issues, the events at the five locations aimed at fostering leaders who can contribute to the creation of a sustainable society by maximizing the unique characteristics and strengths of each region.

Local SDGs Youth Dialogue

Objectives of the program

This three-session program was implemented with the following four objectives:

• LEARNING about the SDGs and local practices;
• CONNECTING with like-minded friends in the local area and beyond;
• ENVISIONING the future of the local area together;
• DISCOVERING one’s own potential and ‘seeds’ to plant.

Finding ‘seeds’ to plant

The Day 1 sessions were held online on Sunday, February 20^th. All 22 participants gathered for this session, which emphasized learning about the SDGs and connecting with one another.

From the three guest speakers, participants learned about the role of the young generation in achieving the local SDGs and the importance of tackling various social issues at a local level (through examples of sustainable development in the United States). They also learned how important it is to understand the current state of issues both in Japan and around the world, and to transform our values as well as our actions.

The Day 2 sessions were held in person, on Saturday, March 5^th in Nagano and Saturday, March 12^th in Hokkaido. The participants learned about case studies from three speakers who are engaged in solving local issues from the perspectives of government, nonprofit organizations, and others.

After completing the second day’s program, participants found the ‘seeds’ of what they would like to engage in the future, based on three points: one’s own origins, encounters with diversity, and the future of the world and local areas. They shared their ideas, which included exploring local issues and creating a space to involve even those who are indifferent to the SDGs.

In Nagano

In Nagano

In Hokkaido

In Hokkaido

On Sunday, April 3^rd, the participants gathered online again for Day 3, the final session of the event. The speaker presented a new perspective, discussing the need for humanity to awaken to a ‘planetary consciousness,’ as if we are looking at the Earth from outer space, and to make a major shift in our mindset. He encouraged the participants to grow the ‘seeds’ they had planted.

Many of the comments from participants touched upon the transformation of their personal values and actions, including the following:

• “I felt it was important to keep asking myself the meaning of true wealth and convenience, and to continue to transform my own values.”
• “I would like to involve those who are not so interested in the SDGs and work from a global perspective.”

Speakers for the 3-session program:

• Mr. Kensuke Eguchi, Global Environment Outreach Centre (GEOC)
• Ms. Yuka Saito, Activist (living in Berkeley, California, U.S.A.)
• Mr. Tomohiro Izawa, Secretary-General, Junior United Nations Eco Workshop (JUNEC)
• Mr. Toru Omiya, Director, General Affairs Division, Obuse Town, Nagano Prefecture
• Mr. Akihiro Satake, Chief, Environmental Policy Section, Eco-City Promotion Department, Environmental Bureau, City of Sapporo
• Mr. Takeshi Kusano, President, NPO ezorock
• Mr. Tetra Tanizaki, Broadcast Scriptwriter / Visiting Professor, Kyoto University of the Arts

Local SDGs Campus Meetings

Learning from social innovators in each region

The students learned a lot from social innovators in each region who are creating new value by utilizing local resources and contributing to the revitalization of their own regions and the creation of a sustainable future through manufacturing. Among other things, they learned about how these innovators got involved in their activities and what is essential in production and consumption for a circular economy.

“Circulating the Local Economy with Organic Cotton”

By Yuta Sakai, President, KiTEN Co., Ltd.
Presented on Monday, March 21 in Fukushima (online)

The Great East Japan Earthquake changed Yuta Sakai’s outlook on life. He kept thinking about what kind of “made-in-Fukushima” product with a low environmental impact would help the local agriculture, which has suffered from harmful rumors, and he ended up growing organic cotton. Despite his lack of experience in farming and business, Sakai has developed and sold various products in cooperation with many people. In order to further disseminate the safety of his products, he is also aiming to obtain organic certification from an overseas organization. In closing, he encouraged the participants, “If you have an honest sensibility and put your ideas into practice, that experience will become an asset later on.”

“Protecting the Ocean with Coral-friendly Sunscreen”

By Yukino Kinjo, Representative, Project MANATII
Presented on Saturday, March 26 in Okinawa

Shocked by the fact that coral reefs, which play an important role in the marine ecosystem, are being killed or degraded by ingredients contained in sunscreen, Yukino Kinjo developed a ‘coral-friendly sunscreen’.

In collaboration with local residents and shops, Kinjo is also developing an initiative called ‘Project MANATII’, in which tourists and locals can enjoy interacting with each other while tackling the problem of trash washing up on the beach. She inspired the participants by saying, 

“The future belongs to young people. If you create the future you want to see, that future will come true.”

“Connecting People through Upcycled Denim”

By Shunsuke Shimada, President & CEO, ITONAMI Inc.
Presented on Saturday, April 9 in Okayama

Shunsuke Shimada established a denim brand in the Kojima area of Kurashiki City, the birthplace of Japanese jeans, aiming to create “denim that nurtures a good relationship among people and products”. He  talked about his efforts to create new value through his apparel brand, traveling across Japan to convey the manufacturers’ ideal of “fostering an awareness of cherishing and using things with love and care” to his potential customers, and by collecting unneeded denim for upcycling (recycling with added values). 

Shunsuke Shimada established a denim brand in the Kojima area of Kurashiki City, the birthplace of Japanese jeans, aiming to create “denim that nurtures a good relationship between people and products and among people”. He talked about his efforts to create new value through his apparel brand, traveling across Japan to convey the manufacturers’ ideal of “fostering an awareness of cherishing and using things with love and care” to his potential customers, and by collecting unneeded denim for upcycling (recycling with added values). Shimada concluded his workshop with closing words of encouragement to the participants, saying, “Believe in what you want to do and go for it, and keep challenging yourselves in areas that interest you.”

“SDGs in our local community”

In addition, at all three venues, Associate Professor Shinya Kono of Oita University’s Graduate School of Education explained how one’s daily choices are connected to global issues and the SDGs, using fashion and beverage container materials as examples.

Participants’ comments included the following:

• “I learned that each person’s choices are important for the betterment of our society.”
• “I would like to keep in mind that spreading information and cooperating with others is the first step to opening the door to a future society.”

About the events