April 30, 2007
Keywords: Newsletter
Each paragraph of the vision read separately might lead to an interpretation that they can be considered independently of one another. But we think that these four areas are all connected with one another, and that a comprehensive consideration of all the areas, and all the elements represented by the indicators, is needed to give us the big picture of a "sustainable Japan."
One example is the relationship between Nature and Economy. Although most people around the world once thought that it will be impossible to achieve both economic growth and environmental protection at the same time, a growing number of people are beginning to believe that both Nature and Economy are essential for sustainability. It also goes without saying that we cannot think about sustainability without considering Society and Human well-being.
The 20 categories are also connected with each other. Some are directly linked to each other and some are linked to others via a third category, or via elements not represented by the 20 categories.
Another objective was to find new sustainability keywords through the process of reviewing linkages. For example, to promote "Security" such as regional crime prevention and "Civic participation" such as volunteer activities - both included in the original 20 categories - invigorating the "Community" is essential. Although we had discussed the concept of community in internal workshops, the process of examining links helped us identify it as an important keyword we had previously overlooked.
Parallel and inverse linkages occur between two indicators that directly influence each other. Meanwhile, a "system group" is a linked group of several indicators or elements that are interrelated. Parallel and inverse linkages can lead to the creation of system groups, which in turn become linked directly or indirectly with each other, gradually creating a vision of an entire sustainable society.
Different people might create a different set of groups - we believe that these results are merely first step in a long process.
System Group 1: Natural Resource Sustainability
Categories linked: Biodiversity and forests; Water, soil and air; Resource cycling and waste; Resource productivity
System Group 2: Curbing Global Warming
Categories linked: Global warming and climate change; Energy; Resource cycling and waste; Mobility; Environmental education and systems
System Group 3: Environmental Protection and Agriculture
Categories linked: Biodiversity and forests; Water, soil and air; Food
System Group 4: Financial System Health
Categories linked: Finance; Money flow; Environmental education and systems
System Group 5: International Understanding
Categories linked: International cooperation; Food; Finance; Money flow; Gender and minorities; Tradition, culture and industry creation; Academic performance and education level
System Group 6: Technology and Intellectual Resources
Categories linked; Tradition, culture and industry creation; Academic performance and education level; Money flow; Finance
System Group 7: Quality of Life
Categories linked: Life satisfaction; Physical and mental health; Mobility; Education; Civil activities; Wealth gap
System Group 8: Community Revitalization
Categories linked: Security; Civil activities; Tradition, culture and industry creation
In addition, we plan to examine the consistency of the indicator targets of all 20 categories based on the results of the second stage. For example, there is an interrelationship between the two categories, "Global warming and climate change" and "Energy." Energy is used to support our daily lives and economic activities, which in turn contribute to global warming and climate change. Whereas the target for the headline indicator for "Energy" is a 10 percent ratio of renewable and recycled energy in the total energy budget, the target for the headline indicator of "Global warming and climate change" is two tons of greenhouse gas emissions amount per capita per annum. We need to improve the accuracy and consistency of indicator targets for such closely-associated categories.
In the next issue, we will also report on the sub-indicators.
(By Hitofumi Yamanoshita, team leader of the second-stage JFS Indicator Project)
(Note) Reference: Townsville City Council Accelerated Sustainability Planning http://www.soe-townsville.org/atkisson/4_linkages.html