Graduate Program of Global Environmental Studies (GENV)
k-kawamata-4a2[at]sophia.ac.jp
+81-3-3238-4287
Address:
Room 721 Bldg No.2, 7-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8554 Japan
My research theme is “From Local Action to Global Sustainability Governance.” I explore how governance systems can address interconnected challenges such as climate change, biodiversity, circular economies, and regional economies by generating synergies across environmental, economic, and social objectives.
More specifically, I analyze local decarbonization policies, renewable energy use, indicators and dashboards, Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), and policy learning as linked components of sustainability governance. I place particular emphasis on connecting local policy experience with broader national and international debates on Beyond SDGs.
Economic Valuation of the Natural Environment
Before joining Sophia University, I worked for 31 years at Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, including 11 years in overseas postings, where I engaged in the planning, development, and implementation of environmental policy. Most recently, I served for two years as Executive Technical Advisor for Zero-Carbon Promotion at Chiyoda City, overseeing the city’s environmental policy and advancing local decarbonization initiatives. I have participated in international climate negotiations from COP9 to COP28, including COP21, where the Paris Agreement was adopted, and contributed to the 2023 G7 Environment Ministers’ Communiqué and a 2024 United Nations Environment Assembly resolution on synergistic approaches. Building on this experience across international, national, and local policy arenas, my research focuses on local decarbonization policy implementation and Beyond SDGs governance in the post-2030 era.
My research focuses on two pillars: local decarbonization and Beyond SDGs. In local decarbonization, I study renewable energy adoption, local sustainability dashboards, policy evaluation, and implementation through collaboration among municipalities, businesses, and communities. In Beyond SDGs, I examine governance cycles for the post-2030 era, including goals, indicators, review mechanisms, and policy learning.
In my seminar, students study local decarbonization and Beyond SDGs while developing the ability to design practical policy and governance solutions. Through literature reviews, policy analysis, data analysis, and comparative case studies, they learn to connect local initiatives with global sustainability agendas.
The seminar also emphasizes engagement with real-world issues through collaborative projects with local governments and other stakeholders, case studies, and field-based learning. It aims to prepare students to become researchers and practitioners who can work across local, national, and international contexts.
