This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Japan Country Manager Yun-Tzu Lin
Kiko (Climate) Network is a non-governmental, non-profit organization in Japan that focuses on putting together policy proposals for climate change prevention at the community level and beyond, disseminating information, and engaging in environmental education and training. Its aim is to change the actions of individuals, and make Japanese society—including the industries, economies, energy systems, lifestyles, regions—fair, peaceful, stable, and sustainable (“Our Mission…” 2021). Kiko Network is funded by memberships, donations, grants, honorariums, contracts, and sales for approximately 97,607,593 yen per year (“Annual Reports”, 2020). With one office in Tokyo and one office in Kyoto, they employ 10 regular staff members and 16 board members (“地球…” 2021).
Kiko Network has a sizable presence in many aspects of climate action. It is currently serving as the secretariat for Climate Action Network (CAN) Japan, which is coordinating a Renewable Energy 100% Platform in the country that encourages organizations and local governments to pledge to go carbon neutral. By the end of 2019, the platform gained 110 supporting organizations and pledges from 16 organizations (“Annual Reports”, 2020). In particular, Kiko Network’s major project is researching the effectiveness of the government’s climate policies such as the Energy savings law, The Climate Change Countermeasure Plan, The Basic Energy Plan, and the Japan Business Federation Voluntary Action Plan.
To make climate policies and knowledge more accessible, they have also organized seminars and symposiums with experts to present its research on decarbonization scenarios and visions for Japan. Kiko Network also places an emphasis on youth and citizenship education through educational programs like the “Children’s Eco-Life Challenge” and the “Essay for Future“ competition that have been held annually for nearly ten years.
Kiko Network could further scale-up Japan’s mission of “climate policy making process that emphasizes information disclosure and citizen participation” by focusing on incorporating youth voices into their policy recommendations. Perhaps by lending their support to grassroot, youth activist groups in the country, more people can be further trained to develop care for climate policies being conceived.
Contact
Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of Environment
Tel: +81-3-3581-3351
Address: No. 5 Godochosha, 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8975
Citations
Annual Reports. (2021). Retrieved 10 April 2021, from https://www.kikonet.org/eng/about-us-en/annual-reports
Our Mission. (2021). Retrieved 10 April 2021, from https://www.kikonet.org/eng/about-us-en/our-mission
地球温暖化防止に取り組むNPO/NGO 気候ネットワーク. 2021. Our Mission https://www.kikonet.org/eng/about-us-en/our-mission