IGES to Host 18th Annual Sustainable Asia Forum in Kobe This July
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies will host the 18th International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific on 22 July 2026 in Kobe, Japan, under the theme of strengthening local resilience to planetary crises through synergistic solutions. Online thematic tracks will follow between August and October 2026.
The 2026 forum marks the first time ISAP has been held in the Kansai region, with plenary sessions scheduled at the Lasse Hall in Kobe's Hyogo Prefecture. The event will address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, with a focus on moving away from siloed responses toward integrated approaches that foster cross-stakeholder collaboration. ISAP2026 will also feature the Asia-Pacific Synergy Report, a new publication jointly developed by United Nations agencies, IGES and partner organisations that compiles best practice examples from across the region.
Established in 1998 under a Government of Japan initiative, IGES is a leading sustainability think-tank in Asia conducting strategic policy research on net-zero, climate resilience, nature-positive and circular economy transitions. Since 2009, ISAP has served as an annual platform for front-line experts, governments, businesses and NGOs across the Asia-Pacific to share knowledge and advance sustainable development discussions. The shift to Kansai reflects the forum's interest in exploring how regional initiatives can scale internationally, using local examples from the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto corridor.
The hybrid format—with plenary sessions held in-person in Kobe and thematic tracks online—is designed to broaden participation across the Asia-Pacific and beyond. Attendees and participants will explore how synergistic approaches to sustainability can be implemented at the local level and scaled globally, with particular attention to the Asia-Pacific region's diverse development contexts. IGES has designated ECOSOC non-governmental organisation status and plays an active role in generating impact on policy formulation and implementation through co-design with governments and other stakeholders across the region.
Key figure — 18th consecutive year of the International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific
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