What is ELIAS?

International Trends in Environmental Leadership

Based on Japan’s proposal made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg 2002, the United Nations General Assembly that same year proclaimed the years 2005 to 2014 as the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. Japan then developed an action plan that addresses the importance of implementing programs at institutions of higher education as an early stage response.

In June 2007 the Japanese Cabinet approved the 21st Century Environmental Nation Strategy. This strategy addresses the need for environmental leadership training that will provide the foundation for building a sustainable society and outlines a plan for implementing environmental leadership initiatives in Asia. Leaders of Asian countries, meeting at the East Asia Summit (EAS) in November 2007 and the Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting (TEMM) in December 2007, have agreed to work together toward developing environmental leadership.

Developing an Environmental Leadership Vision

The Ministry of the Environment set up a panel to review the Vision for Environmental Leadership Initiatives and discuss ideas as well as concrete measures for developing the human resources that will achieve the socioeconomic reforms needed to pave the way toward sustainable development in Asia. The outcomes of the panel’s discussions were incorporated into the Vision for Environmental Leadership Initiatives for Asian Sustainability in Higher Education (Environmental Leadership Vision).

Implementing Environmental Leadership Initiatives for Asian Sustainability

Hoping to share its Environmental Leadership Vision, the Ministry of the Environment works with relevant government ministries and agencies to implement Environmental Leadership Initiatives for Asian Sustainability (ELIAS), which includes (1) developing model programs at higher education institutions, (2) establishing a government-industry-academia consortium, and (3) building a network of Asian universities.