Disaster Risk Reduction

Methods, Approaches and Practices

Rajib Shaw
Yukihiko Oikawa Editors

Education for
Sustainable
Development
and Disaster Risk
Reduction
Disaster Risk Reduction
Methods, Approaches and Practices

For further volumes:

http://www.springer.com/series/11575
 ABOUT THE SERIES

SCOPE OF THE SERIES

Disaster risk reduction is a process, which leads to the safety of community and nations. After
the 2005 World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Japan, the Hyogo
Framework for Action (HFA) was adopted as a framework of risk reduction. The academic
research and higher education in disaster risk reduction has made/is making gradual shift
from pure basic research to applied, implementation oriented research. More emphasis is
given on the multi-stakeholder collaboration and multi-disciplinary research. Emerging
university networks in Asia, Europe, Africa and Americas have urged for the process-oriented
research in disaster risk reduction field. Keeping this in mind, this new series will promote
the outputs of action research on disaster risk reduction, which will be useful for a wider
range of stakeholders including academicians, professionals, practitioners, and students and
researchers in the related field. The series will focus on some of emerging needs in the
risk reduction field, starting from climate change adaptation, urban ecosystem, coastal risk
reduction, education for sustainable development, community based practices, risk
communication, human security etc. Through academic review, this series will encourage
young researchers and practitioners to analyze field practices, and link it to theory and policies
with logic, data and evidences. Thus, the series emphasizes evidence based risk reduction
methods, approaches and practices.

SERIES EDITOR

Rajib Shaw, Kyoto University, Japan

EDITORIAL ADVISORY GROUP

1. Ms. Margareta Wahlstorm, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the

United Nations for the Disaster Risk Reduction, and head of UN ISDR (International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction), Geneva, Switzerland
2. Dr. Juha Uitto, Deputy Director, Evaluation Office, UNDP (United Nations Development
Programme), NY, USA
3. Professor Kaoru Takara, Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto
University, Kyoto, Japan
4. Professor Joy Jacquline Pereira, University Kebansan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
5. Professor David Sanderson, Director, Centre for Development and Emergency Practice
(CENDEP), Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment, Oxford Brookes
University, Oxford Brooks University, Oxford, UK
6. Dr. Anshu Sharma, Board Member, SEEDS India, Delhi, India
7. Professor Ailsa Holloway, Director, Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods
Programme, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
8. Professor Arnold Howitt, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA
9. Professor Fuad Mallick, Chair of Disaster Management Program, BRAC University,
Dhaka, Bangladesh
10. Professor Jayant K Routray, Coordinator of Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and
Management Academic Program, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathumthani, Thailand
Rajib Shaw • Yukihiko Oikawa
Editors

Education for Sustainable

Development and Disaster
Risk Reduction
Editors
Rajib Shaw Yukihiko Oikawa
Graduate School of Global SEEDS Asia and Miyagi University
Environmental Studies of Education [Former Kesennuma City
Kyoto University Board of Education]
Kyoto, Japan Kesennuma, Japan

ISSN 2196-4106 ISSN 2196-4114 (electronic)

ISBN 978-4-431-55089-1 ISBN 978-4-431-55090-7 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55090-7
Springer Tokyo Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014942648

© Springer Japan 2014

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Preface

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a concept that has existed for
several years but was boosted in the Decade of ESD (DESD) from 2005 onward.
We understand the importance of sustainable development, but to make it a reality,
we need specific action-oriented programs. In the first 5 years of the DESD, it was
observed that there were significant numbers of conferences, workshops, and
reports that led to little action. The mid-term review of 2009 pointed out the need
for action-oriented programs in ESD that can be realized on the ground. For this
reason, links with disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation are
strongly recommended for the Asia-Pacific region.
The DRR concept drew significant attention globally after the 2004 Indian
Ocean Tsunami, which took the lives of people of more than 65 nationalities in
the affected coastal regions. In the following year, 2005, the United Nations
member states adopted the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) (2005–2015) as
the action agenda for DRR globally. The key focus of this action agenda is to look at
risk reduction in a holistic and systematic manner. While the first 4–5 years have
attracted the attention of national governments and international agencies, the
mid-term review of the HFA emphasized local-level initiatives.
Thus, ESD and DRR have a natural synergy to focus on local issues and to link
with local communities. Both the DESD and HFA come to an end by 2014 and
2015, respectively. Also, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are ending
by 2015, leading to new sets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At this
important juncture, this book is an attempt to review the ESD and DRR linkages
and try to assess what has been done especially in Japan, and how it influenced the
global trends of ESD. Japan, being a strong promoter of ESD, also experienced
a devastating disaster in 2011. The Tohoku region has the rich experience of
establishing the linkage of ESD and DRR. Moreover, the end-of-decade conference
will be held in Japan in November 2014. We hope that this book will provide some
thoughts for the future direction of ESD and DRR.

v
vi Preface

This book is written for students and young researchers aspiring to a career in
disaster risk reduction and environmental studies including sustainable develop-
ment. We hope that they will find the book useful and relevant to their work.

Kyoto, Japan Rajib Shaw

Kesennuma, Japan Yukihiko Oikawa
Contents

1 Overview of Concepts: Education for Sustainable

Development and Disaster Risk Reduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Rajib Shaw
2 Education for Sustainable Development:
Trends and Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Yukihiko Oikawa
3 Disaster Risk Reduction Education: Issues and Challenges . . . . . . . 37
Rajib Shaw
4 Climate Change Education: Recent Trends
and Future Prospects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Glenn Fernandez, Tong Thi My Thi, and Rajib Shaw
5 Disaster-Affected Schools and School Districts
After the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami:
Issues for Recovery Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Tomonori Ichinose
6 Governance and Policy on ESD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Wataru Iwamoto
7 View on Education for Disaster and Recovery:
Example of R.C.E. Greater Sendai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Takaaki Koganezawa
8 Exchange and Sharing of Experiences of ESD-DRR:
An International Workshop for Asian Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Tomoko Shibao

vii
viii Contents

9 ESD and Education for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

at Schools: Changes in DRR Education After Great
East Japan Earthquake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Katsunori Suzuki
10 City Level Response: Linking ESD and DRR in Kesennuma . . . . . 155
Yukihiko Oikawa
11 Towards the Establishment of Sustainable Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Takayuki Nakamura, Masayuki Fujisawa, and Rajib Shaw
Contributors

Glenn Fernandez Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto

University, Kyoto, Japan
Masayuki Fujisawa Facility Department, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Tomonori Ichinose Miyagi University of Education, Sendai, Japan
Wataru Iwamoto Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology (MEXT), Government of Japan, Tokyo, Japan
Chiba University, Inageku, Chiba, Japan
Takaaki Koganezawa Centre for Disaster Education & Recovery Assistance,
Miyagi University of Education, Sendai, Japan
Takayuki Nakamura Fukushima National College of Technology, Fukushima,
Japan
Yukihiko Oikawa SEEDS Asia and Miyagi University of Education, Kesennuma,
Japan
Rajib Shaw Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University,
Kyoto, Japan
Tomoko Shibao Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU), Tokyo,
Japan
Katsunori Suzuki Environment Preservation Center, Kanazawa University,
Kanazawa, Japan
Tong Thi My Thi Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto
University, Kyoto, Japan

ix
About the Editors

Rajib Shaw is a Professor in the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies

of Kyoto University, Japan. He worked closely with the local communities, NGOs,
governments and international organization, including United Nations, especially
in the Asian countries. He is currently the Chair of the United Nations Asia
Regional Task Force for Urban Risk Reduction, and the President of Asian Uni-
versity Network of Environment and Disaster Management (AUEDM). His
research interests are: community based disaster risk management, climate change
adaptation, urban risk management, and disaster and environmental education.
He has published several books in the field of disaster and environmental manage-
ment. He is also the Chief Editor of Asian Journal of Environment and Disaster
Management.
Yukihiko Oikawa is a Researcher of Miyagi University of Education, an Associate
Researcher of the University of Tokyo, and Senior Advisor of SEEDS Asia, a
Japanese non-profit organization. He was the former Deputy Director of
Kesennuma City Board of Education. He has been promoting Education for
Sustainable Development (ESD) over 10 years at regional and national level,
collaborating with local sectors, universities, Japanese government, NGO/NPO
and international institution such as UNESCO, United Nation University (UNU)
and Fulbright Fund. Since the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (EJET) in 2011,
he has been contributing to educational recovery of post-disaster in Kesennuma
City utilizing the network of ESD, and to improvement of DRR Education based on
lessons of EJET and the concept of ESD.

xi
Chapter 1
Overview of Concepts: Education
for Sustainable Development and Disaster
Risk Reduction

Rajib Shaw

Abstract Education for Sustainability is a lifelong learning process that leads to an

informed and involved citizenry having the creative problem solving skills, scien-
tific and social literacy, and commitment to engage in responsible individual and
co-operative actions. On the other hand, disasters are among the biggest obstacles to
achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals for poverty reduction. Thus,
reducing disaster risks and their impact has become an important development issue
in its own right. ESD and DRR (disaster risk reduction) has natural synergy
especially for the Asia-Pacific region, with emphasis on: (1) Strategy points are
required to formidable challenges faced by the region: political and economic
crises, as well as natural disasters, (2) Integration of climate change adaptation
and disaster risk reduction and addressing the impact of food insecurity, and (3) To
address these closely linked complex issues by adopting a proactive and holistic
approach to resolve them. The common element of ESD and DRRE is the link with
the communities. Both DRRE and ESD have demonstrated that an effective edu-
cation is only possible when the education goes beyond the traditional boundaries
of school and communities. For DRRE, experiential learning and linking school
and communities are found to important and effective. For ESD, the same experi-
ences have proved the commonalities of these two concepts.

Keywords Asia-Pacific region • Community linkages • DRRE • ESD • School

education

R. Shaw (*)
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
e-mail: [email protected]

R. Shaw and Y. Oikawa (eds.), Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster 1
Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices,
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55090-7_1, © Springer Japan 2014
2 R. Shaw

1.1 Introduction

Our biggest challenge in this new century is to take an idea that sounds abstract, ‘sustain-
able development’, and turn it into reality for all the world’s people.
Kofi Annan (Former UN Secretary General in 2004)

The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD:

2005–2014), for which UNESCO is the lead agency, seeks to integrate the princi-
ples, values, and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education
and learning, in order to address the social, economic, cultural and environmental
problems we face in the twenty-first century. Governments around the world are
invited to use the Decade to integrate education for sustainable development into
their national educational strategies and action plans at all appropriate levels.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) targets to the following:
• Learning to know: Recognizing the challenge
• Learning to do: Acting with determination
• Learning to be: Invisibility of human dignity
Education for Sustainability is a lifelong learning process that leads to an
informed and involved citizenry having the creative problem solving skills, scien-
tific and social literacy, and commitment to engage in responsible individual and
co-operative actions. These actions will help ensure an environmentally sound and
economically prosperous future. Education for Sustainability has the potential to
serve as a tool for building stronger bridges between the classroom and business,
and between schools and communities. Solving environmental problems and
preventing new ones from arising will require an understanding and appreciation
of the linkages between environmental well-being and human well-being. How-
ever, many of these linkages are not apparent at the first instance.
On the other hand, disasters are among the biggest obstacles to achieving the
UN’s Millennium Development Goals for poverty reduction. Thus, reducing disas-
ter risks and their impact has become an important development issue in its own
right. Since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992, disaster reduction has been recognized as
an integral component of sustainable development (Chapter 3 of Agenda 21). This
conclusion and the cross-sectoral nature of disaster risk reduction were once again
underlined in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannes-
burg. Furthermore the linkage between disaster risk Education and sustainable
development is getting more and more visible on other international agendas.
HFA (Hyogo Framework for Action: 2005–2015) Thematic Area 3 focuses on
strengthening networks and promoting dialogue and cooperation among disaster
experts, technical and scientific specialists, planners and other stakeholders. It also
emphasizes to include disaster risk reduction subject matter in formal, non-formal,
and informal education and training activities. Kofi Anan in 2005 for the DESD
(Decade of Education for Sustainable Development) mentioned: “Our biggest
challenge in this new century is to take an idea that sounds abstract – sustainable
1 Overview of Concepts: Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster. . . 3

development – and turn it into reality for all the world’s people”. To turn sustain-
able development into reality, education is an important process, which can gener-
ate young professionals, which can provide important tools and methodologies of
expert knowledge. And to enhance sustainable education, disaster risk reduction is
an integral part of education.

1.2 Evolution of Concept and Mid-Term

Progress of Decade

As pointed out earlier, it was rather a challenge to make this abstract concept into
reality at the beginning. ESD provides an umbrella concept which can be
desegregated into different other sub-components like environmental education,
disaster risk reduction education, climate change education. It was until the
mid-term review of 2009 that these linkages were unclear. The mid-term review
had very specifically posed on the following four objectives:
1. To highlight the essential contribution of Education for Sustainable Develop-
ment (ESD) to all of education and to achieving quality education (“Why is ESD
relevant?”)
2. To promote international exchange on ESD (“What can we learn from each
other?”)
3. To carry out a stock-taking of DESD implementation (“What have we achieved
so far, what are the lessons learnt?”)
4. To develop strategies for the way ahead (“Where do we want to go from here?”)
To enhance the linkage between ESD and DRR, a special theme session was
organized in the mid-term review conference in Bonn, Germany in 2009. The
session was divided into five parts:
• Advocacy to policy makers
• Capacity building
• Formal education
• Non-formal education
• Educational infrastructures
It is recognized that all these five elements are inter-related, and therefore, the
recommendation from one thematic session is also applicable to others, which is
described below:

1.2.1 Advocacy to Policy Makers

It is discussed and agreed that advocacy should focus on vulnerability reduction,

have specific local context and should be locally internalized. It should also contain
4 R. Shaw

the positive aspects of risks, and cost benefit analysis of DRR education.
To enhance advocacy, following means can be incorporated:
• Advocacy should target appropriate change agents depending on the needs and
demand, and should have specific entry points, like climate change
• Media plays an important role in advocacy in terms of DRR education
Advocacy should have specific and targeted outputs and outcome as follow:
• Political commitments for safe schools (evidence based actions)
• Advocacy tools, guiding documents, policy notes, networks
Based on the discussion in the session, following key issues were emphasized
and recommended:
• Build better links between DRR, Education, SD (sustainable development) and
CC (climate change) communities—increase synergies between existing national
mechanisms for DRR (disaster risk reduction), UNESCO Commissions and ESD.
• Develop a collective long-term educational strategy that encompasses key
aspects of sustainable development around existing strategic frameworks con-
sensually agreed upon at the international level, such as HFA and DESD.
• Build on existing ad-hoc commemorating processes and events to ensure con-
tinued long-term action and reflection to further promote DRR in the overall
framework of SD.
• Encourage participatory approaches towards ESD through the involvement of
key stakeholders such as Governments, local authorities, civil society, the NGO
community scientific and technical institutions and the private sector. Media
should also play a major advocacy role with policy makers in linking disaster
situations to sustainable development.
• Bring coherence on terminology issue to include clear references to DRR,
environmental protection, CC as part of ESD.
• Foster adaptation and localization of advocacy messages to target audiences.
• Recognize children’s role as powerful agents for change—empower them
through skill and competency-building processes—build hope by generating
safe, friendly and happy schools
• Contribute to EFA by ensuring alternative schooling and educational contin-
gency planning to avoid the education gap caused by disasters.
• Recognize DRR’s contribution to SD—as such, DRR education implementation
supports ESD and should be seen as a strategic priority for the second half of DESD

1.2.2 Capacity Building

Capacity building is defined as “Efforts aimed to develop human skills or societal

infrastructure within a community or organization needed to reduce the level of
risk.” Capacity-building also includes development of institutional, financial, polit-
ical and other resources, such as technology at different levels and sectors of the
1 Overview of Concepts: Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster. . . 5

society (UN ISDR). “Successful capacity development requires not only skills and
organizational procedures, but also incentives and good governance. The prime
responsibility rests with partner countries, with outside actors playing a supportive
role (OECD DAC 2006).” Therefore, capacity building is not only an educational
issue, it is also considered as a governance issue. HFA Words into Action focuses
on the following steps as capacity building:
1. Identify key sectors to be involved in training, based on disaster reduction needs
at national and local levels.
2. Identify women’s and community groups, and professional associations or trade
organizations that could contribute to/or benefit from training.
3. Identify, strengthen or develop standards or other systems for professional
certification and/or licensing that can promote sustained disaster risk reduction
knowledge and skills.
4. Develop, strengthen and invest in continuing national training programs and
centers, as well as professional courses, seminars and workshops.
5. Produce training materials locally, by consulting with women and community
groups to identify gaps and local resources for gender-sensitive disaster risk
reduction training. Develop gender and context-specific training modules and
make these widely available.
6. Identify or establish an information facility to compile exchange and expand
information about available professional training for disaster risk reduction.
Capacity building should assess the existing capacities, build on context specific
local knowledge/wisdom. It should contain practical examples and needs to be
linked to implementation. There are specific means to capacity building programs.
While it is important to focus on single coherent strategy of CB, it also requires
context specific approaches. Thus, capacity building needs a balanced mix of
global, regional initiatives, locally customized programs and blended learning
programs. Specific outputs of capacity building program can be as follow:
• Guidelines, principles, modes and methodologies of CB programs
• Process oriented impact evaluation

1.2.3 Formal Education

Formal education session was introduced as an expanded notion of access to quality

education for all. Within it a three tiered model of life skills basic and quality
education was presented.
• Tier One: Formal education, an ideal of universal provision of LSBE for all
children and audiences as called for in international commitments. Quality
interventions at this level are structured.
• Tier Two: Other curricular based interventions and is offered outside of the
formal school curricula.
6 R. Shaw

• Tier Three: Life skills based interventions depended on addressing the specific
of completing risk or need of a target population.
Skills to mitigate the impact of disaster risk reduction are the most important
thing that the formal education system shall procure to children. A model of quality
education which is life-skill based has therefore to be advanced in countries prone
to disasters. Curricula development, teachers training and evaluations have to be
aligned so as to test if relevant skills to DRR are provided to children to become
more resilient to disasters. To achieve the goal of making communities more
resilient to disasters Education for Sustainable needs to make the relevant balance
between the provision of knowledge and skills and the end goal of DRR education
has to be to provide skills. Following main issues were discussed:
• Need to integrate DRR into the entire curricula, although it is not an easy task.
But there are many ways to achieve it: this can be integration as a stand-alone
subject of its own (this is the case in Iran), this can be introduced within a carrier
subject (like geography, civic education, geology, other) or this can be
mainstreamed in different subject matters. The important point is that in
disaster-prone countries children can get the necessary skills to mitigate the
disasters through the education system.
• The economic argument is compelling for sustainable development.
• Training of teachers to bring momentum to reduce the risks of disasters and
procure the right skills to children is necessary. However, in many countries
where resources are lacking and teachers perceive only a tiny salary, the
engagement onto those new forms of education, requiring more investments
from their part might be too much (case of Indonesia where when required to
invest more time to include DRR in their courses, many teachers confronted with
small salaries resigned). A combination of relevant partnerships, of advocacy on
the moral necessity to reduce the risk of disasters to save children rights or even
lives, and of strong advocacy to policy-makers (cost of investment in DRR will
be lower than the cost of disasters themselves without DRR) might help to
overcome these difficulties. The challenge is for political will to obtain resources
and support for the necessary key educational inputs.
• The need for coherent resource mobilization efforts to support quality education
agenda especially for resource deficient school and poor educational environ-
ments- development and quality education are imperative. No progress on
inclusion of DRR in formal education can be made without commitments of
Governments. And in zones prone to disasters it is a duty of all states as duty-
bearers (towards the convention of the rights of the child notably) to ensure the
best possible conditions for the development of the child. Hence in those
conditions DRR education is a necessity and a step forward on the road to
sustainable development.
1 Overview of Concepts: Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster. . . 7

1.2.4 Non-formal Education

Non-formal education part started with examples of vulnerability, development and

gap between knowledge and practice. Three key issues were pointed out as the core
reasons of existing gaps in the sustainable development process:
• The cause and effect relationship between disasters and development has been
ignored
• Disasters are usually seen in the context of emergency response
• The concept of sustainable development seems to be overlooking the aspect of
“Safety”
It is argued that non-formal education is the entry point of education for
sustainable development and disaster risk reduction education. It combines both
the community level education as well as the indigenous and traditional knowledge
existing in the communities over years. Following issues are emphasized in the
non-formal education context:
• Understanding local context and culture is an important aspect of non-formal
education.
• Non-formal education is more effective when it is linked to visual
demonstration.
• Cause and effect relationship becomes part of non-formal education if it is linked
to daily activities.
• Non-formal education can be done through continuous monitoring of daily
environment
As the specific output of the non-formal education, following three issues were
emphasized:
• Specific entry points to link to the DRR and ESD
• Targeting different segments of vulnerable population
• Quantifiable indicators for safety of school children to be included in ESD
framework

1.2.5 Educational Infrastructures

In this session, it is argued that to concentrate DRRE on the Learning establish-

ments educating and training collectively, it is a must to make the schools, univer-
sities and all training and learning establishments a safe environment. Experiences
of past disasters showed that while teaching and spending resources one day, the
other day (after disaster) all efforts are gone to find the children under the collapsed
infrastructures and piles of rubbles. This destroys the sustainability one strives for
along with the whole influential next generation of the educated and the trained
craftsmen and women, the pillars of Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable
8 R. Shaw

Development. School vulnerability strongly affects a country’s ability to achieve

the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the universal right to primary
education and the eradication of poverty, and the UNESCO led “Education for
All” initiative, both only attainable when principles of resilient environments and
school safety are made a priority.
The following conditions have to be met to ensure safe education centers:
1. Safe sites are defined in a detailed risk analysis.
2. New education centers are built for disaster resistance in compliance with
building regulations.
3. Existing education centers are assessed and brought up to regulation standards
through structural reinforcement and retrofitting as appropriate.
4. Minimum standards for regional building regulations are developed and applied.
5. Special attention is paid to educational infrastructure in land use and develop-
ment planning.
Consequently there derived the prioritized collective series of ‘global safe
schools’ and ‘DR education’ projects and initiatives. In 2005 the Coalition for
Global School Safety established an international network of advocates and activ-
ists; 2007 saw the Ahmedabad Action Agenda adopted at the first pure International
Conference on School Safety organized by SEEDS, identifying the need for:
immediate and midterm priorities; Disaster Reduction Education in Schools; Disas-
ter Resilient School Infrastructure; Safe School and Community Environment;
Advocacy and government Policy on School Safety. It also identified stakeholder
roles and responsibilities; this was followed by the 2008 International School Safety
Conference in Pakistan organized by the Aga Khan Foundation with the ‘Islamabad
Declaration on School Safety’ prioritizing DRR Education and the creation of
resilient school buildings through new build coded implementation and retrofit
and the use of PPPs Private Public Partnerships.
Based on the above context, following specific suggestions were made for
educational infrastructures:
• Safe site selection and building safety for new infrastructures
• Ongoing assessments of the infrastructure, prioritization of retrofit
• Minimum standards for regional building regulations are developed and applied
• Special attention is paid to educational infrastructure in land use and develop-
ment planning.

1.3 Implication to ESD DRR Linkages

As the summary of the mid-term review, especially on the ESD-DRR linkages, it

was discussed and agreed that, “DRR Education is one of the pillars to achieve ESD
and a priority action to implement the second half of the UN Decade on Education
for Sustainable Development”. To achieve this goal, and to enhance the synergy of
1 Overview of Concepts: Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster. . . 9

ESD and DRR education activities, policy advocacy, capacity building, formal and
non-formal education (including school as well as higher education in DRR), and
safe educational infrastructures are the key aspects and entry points. Specific
emphasis should be given on:
• Local customization, culture and incorporation of local context
• Focusing on targeted educational outputs like “zero mortality of school children
in disasters by 2015”
• Visualization and linking to daily lives can be effective means of DRR education
and ESD
Following four basic questions need to be addressed for that:
Why DRR education in relevant to ESD?
• Disaster risk reduction is a development agenda
• DRR education with safe infrastructures, educational components (both school
and higher education) is the key to the ESD
• Child-centered learning and quality education are key to ESD and DRR
• Local and traditional knowledge, non-formal education rooted in local cultural
contexts are closely linked to the ESD
What can ESD and DRR learn from each other?
• Scope of learning can focus on conventional links of DRR and SD (poverty
reduction, health, education issues), however needs to recognize emerging and
complex risks, like climate change
• Non-formal education can be a very good entry point of mutual learning of ESD
and DRR
• Safety of school children needs to be another common agenda of ESD and DRR
What is achieved so far?
• HFA (Hyogo Framework for Action: 2005–2015) ratified by the member states
emphasizes the need of education and public awareness as on the five thematic
areas
• Global and regional task forces and knowledge platforms have taken pro-active
roles in risk reduction education with UN focal points (UNICEF, UNESCO, UN
ISDR) and other partners, including governments, civil society and academic
institutions
• Policy advocacy, tools, methodologies, guidelines and project implementation
were done to promote DRR in both schools and higher education
Where do we want to go from here?
• Collaborative action program of DRR and ESD community in the mid-term
review of the HFA, followed by targeted outcome of the end of ESD and HFA
• “Zero mortality of school children by preventable disasters by 2015” needs to be
included in the ESD target
10 R. Shaw

• Partnership based local projects and its proper evaluation needs to be

re-emphasized
• DRR in ESD needs to have institutional and rights arguments.
Finally, there should be a realization that this is not a competition between
agencies, concepts of ideas or between DRR and ESD; it should be a collaboration
of efforts between everyone. After all, we are all striving to build a sustainable and
importantly, a resilient community in which we all can live with equal opportunities
of survival. Based on these recommendations, the future of the Decade has empha-
sized on the following (UNESCO 2010):
• Enhancing synergies with different education and development initiatives and
strengthening ESD partnerships
• Developing and strengthening capacities for ESD
• Building, sharing and applying ESD-related knowledge
• Advocating for ESD, and increasing awareness and understanding of
sustainability.
Especially for the Asia-Pacific region, it is emphasized that:
• Strategy points are required to formidable challenges faced by the region:
political and economic crises, as well as natural disasters.
• Integration of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and
addressing the impact of food insecurity
• To address these closely linked complex issues by adopting a proactive and
holistic approach to resolve them.

1.4 Book Outline

The book has total 11 chapters, with key examples from Japan. At first three
chapters [Chaps. 2–4] provide some basics of different types of education: educa-
tion for sustainable development (ESD), disaster risk reduction and climate change
education. In Chap. 2, drawing lessons from Japan, as the key strategies for
Promoting ESD at formal and informal education sectors, the projects of “Regional
Centers of Expertise (RCE)” and “UNESCO Associated Schools Project network
(ASPnet)” are described. The chapter also provides the survey results and signifi-
cances of ESD in Japan beyond the Decade. Chapter 4 provides an overview of
climate change education. Citing examples of Philippines and Vietnam, the chapter
analyzes the current policy of climate change education, identifies the gaps and
challenges and provides a framework to link the climate change education, ESD
and disaster risk reduction education. Chapter 5 discusses the impacts of East Japan
Earthquake and Tsunami on the ESD. Tohoku region had a strong emphasis on
ESD, and had been pro-active for ESD for several years. The chapter categorically
summarized the information gathered immediately after the quake and the tsunami.
Then, the chapter described the status of the schools’ restructuring 3 years after the
1 Overview of Concepts: Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster. . . 11

disaster, and discussed the implication of ESD in the recovery process. Chapter 6
discusses the policy perspective of the ESD. The chapter traces the mechanism of
promotion of education for Sustainable Development (hereafter “ESD”) both on the
model suggested by the International Implementation Scheme (hereafter “IIS”) and
on the reality of Japan. As a conclusion, a possible model of the governance after
the United Nations Decade of the Education for Sustainable Development
(UNDESD, 2005–2014) was presented. Chapter 7 aims to reveal the issues sur-
rounding Education for Risk Reduction and Education for Recovery conducted in
RCE Greater Sendai region. RCE Greater Sendai is a regional network of organi-
zations that promotes ESD and was recognized as one of the first RCE in 2005 by
United Nations University. The chapter analyzes the issues of Education for Risk
Reduction and the contents of Education for Recovery. Chapter 8 discusses how the
UNESCO ASPnet youths in Asia were organized in international solidarity to
respond to the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, first with message exchange
and second in an international workshop. The international workshop was designed
and implemented with DRR education in synergy with ESD. The chapter introduces
how such workshop provided a learning experience for students and teachers to
broaden the scope of DRR education. Chapter 9 analyzes DRR Education guide-
lines and manuals, and reveals that Japanese DRR education has several unique
characteristics. Firstly, prefectural boards of education have been taking initiatives
in promoting DRR education in line with the guidance by MEXT. There are
significant differences of DRR education in different regions in the country. The
chapter concludes that since the ability required for DRR education can be devel-
oped through ESD, linkages between DRR education and ESD should be further
strengthen by integrating DRR education with ESD. Chapter 10 analyzes the
responses of schools and Kesennuma City Board of Education (BOE) in
Kesennuma city in Tohoku in order to reopen schools and to recover the school
education in Kesennuma City. It also analyzes the framework and the method for
improvement of DRR education based on experiences and lessons from EJET and
ESD by introducing the research of BOE and some case studies of schools in
Kesennuma City. Lastly, the chapter analyzes the perspectives for Recovery Edu-
cation in Kesennuma City, which should be made best use of ESD concept.
Chapter 11 described campus sustainability concept, which is rather new concept.
In Japan, the initiative started after G8 summit of Hokkaido, which led infra/facility
based approach. This gradually changed to softer aspects with involvement of
students, faculty members and incorporation in curriculum. A network called
CAS NET Japan was established recently to facilitate the process in the country,
and to establish connection with abroad. A case study from Kyoto University is
presented to highly campus sustainability initiative. Finally, the GET (Governance-
Education-Technology) framework is presented to highlight the holistic approach
of campus sustainability.
12 R. Shaw

1.5 Future Perspectives of ESD DRR

Disaster risk reduction education (DRRE), education for sustainable development

(ESD), climate change education (CCE) and environmental education (EE) are
practicing in different areas in different context. While disaster risk reduction
education and climate change education has higher commonalities, education for
sustainable development and environmental education share common features in
many cases. Figure 1.1 provides a conceptual diagram of these four core concepts
and shows the commonalities and differences.
In the diagram, three basic levels of education are mentioned: primary, second-
ary and tertiary. In case of ESD, the focus is more on primary and secondary, and
less on tertiary. While, in case of DRRE, there should be a balance of these three
types of education. Environmental education focus should be more on secondary
education, while CCE needs to focus more on tertiary education. The key words for
these four types at primary level are mentioned. There are several key words, and it
is found that community and culture becomes the common key words for all four
types of education. Action is the key word for secondary education for all four types
of education. In case of tertiary education, enhanced knowledge and understanding
is the focus of ESD, professional development is the focus of DRRE and CCE,
while behavior change is the key target of EE. Therefore, from concerned student,

Fig. 1.1 Conceptual diagram of ESD, DRRE, CC and CCE (ESD education for sustainable
development, DRRE disaster risk reduction education, EE environmental education, CCE climate
change education)
1 Overview of Concepts: Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster. . . 13

the target is to become concerned citizen through different levels of education

process from primary to tertiary.
The common element of ESD and DRRE is the link with the communities. Both
DRRE and ESD have demonstrated that an effective education is only possible
when the education goes beyond the traditional boundaries of school and commu-
nities. For DRRE, experiential learning and linking school and communities are
found to important and effective. For ESD, the same experiences have proved the
commonalities of these two concepts. As observed in the East Japan Earthquake
and Tsunami (EJET) that two cities: Kamiashi and Kesennuma have shown
contrasting school based responses of disaster. In case of Kamaishi, the city,
which was known for its excellence in DRRE, has been able to evacuate elementary
and junior high school students in the Unosumai area. The result was very less
casualty of the students, and is known as “Kamaishi Miracle.” The credit goes to
long-term collaboration between school and communities as a part of DRRE. On
the other hand, the city of Kesennuma had long experiences of ESD with local
communities and schools. During the disaster, several schools handed over the
children to their parents, which was rather wrong decision. However, due to strong
network of communities, most of those children were safe, and this is contributed to
the strong school community linkage. Thus, for both the cases, it was the school-
community linkage, which saved student’s lives. Consequently, the ESD and
DRRE share the commonness of community linkages and experiential education.

References

OECD DAC (2006) The challenge of capacity development: working towards good practice,
OECD Report. OECD, Paris, p 44
UNESCO (2010) UNESCO strategy for the second half of the United Nations Decade of Educa-
tion for Sustainable Development. UNESCO, Paris
Chapter 2
Education for Sustainable Development:
Trends and Practices

Yukihiko Oikawa

Abstract This chapter analyzes the trends and practices of “Education for
Sustainable Development (ESD)” mainly during UN-Decade of ESD. The concept
of ESD was shared and its necessity was recognized among almost all countries
around the world at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. At the Earth
Summit, the role of education was emphasized for achieving sustainable develop-
ment in Chapter 36 of Agenda 21 which was launched then. Along with this
trend, Japanese government proposed the “Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development (DESD)” at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in
Johannesburg South Africa in 2002. The proposal of DESD was adopted at UN
general assembly in 2002. Pursuant to the resolution of United Nation, DESD has
started around the world from 2005 to 2014. The Japanese government established
the “Inter-ministerial Meeting on UN-DESD” in 2005 and decided an implemen-
tation scheme for the UN-DESD in Japan. The government also has been trying to
incorporate ESD concept to reform of educational law and national curriculum.
During the decade of ESD, two global networks have been taking prominent roles
as the key strategies for Promoting ESD at formal and informal non-formal
education sectors. One is “Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE)” launched by
United Nation University in 2005, and another is “UNESCO Associated Schools
Project network (ASPnet)” promoted by UNESCO since 1953. ASPnet functions at
school (formal education) centered ESD along with community. On the other hand,
RCE facilitates the ESD of not only schools but also non-formal and informal
education sectors also collaborating with each community and region. To survey
the strategies, system buildings and programs/activities of these networks gives
valuable suggestions and visions for the sustainable development of ESD beyond
the Decade.

Y. Oikawa (*)
SEEDS Asia and Miyagi University of Education [Former Kesennuma City Board
of Education], Kesennuma, Japan
e-mail: [email protected]

R. Shaw and Y. Oikawa (eds.), Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster 15
Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices,
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55090-7_2, © Springer Japan 2014
16 Y. Oikawa

Keywords Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) • Regional Centres of

Expertise (RCE) • UNESCO Associated School (ASPnet)

2.1 Trend of Decade of Education for Sustainable

Development (DESD)

At the end of twentieth century, according as human beings had been facing a lot of
crises of environment such as global warming, desert spreading, crisis of
bio-diversity, disruption of ozone layer and rain forest, pollutions of water and
air, and also social problems such as poverty in many developing countries,
disputes in cause of religious and racial problems, gender problem and so on, all
of those were not able to sustain society and future at local and global level,
“Sustainable Development” was getting a common and crucial issue around the
world. And in order to realize “Sustainable Development”, it was recognized by
many people and nations that “Education” could take key role for the future, so that
“Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)” was proposed as the key concept
to build the sustainable future of human beings. The Significance and importance of
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) was emphasized by many interna-
tional conferences, and that was reflected in key documents (Oikawa 2012a, b).
In 1992, the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has recognized the critical
role of education in achieving a sustainable development and future. Chapter 36 of
Agenda 21 specifically addresses reorienting education towards sustainable devel-
opment, and encompasses all streams of education, both formal and non-formal,
basic education and all the key issues related to education for sustainable develop-
ment (United Nation University-Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) 2005).
The four major thrusts of as identified in the Chapter 36 of Agenda 21 are:
• Public awareness and understanding
• Access to quality basic education
• Reorienting existing education
• Training programmes for all sectors
In the process of negotiating a Plan of ESD Implementation of the World
Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg South Africa, Japan pro-
posed the “Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD)” in response
to the proposals of Japanese NGOs, and a recommendation to the UN General
Assembly to consider adopting this idea was included in the Plan. According to this,
Japan submitted a resolution as one of the 40 co-sponsors to designate the 10 years
as the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UN-DESD) at the
57th UN General Assembly in 2002. The proposal was adopted unanimously to
launch the “Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD)” from
January 2005, following the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. UNESCO
was designated as the lead agency for the Decade, which developed a draft
International Implementation Scheme for DESD.
2 Education for Sustainable Development: Trends and Practices 17

In mid-term of DESD, UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustain-

able Development was held in Bonn, Germany on 31 March to 2 April 2009. The
conference issued Bonn Declaration of following statement and call for action. The
declaration pointed “The progress of ESD remains unevenly distributed and
requires different approaches in different contexts. In the coming years, there is a
clear need for both developed and developing countries, civil society and interna-
tional organizations to make significant efforts”, so that it requires 5 calls for action
at policy level and 13 calls for action at practice level. And it also welcomed the
intention announced by the Government of Japan to host jointly with UNESCO the
end-of-decade world conference on ESD in 2014. In 2010, at beginning of the 2nd
half of the DESD, UNESCO stated three priorities in addressing global sustainable
development challenges through ESD, by focusing on the following: climate
change, biodiversity, disaster risk reduction and preparedness. They are key action
themes for the second half of the DESD (2010–2015) as UNESCO strategy.
(Interministerial Meeting on the “United Nation Decade of Education for Sustain-
able Development” Japan 2009)
Twenty years later from the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, “United
Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)” was held in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil in June, 2012. The conference addressed the agenda, “The future we
want” as outcome of the conference. In the chapter of V. “Framework for action and
follow-up - A. Thematic areas and cross-sectoral issues - education 233”, it is described
“We resolve to promote education for sustainable development and to integrate
sustainable development more actively into education beyond the United Nations
Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.” (The United Nation 2012)

2.2 Decade of Education for Sustainable

Development (DESD) in Japan

At the beginning of the “UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

(UN-DESD), Pursuant to this resolution for sustainable development, in 2005, the
Japanese government established the Inter-ministerial Meeting on UN-DESD” within
the Cabinet to strive for close coordination among administrative bodies concerned
with implementing the measures related to the UN-DESD and to promote the
effective and comprehensive implementation of the measures. The Inter-ministerial
Meeting has examined this matter while giving full consideration to opinions from
various sources and has decided on an action plan for the UN-DESD in Japan.

2.2.1 ESD and Education Reform in Japan

There was an on-going reform in school education in Japan at the beginning of this
century in Japan. In keeping up with a changing society, Ministry of Education,
18 Y. Oikawa

Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan (MEXT) had recognized the need
to train students to be rich in heart and become able to contribute to sustainable
society, acquire the basic skills for educating themselves, and cultivate their “Zest
for Living.” The Renewal Course of Study, in effect April 2002, in which the World
Summit on Sustainable Development was held in Johannesburg South Africa,
required schools to set aside time for integrated studies 105 lessons per a year. So
that schools and teachers had possibilities to promote ESD program through sub-
jects and integrated studies at each school level. In 2006, Organic Law of Education
in Japan was reformed in 60 years, and it prescribed to drawing up the Basic Plan
for Promotion of Education by the article of 17th. The Basic Plan for Promotion of
Education states that the concept of ESD corresponds with the concept of renewal
Organic Law of Education in Japan as well as Key competency of OECD. ESD
fosters “Zest for Living (Ikiru-chikara)” to children. Therefore it is a very important
educational idea which fosters global and local citizens who should shoulder
sustainable future. ESD fosters abilities and attitudes such as critical thinking,
system thinking, holistic thinking, ability of communication, ability for collecting
and analyzing information, and ability of decision making and action. All of them
are very important and indispensable abilities for future leader. On other hands,
ESD also emphasizes the linkage and collaboration with community, other regions
and institutions for promoting it. These bonds of ESD worked effectively on solving
and overcoming the issues in each community or country, such as social, econom-
ical and environmental issues.
In 2013, the Basic Plan for Promotion of Education has been renewed as second
term plan after the Great East Japan Earthquake. It also defined the significance and
promotion of ESD in its chapters. The New Course of Study, in effect April 2011
also includes the concept of ESD to the objects and contents of each subjects at each
school level. And it still requires schools to set aside time for integrated studies, so
that schools and teachers are able to spread the possibility to promote ESD through
each subject and integrated studies at each school level based on national course of
study (NIER 2012).

2.2.2 Establish Linkage with Outside for Promoting ESD

In order for schools to realize and reap the benefits of these reforms, it is essential
that teachers go beyond the school walls, establish links with community and
professional organizations and institutions, and promote educational activities
with the support of a broader partnership framework. In particular, with ESD
programs such as environmental education and international understanding educa-
tion, schools devise and implement their own original learning programs, creating
and realizing distinct, unique educational activities. By involving community,
universities and other professional organizations in this process, teachers can
apply the latest expert knowledge, techniques, data, information, and research
findings to their teaching and curriculum in pursuit of more in-depth and
2 Education for Sustainable Development: Trends and Practices 19

comprehensive learning programs of ESD. When all parties form linkages, collab-
orate to create and implement learning programs, and cultivate these relationships,
it should be realized that learning programs tailored to the individual learning styles
and educational needs of each child, expanding possibilities and opening doors for
students and education. Building this new education networks meets the needs of
their future.

2.3 Role of Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) for DESD

Flowing the resolution on the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

(DESD) of the UN General Assembly in 2002, which based on the Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation, United Nation University Institute of Advanced Studies
(UNU-IAS) launched the Education for Sustainable Development Programme in
2003 with funding support from Japanese government, in order to contribute the
UN-DESD, spanning from 2005 to 2014. The programme of UNU-IAS focuses on
advocacy and dissemination of education for sustainable development principals,
strengthening of ESD activities in regions and at higher education institutions, and
contributing to evidence-based policy dialogue through research, capacity devel-
opment and strategic engagement with international processes. The programme
should be to help in the creation of a Global Learning Space for sustainable
development. It promotes research and actions to advance partnerships for ESD
across geographic, knowledge and sectoral boundaries (United Nation University-
Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) 2005).

2.3.1 Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE):

Regional ESD Initiative

“Regional Centres of Expertise” is a key project of the ESD programme of

UNU-IAS. UNU-IAS assists in developing Regional Centres of Expertise on ESD
(RCEs) all over the world. RCE is not a physical center or building, but rather a
network of individuals, organizations and experts who are committed to using
education as a tool for building a sustainable future. Each RCE is regionally-
based and RCE members bring in-depth knowledge of the challenges facing their
respective regions. RCEs aspire to achieve the goals of the DESD by building an
innovative platform for multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary information-sharing,
dialogue and collaboration at local and global levels. Their networks include formal
learning institutions, like schools and universities, as well as informal learning
establishments, such as museums, private enterprises, local governmental institu-
tions, NGO/NPO and the media (Fig. 2.1). Collaborative undertakings within and
across RCEs include policy work, research and development in the key thematic
areas of ESD and sustainable development.
20 Y. Oikawa

Fig. 2.1 Structure of Regional Centres of Expertise/Source “Mobilising for Education for Sus-
tainable Development” (United Nation University-Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS)
2005)

Fig. 2.2 RCEs around the world [Source: UNU-IAS (2010)]

2.3.2 Spreading RCEs Around the World: History of RCEs

The first batch of seven RCEs was acknowledged at the UNU-UNESCO Conference
on Globalization and Education for Sustainable Development in Nagoya, Japan,
June 2005. These first RCEs, consist of Greater Sendai and Okayama in Japan,
Toronto in Canada, Penang in Malaysia, Pacific Island Countries, Rhine-Meuse
which is part of Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and Barcelona in Spain. They
are called “Initial Seven RCE”. Five more RCEs followed toward the end of 2005
2 Education for Sustainable Development: Trends and Practices 21

and early 2006. The Ubuntu Alliance, in its meeting in April 2006, established the
Committee of Pears for the RCEs, to discuss ways to promote RCEs, to review
applications and provide recommendations to UNU to acknowledge new RCEs. The
Committee recommended UNU to acknowledge 23 new RCEs at its first meeting in
December 2006 in Paris. The RCE network continues to expand and today there are
RCEs in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific. There
are 120 acknowledged RCEs as of October 2013 around the world (Fig. 2.2).

2.3.3 Core Elements and Functions Toward Goals of RCEs

There are four core elements of RCE. One is governance—RCEs is addressing issues
of RCE management and leadership. Second is collaboration—RCEs is addressing
the engagement of actors from all levels of formal (primary, secondary and higher
education), and informal education sectors in RCE activities. Third is research and
development—RCEs is addressing the role of research and its inclusion in RCE
activities, as well as contributing to the design of strategies for collaborative activ-
ities, including those with other RCEs. Last is transformative education—RCE
contributes to the transformation of the current education and training systems to
satisfy ambitions of region regarding sustainable living and livelihood.
RCEs aim to achieve the goals of the UN-DESD from 2005 to 2014 both individ-
ually and collectively. While each RCE contributes to the DESD by translating its
global objectives into the context of the local communities in which they operate, the
worldwide network of RCEs is envisioned to constitute what “The Global Learning
Space for Sustainable Development”. The Global Learning Space is the articulation of
a vision of the DESD put toward by UNESCO: “a world where everyone has the
opportunity to benefit from education and learn the values, behaviors and lifestyles
required for a sustainable future and for positive societal transformation”.
As to the function of RCE, the RCE is a network of existing formal, non-formal
and informal education organizations, mobilized to deliver ESD to local and regional
communities. RCE builds an innovative platform for multi-sectoral and interdisci-
plinary information-sharing, dialogue and collaboration for promoting ESD among
regional/local stakeholders. It also creates a regional/local knowledge base to support
ESD activities. As an innovative platform for dialogue and local knowledge base,
RCE promotes four major goals (four thrusts) of ESD, which the Chapter 36 of
Agenda 21 described, in a resource-effective manner. (UNU-IAS 2010)

2.3.4 Case of Regional Centres of Expertise

(RCE)-RCE Okayama

On the process of DESD, it should be introduced two cases of RCEs in Japan. One is
Okayama RCE and another is Greater Sendai RCE. Both of them were
22 Y. Oikawa

Fig. 2.3 Structure of RCE Okayama [Source: Okayama ESD Promotion Commission (2013)]

acknowledged in June, 2005 and they are Initial 7 RCEs. Two RCEs have typical
characters of RCE in the world, but backgrounds, experiences, strategies and
practices of two RCEs make contrast each other.
RCE Okayama has been promoted by Okayama City. Okayama City is the
capital of Okayama Prefecture in west Japan and it is located on the north shore
of the Seto Island Sea within National Park. The city is a major hub of transporta-
tion as a gateway to Shikoku Island in Chugoku Area of Honshu Island. Okayama
City is a city designated by ordinance, and it has a population of approximately
700,000 and the area of 790 km2. Okayama City is recognized as one of the leading
City of ESD promotions in western Japan. At the end of UN-Decade of ESD in
2014, the UNESCO World Conference on ESD will be held in Okayama City as
well as Nagoya City of Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
In April 2005, at the beginning of DESD, “the Okayama ESD Promotion
Commission” was established in order to propose to RCE. This commission
consists of organizations and groups related to ESD activities. By leading of this
council, “Okayama ESD Project Fundamental Plan” was formulated and launched
the “Okayama ESD Project” for the purpose of promoting ESD in Okayama region
as a role of Initial 7 RCE. The number of project participants has increased to more
than 160 organizations by September, 2013. Okayama City takes a central role as a
secretariat and has set ESD coordinators to help organizations that promote activ-
ities in relation to ESD in order to encourage local linkage and to build strong
network. Based on these linkages through local and community center and junior
high school districts, ESD activities are spreading widely and the practice is gaining
attention around world (Fig. 2.3).
The goal of RCE Okayama is to promote ESD which reflects the nature of the
region and to create of community where people learn, think and act together
2 Education for Sustainable Development: Trends and Practices 23

towards realizing a sustainable society through collaborations among diverse indi-

viduals and sectors such as schools, universities, Konominkans (community learn-
ing center), enterprises and administrations those are involved in ESD. Multiple
individuals and organizations within and outside the region, implement ESD with
various themes focused on natural environment, international understanding, com-
munity development, agriculture, foods, energy, and so on. And objects of the ESD
Project by RCE Okayama are as follows (Okayama ESD Promotion Commission
2013);
• Improve knowledge and understanding about sustainable lifestyles among
people living in Okayama region.
• Expand the circle of people who take initiative in building sustainable programs
throughout the local community.
• Develop each organization involved in ESD and enhance its capabilities.
The ESD activities and networks of RCE Okayama have been developed year by
year. As “The Okayama ESD Model”, RCE Okayama is trying to disseminate their
good points, such as strategies and structures which they have practiced and
established since 2005 when RCE Okayama was acknowledged by United Nation
University.
There are five points to be noticed as good practices.
1. The first point is providing opportunities for diverse organizations and individ-
uals to engage in ESD. That indicates that opportunities strengthen the network
and platform for promoting ESD. These opportunities lead making dialogue and
learning, so that they build supportive networks where various organizations can
learn from each other. As a result, it leads to increasing the number of organi-
zations and residents who engage in ESD and expanding area of activities.
2. Second point is promoting ESD continuously by government organization
proactively. Basically, RCE Okayama is operated by Okayama City govern-
ment, so that it is insured providing useful and reliable safety procedure, and
building organizational power and strong networks. City Government
announced ESD to residents as the new pubic issue, and tried to develop
acceptance of ESD as a public measure by whole community. This top-down
method is very effective on occasion, in order to disseminate ESD concept to not
only residents and enterprises, but also formal sectors such as schools and public
organizations.
3. Third point is support from ESD professional coordinators at secretariat. ESD
coordinators provide continued support to individuals and organizations, for
example, connecting various groups inside and outside community and building
trusting relationships and cooperative networks with ESD parties. They are also
researching new understandings by utilizing experiences of external
professionals.
4. Forth point RCE Okayama is promoting ESD with Kominkans (Japanese Com-
munity Learning Center) as the central hub. Kominkans provide learning places
for each community and Kominkan staffs also can build networks among NPOs,
24 Y. Oikawa

citizens, and local organizations. According to the promotion of ESD by

Kominkan as a central hub, Kominkan was re-acknowledged as a social educa-
tional organization and it gave new meaning to community activities.
5. Finally, universities in Okayama City is cooperating with practices of Okayama
RCE and supporting local ESD activities, utilizing special perspectives to
reevaluate community resources and uncover their true merits. That is the
function of “Expertise”, so that it is called RCE (Regional Centres of Expertise).

2.3.5 Case of Greater Sendai RCE

Greater Sendai RCE is a wide regional RCE, not only one city. At first, The Greater
Sendai RCE consists of three areas, Sendai City, Kesennuma City, and Osaki City.
In 2008, Shiroishi-Shichigashuku area also joined Greater Sendai RCE. Sendai City
is the capitol of Miyagi Prefecture which has population of approximate one million
people. It is located in the center of Miyagi Prefecture and it is also center of
transportation, industry, commerce and politics in not only Miyagi Prefecture but
also Tohoku Area. Kesennuma City is one of famous fishing port in Japan. It faces
to Pacific Ocean and located in rias coast line of Shanriku Area which is north east
of Miyagi Prefecture. Its main industry is related to ocean environment, such as
fishing industry, processing industry, freezing industry and tourist industry, espe-
cially fishing industry of Kesennuma City is composed of all fields, coastal, deep-
sea and fish-raising industry. Osaki City is located in Sendai Plan and its main
industry is agriculture area. Rice field is spreading in the area and it is famous for a
granary of rice in Japan. It also contains the wetlands which are acknowledged by
the Ramsar Convention. More than 80 % wild geese gather to the wetlands in
winter. Shiroishi-Shichigashuku area consists of Shiroishi City and Shichigashuku
town. The area is located in south of Miyagi Prefecture and it contains mountain
area and the dam which provide drinking and industrial water to urban area
including Sendai City, therefore, this area is important as the catchment area of
Miyagi Prefecture. As described above, Greater Sendai RCE is composed of
various characteristic areas of urban, coast line, agricultural and mountain area,
as compared with RCE Okayama.
In June 2005, the United Nations University RCE Promotion Committee was set
up in Miyagi University of Education as a secretariat of Greater Sendai RCE, and at
the same time, the activities of the Greater Sendai Area with Miyagi University of
Education as the axis of cooperation were acknowledged first in the world (Initial
Seven) as one of the RCEs for promoting ESD by United Nations University. The
Greater Sendai RCE was expanded from three areas and one university to four areas
and one university in October 2008. To promote the regional cooperation without
eliminating the characteristics of each area, it was a challenge to develop common
awareness of ESD by collaborative activities. The current regional cooperation of
the Greater Sendai Area is a peaceful information exchange network where each
area has one or two specialties and good point. At present, Miyagi University of
2 Education for Sustainable Development: Trends and Practices 25

Education are trying to introduce the know-how of their specialties in each area to
other areas, and to make ESD activities in each area comprehensive while consid-
ering the situation of each area. (Miyagi University of Education 2009)
In the ESD activities of the Greater Sendai Area, the areas forming the Greater
Sendai Area practice the following activities respectively, connecting mutually the
efforts for ESD in each area.
• Sendai City is conducting mainly environmental education/learning, aiming at a
recycle-based society, initiated by Environmental Division of Sendai City
Office.
• Kesennuma City is promoting the practice of classes of environmental educa-
tion, food education, disaster education, education for international understand-
ing, etc. in collaboration with elementary schools, junior high schools and high
schools, initiated by Kesennuma City Board of Education.
• The Osaki/Tajiri Area is promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental
education in the Kabukuri wetlands registered as a wetland designated by the
Ramsar Convention initiated by Environmental NPOs
• The Shiroishi/Shichikashuku Area is working on the preservation of Satoyama
that is a water source area, initiated by Shiroishi UNESCO Association
and NPO.
Miyagi University of Education serves to connect these four areas, and has also
been promoting the research and development of education, teacher training, and
the development of human resources to create a new sustainable society.
The Greater Sendai RCE is administered by the Steering Committee consisting
of 26 committee members representing four areas and two universities, Miyagi
Prefecture, the Ministry of the Environment, United Nations University, compa-
nies, NPO, etc. Thirteen selected secretaries are in charge of organizing agenda,
preparing documents, etc. for the Steering Committee. Each area has respective
promotion committees, and in the Steering Committee held several times a year,
representatives in each area report their activities (Fig. 2.4).
Kesennuma City Board of Education and schools have developed in-depth
programs to implement a unique environmental learning-based “Education for
Sustainable Development” (ESD) in partnership with local professional
knowledge-providing organizations such as universities, local industries and gov-
ernment, NPO/NGO, Media sectors and so on. Using the local knowledge-base
network, they are promoting locally based ESD focused on International Environ-
mental Education Programs mainly.
Kesennuma RCE has been developing and expanding based on flowing five
strategies and steps, initiated by Omose Elementary School and Kesennuma City
Board of Education.
26 Y. Oikawa

Fig. 2.4 Main body and system for implementation of Greater Sendai RCE [Source “Linkage”
2009 (Miyagi University of Education 2009)

Organization of Elementary, Junior High and High School Partnerships

Since 2002, in Kesennuma City, Omose Elementary School has participated in the
Master Teacher Program (MTP) of the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund administered
by Japan-U.S. Educational Commission. In this program, the school developed a pair
project at each grade level under the theme, “Water Environments and Effects on
Human Life”. These projects were conducted jointly with Lincoln Elementary
School, Wisconsin, the United States, and implemented as exchange-based interna-
tional environmental learning (Oikawa, Koganezawa & Mikami 2007). Following
the success of Omose Elementary School’s practice, Omose Junior High and
Kesennuma High Schools joined the Master Teacher Program (MTP) in 2005, and
began their partnership programs with Callisburg Elementary, Junior High and High
Schools in Texas, the United States, to engage in international environmental edu-
cation programs. Teachers from both regions visited each other and also have
international exchanges over the internet. This joint opportunity provides an ESD
anchoring environmental education from a global perspective. This partnership has
enabled to conduct a systematic development and practice of elementary to high
school level as ESD programs (Oikawa 2011).
2 Education for Sustainable Development: Trends and Practices 27

Hosting the Kesennuma Round-Table Conference for the Promotion

of ESD

In 2006, the Kesennuma Round-table Conference for the promotion of ESD was
held to share the practices of Omose Elementary School’s ESD practice based on
environmental education programs with all other elementary and junior high
schools in Kesennuma and high schools across Miyagi Prefecture. This forum
grew out of the “Project Partnership Meeting” hosted by Omose Elementary School
jointly with local universities and organizations as well as partner schools in the
U.S. The meeting, held since 2002, aims to promote and improve environmental
education. In this forum, participants had lectures and discussions on ESD to plan
future programs and motivate the practitioners while sharing knowledge and
experience with peers guided by ESD experts from universities and institutions.

Establishment of Kesennuma RCE Promotion Committee

In June, 2005, the United Nations University designated Greater Sendai region
including Kesennuma as its Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) to implement the
Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. In November 2006, Kesennuma
City established “Kesennuma RCE Promotion Committee” to further promote ESD
as a model region of the world. This committee consists of 28 organizations that
play central roles in local ESD promotion, including schools, businesses, nonprofit
organizations, museums, local governments as well as media organizations. These
organizations are the leading actors in environmental education, international
education, food education and disaster reduction education. Currently, each orga-
nization is sharing its own action plans for the partnership with local schools and
nonprofit organizations.

Training and Dissemination for Promotion of ESD

In Kesennuma, Omose Elementary and Junior High Schools as well as Kesennuma

High School, in partnership with the City Board of Education played a significant
role in providing training to teachers engaged in environmental education. As of
2005, Miyagi University of Education joined this partnership, and began environ-
mental education-related “Satellite Training Seminar,” “Science Workshop,” and
“Friendship Project” with Kesennuma City Board of Education. Kesennuma City
Board of Education also started many kinds of workshops and symposiums for the
promotion of ESD since 2006. The City of Kesennuma has hosted approximate
more than 100 teachers and school administrators from China, South Korea and
USA since 2008 through “Korea/China Educator Invitation Program” of the Asia-
Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) and “ESD Japan-US Teacher
Exchange Program” of the Fulbright Japan. Similarly, teachers of Kesennuma
28 Y. Oikawa

also visited these countries to deepen mutual educational exchanges. In February

2009, Kesennuma City hosted “UNESCO Associated Schools International Forum
on ESD in Kesennuma 2009” where teachers and educational experts from China,
South Korea and Japan were invited. Even then Kesennuma City suffered serious
damages by Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of March, 2011, Kesennuma
held “National Research Seminar for Environment Education” in November, 2011
and “UNESCO School Regional Exchange Conference” in January, 2012, inviting
educators from all over Japan and foreign country also. Through a variety of these
information sharing programs, it was shared that ESD activities were carried out
under an organic partnership in inside and outside of Kesennuma and deepened
their Friendship, and it will be continued to strive for spreading ESD programs
beyond the school and region (Mikami & Oikawa 2012).

Establishing Vertical, Horizontal and Lateral Links for Whole City ESD
Promotion

In Kesennuma, the City Board of Education took initiatives to establish three kinds
of linkages and partnerships for promoting ESD throughout region. The first is a
vertical partnership among elementary, junior and senior high schools and further
universities based on systematic ESD program. The second is a horizontal partner-
ship with other schools through the UNESCO Associated School Project Network
(ASPnet) and other programs such as projects or programs of Ministry of Educa-
tion, Ministry of Environment, UNESCO and OECD. And the third is lateral
partnership with other non-formal and informal organizations in the community
such as local governments, nonprofit organizations, industries and professional
organizations through Kesennuma ESD/RCE Promotion Committee. This structure
was built up in Kesennuma City for the first time in the world, advised and
supported by United Nation University, so that the structure was adopted as the
concept of RCE. Kesennuma is now trying to disseminate their good practices as
“Kesennuma ESD Model” to the world through international conferences, RCE and
ASPnet programs (Kesennuma City Board of Education & Miyagi University of
Education 2009) (Fig. 2.5).

2.4 Role of UNESCO Associated School Network Project

(ASPnet) for DESD

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has a

network called the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet). The
system of UNESCO Associated Schools was started as ASPnet (Associated Schools
Project Network) in 1953 for the implementation of the idea indicated in the
UNESCO charter in schools. Each participating school must continuously make
2 Education for Sustainable Development: Trends and Practices 29

Fig. 2.5 Structure of Kesennuma ESD/RCE Promotion [Source: Mobius for Sustainability
(Kesennuma City Board of Education & Miyagi University of Education 2009)]

efforts in line with the ideals of UNESCO. In order to develop the contents and the
methods of new education enabling young people to tackle global issues, they
cooperate and exchange with other associated schools concerning their educational
activities while making their own efforts in each associated school. When the
network was started in 1953, there were 33 associated schools in 15 countries.
The network is constantly expanding, so that now the number has been increased to
about 9,700 schools in 180 countries, throughout the world (2013). Growth rate is
23 % during the last decade. It includes pre, primary and secondary schools as well
as technical/vocational teacher training institutions. This year, 2013 is 60th anni-
versary and it was held International Forum for 60th anniversary of UNESCO
ASPnet in September, 2013 in Republic of Korea.
ASPnet tries to refine its four themes of study, those are “World concerns and the
role of the United Nation system”, “Education for Sustainable Development”,
“Peace and Human Rights”, and “Intercultural learning”. In the sixth decade, goal
of ASPnet is to promote quality education for all in pursuit of justice, liberty, peace
and human development. There are five objectives of ASPnet. The first is
reinvigorating a global network of school committed to over-all quality improve-
ment in support of EFA. The second is focusing on and promoting quality education
as a right of all learners. The third is reinforcing, disseminating and mainstreaming
good practices. The forth is promoting local expression as beacon of UNESCO
ideas. The last is contributing to sustainable socio-economic and cultural develop-
ment, which is related to “Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)”.
The plan of Actions was structured along the different levels. At international
level, it is required as examples to strengthen International Coordination, reinforce
ICT, to develop flagship projects, to provide resource materials, to mainstream
good practices and to increase visibility. At national level, it is also required to
30 Y. Oikawa

appoint National Coordinators, to mainstream ASPnet innovations into national

education systems, to plan activities, to elaborate fundraising strategy and to
involve national media. At regional level, it is indicated to develop training/
capacity building and partnerships. Finally, at school level, it is recommended to
involve all teaching staff, to draw up annual school plan, to establish participatory
democratic approaches and to display ASPnet logo at school.

2.4.1 UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPnet) for Promoting

ESD in Japan

In 2008, on the process of promoting DESD at national and international level,

Japanese National Commission for UNESCO in Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology in Japan (MEXT) proposed to UNESCO on the
“Utilization of UNESCO Associated Schools for the promotion of ESD”.
According to this proposal, UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPnet) has become
the center for Promoting ESD in formal education sectors. Especially in Japan,
Japanese National Commission for UNESCO along with Division of Primary and
Secondary Education, MEXT also notified all schools of same object as the
proposal above.
In addition, MEXT tried to disseminate UNESCO Associated Schools to other
schools in Japan by calling it “UNESCO School” shortly. The proposal and
notification made Japanese schools and teachers recognize the system and role of
UNESCO Associated Schools for promotion of ESD. As a result, the number of
UNESCO Associated Schools is increasing year by after the proposal of UNESCO
Associated Schools. Although there are only 20 UNESCO Associated Schools
around Japan in 2006, it has increased drastically up to 615 schools in July, 2013.
It’s a remarkable dissemination of ASPnet in Japan (Fig. 2.6, Ministry of Educa-
tion, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT) 2013).

2.4.2 Characteristic of Japanese UNESCO Associated

Schools (ASPnet)

Talking about trends of Japanese UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPnet), as for the
component of Japanese ASPnet schools, elementary school account for 51.1 %, the
ratio of middle (junior high) schools is 23.1 %, high schools’ is 14.9 % and other
schools’ is 10.9 % (Fig. 2.7). That explains that the mainstream of UNESCO
Associated Schools in Japan is elementary and secondary education. On the other
hand, in world total, the component ratio of elementary/primary schools is 35.7 %
2 Education for Sustainable Development: Trends and Practices 31

Fig. 2.6 Transition in the number of ASPnet Schools in Japan [Source: Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT) (2013)]

Fig. 2.7 The component of Japanese ASPnet Schools [Source: Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT) (2013)]
32 Y. Oikawa

and one of middle (primary/secondary) schools is 12.6 %, high (secondary) schools

account for 42.0 %. Therefore, it can be indicated that the mainstream by elemen-
tary and middle school is one of the characteristic of Japanese ASPnet comparing
with the world (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,
Japan (MEXT) 2013).
The second point which characterizes Japanese ASPnet is that Japanese
UNESCO Associated Schools tend to be promoted and administrated by city
government, especially, city board of education (BOE). This is the reason why
the number of UNESCO Associated School has been increasing rapidly for a couple
of years after the notification of MEXT in 2008. Accepting the notification, some
BOEs such as Kesennuma City, Nara City, Kanazawa City, Tama City and Omuta
City, noticed and recognized the concept of ESD and UNESCO Associated School
Project network (ASPnet), and they tried to adopt this concept and system in order
to improve their education and foster students who shoulder sustainable future, and
also to solve issues and to enhance good points in their communities.
These BOEs also tend to integrate ESD with their characteristic practices which
have been done in each city so far effectively, as UNESCO School activities. For
example, Nara City Board of Education is integrating ESD into Word Heritage
Learning, because Nara City is ancient capitol and has very rich world heritages
around the city. They are going to enhance their good point trough the activities of
ESD/ASPnet. Kesennuma City tried to develop ESD and UNESCO School activ-
ities based on International Environmental Education and to make a linkage with
Slow Food Movement in Kesennuma City. Before DESD, Schools in Kesennuma,
mainly Omose Elementary School, have been promoting international environmen-
tal education collaborating with schools in USA, supported by university, domestic
and international institutions, and some regional organizations. Kesennuma City
also declared as “Slow Food City” in 2003, utilizing rich nature, marine lives and
culture (Kesennuma City Board of Education 2013). Kanazawa City also integrated
ESD and their “Kizuna Education” which means linkage or bonds. Kanazawa is
historical city and has a lot of traditional legacies and cultures. They also tend to
make a linkage with foreign countries through exchange of cultures. So they are
promoting ESD and UNESCO School activities through integrated study period as
Kizuna Education. At present, Kanazawa is the city that has the largest number of
UNESCO Schools in Japan. Omuta City used to be famous for coal-mining area in
Japan, and contributed to Japanese industry development of modern period. But the
colliery in Omuta was closed in 1997. Omuta City lost their main industry, so that
population is decreasing year by year. In this situation, Omuta City Board of
Education initiated that all of elementary and junior high schools as well as one
special education school in Omuta City submitted UNESCO Associated School in
order to promote ESD utilizing remains of colliery as Heritage of Industrial
Modernization. In 2012, all schools in Omuta, 22 elementary, 11 junior high
schools and 1 special education school, were acknowledged as UNESCO Associ-
ated Schools, so they call their city “The City of UNESCO School”.
2 Education for Sustainable Development: Trends and Practices 33

2.5 Way Forward

Since the latter half of the twentieth century, as international conflicts and global-
scale environmental problems that threaten the continued existence of humankind
and society have emerged, “Education for Sustainable Development”—that is,
ESD—has drawn increasing attention as awareness has increased of the importance
of education to nurture future leaders of sustainable societies in order to overcome
these global issues. Against this background, at the Johannesburg Summit in 2002,
Japan proposed the establishment of the United Nations Decade of Education for
Sustainable Development (DESD), to begin in 2005 (Interministerial Meeting on
the “United Nation Decade of Education for Sustainable Development” Japan
2009).
During the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), ESD has
been progressing and disseminating over the world by the efforts of many countries
and stakeholders in the world. Japanese ESD practices also have been getting good
effects and fruits through good practices such as Regional Centres of Expertise
(RCE) and UNESCO Associated School Project network (ASP). Those ESD
practices have contributed to enhance the quality of education in not only school
education but also non-formal and informal education, by changing values and idea
for education. On other hand, ESD also have progressed to establish network and
collaboration among diverse actors and sectors in the community, inter-community
and in the world. That enhances the power of community for sustainable
development.
Concrete outcomes of ESD extracting from ESD practices during the decade is
as follows:
1. Improving the quality of education through developing integrated ESD pro-
grams and curriculums by interdisciplinary, inquiry based, hands on and prob-
lem solving learning methods and approaches
2. Constructing the system and teamwork at school and in community for ESD
promotion
3. Establishing the networks and collaborations between schools and communities,
among various stakeholders and sectors for ESD promotion
4. Fostering the abilities and attitudes of students, teachers and residents such as
values of Sustainable Development, holistic thinking, critical thinking, system
thinking, analysis of information, communication skill and leadership through
ESD
5. Sharing and disseminating the significance of ESD concept and values among
students, teachers, parents and residents.
6. Contributing to solve local & global issues taking actions and responses such as
environment issues, economical issues, aging society, human security, food
security and the disaster recovery like East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
These results should be disseminated to world from Japan as evidences of ESD
practices during DESD also in DESD World Conference in Japan, 2014.
34 Y. Oikawa

As mentioned above, Japanese Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) and

UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPnet) are based on their communities, so that
their practices and activities focused on local issues or legacies for the purpose of
building sustainable regional society and city mainly. ESD aims to solve global
issue such as “Bio & Cultural-diversity”, “Climate Change”, and “Disaster Risk
Reduction (DRR)”, but ESD also should be promoted locally tackling local urgent
issues and problems which are different depend on each community and region. By
taking actions locally, ESD will be spreading and move forward to world. Although
DESD will be finished in 2014, the world as well as each country and region will
face more many challenges such as environmental, economical, social and cultural
issues. It is crucial that diverse actors, such as educators, stakeholders and citizens
in each region and country, should make efforts together to establish enriched
learning to overcome local and global issues through participation and collabora-
tion among beyond DESD, under the slogan of “Think Globally, Act Locally”.

References

Curriculum Research Center of National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER) (2012)
Final Report of Research for Education for Sustainable Development in School. In: National
Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER) (ed). Tokyo
Interministerial Meeting on the “United Nation Decade of Education for Sustainable Develop-
ment” Japan (2009) Japan Report. Interministerial Meeting, Tokyo
Kesennuma City Board of Education & Miyagi University of Education (2009) Establishments of
Partnerships with local communities, universities, and professional organizations that serve as
a knowledge base. In: Oikawa Y (ed) Mobius for sustainability 2002–2004. Kesennuma City
Board of Education, Miyagi University Education, Japan National Commission for UNESCO
(MEXT), pp 3–4 . http://rce.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/panf/Mobius_633 e04.pdf. Accessed 12 Jan 2014
Kesennuma City Board of Education (2013) Toward the education of future leaders in restoration
and creation following disaster. Kesennuma City Board of Education, Kesennuma
Mikami K, Oikawa Y (2012) The goal and method of environmental education – linkage of school
and community. In: The Japanese Society of Environmental Education (ed) Environmental
education. Kyoiku Shuppan, Tokyo, pp 144–160
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tion of ESD in Japan. MEXT(Japanese National Commission for UNESCO), Tokyo
Miyagi University of Education (2009) Linkage. Miyagi University of Education, Sendai
Oikawa Y (2011) The promotion and practice of ESD in school education: the progress of ESD
program in formal education of Kesennuma through participation and collaboration among
diverse actors. In: Shoyama E (ed) Environmental research quarterly. Tokyo, 2011/No. 63,
Hitachi Environmental Foundation, pp 68–78
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in Kesennuma. In: Shaw R, Takeuchi Y (eds) East Japan earthquake and tsunami. Research
Publishing, Singapore, pp 165–186
Oikawa Y (2012b) Education recovery based on education for sustainable development. In:
National Institute for Educational Policy Research (ed) Educational recovery from East
Japan earthquake and tsunami. Yukaido, Tokyo, pp 175–179
Oikawa Y, Konganezawa T, Mikami K (2007) Promoting ESD through Kesennuma Elementary
Schools. In: ESD-Japan (ed) Asia Good ESD Practice Project. http://www.agepp.net/files/
agepp_japan4_kesennuma_fullversion_en.pdf. Accessed 12 Jan 2014
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Okayama ESD Promotion Commission (2013) Okayama ESD project. Okayama ESD Promotion
Commission, Okayama
Okayama ESD Promotion Commission, UNESCO Chair at Okayama University (2013) Education
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The United Nation (2012) The future we want: Rio+20 United Nation Conference on sustainable
development agenda. The United Nation, New York
United Nation University-Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) (2005) Mobilising for
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University-IAS, Yokohama
Chapter 3
Disaster Risk Reduction Education:
Issues and Challenges

Rajib Shaw

Abstract Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) has gained its strong recognition due to
the increased loss and damages of human life and economic assets caused by the
impact of natural hazards and through the evolution of the international discussion
on DRR. DRRE (DRR education) is local, and should be customized based on the
local conditions. Some examples cited in the chapter shows innovations in DRRE.
All the examples point out that there is need for a facilitator [either an individual or
an organization], which can bring innovations in DRRE. The success of these
innovations is in linking with the local government, which can take forward these
activities in future. DRRE is not a stand-alone topic, it needs to be linked to the
education governance. The chapter provides some examples of education gover-
nance and its measurement over a period of time. That helps in prioritizing the
activities of the local education board base don the local conditions.

Keywords Action • Disaster risk reduction • Education governance • Innovations

• KIDA model

3.1 Introduction

For the last several years, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) has gained its strong
recognition due to the increased loss and damages of human life and economic
assets caused by the impact of natural hazards and through the evolution of
the international discussion on DRR. Looking back the past decade, there was
a significant shift in disaster management towards a more comprehensive under-
standing of the reduction of disaster risks and towards the “development of a
forward-looking and longer-term strategy for anticipating and managing risk”.

R. Shaw (*)
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
e-mail: [email protected]

R. Shaw and Y. Oikawa (eds.), Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster 37
Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices,
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55090-7_3, © Springer Japan 2014
38 R. Shaw

The following session will review through a brief history of international efforts on
the development of DRR.
On December 11, 1987, the United Nations General Assembly declared the
1900s as “The International Decade for Natural Disaster Risk Reduction
(IDNDR)”. The objective is to contribute to technical and scientific buy-in and to
make DRR agenda imperative. The World Conference Disaster Reduction
(WCDR) in 1994 has been considered as one of the first international blueprint
for DRR, which focus largely on social and community development. Principle 6 of
Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World states “Preventive
measures are the most effective when they involve participation at all levels,
from community to the regional and international level”. As part of the effort on
reducing risks, UNISDR (2004) developed one of the first frameworks for DRR,
which describes the general context and primary activities of disaster risk manage-
ment (UNISDR 2004). The framework is considered as a comprehensive DRR
framework as it took into account various elements necessary for an effective DRR
strategy. Consequently, the term of “Disaster Risk Reduction” or “Disaster Reduc-
tion” was defined as “The conceptual framework of elements considered with the
possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, to
avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of
hazards, within the broad context of sustainable development (UNISDR 2004).
Synonymous terms such as “Disaster Risk Reduction” or “Disaster Reduction”
have been used interchangeably in describing DRR however, the term “Disaster
Risk Reduction” provides a better recognition of the ongoing nature of disaster risks
and the ongoing potential to reduce these risks (UNISDR 2004).
Disaster risk reduction education (DRRE) has been in the limelight for past
several years (Petal et al. 2008; Petal 2009; Shaw et al. 2011a, b; Shaw and
Takeuchi 2012; Shaw (2013) and references therein). The key challenge of the
DRRE is how to link knowledge and action. There is no ones-top solution for this,
and it needs to be customized based on the local context. The survey by Shaw
et al. (2004) pointed out that in case of Japan, most of the students have high level of
disaster knowledge and awareness. However, very few part of that knowledge is
turned into action. This survey was done more than 10 years back with the high
school students in Japan. The scenario of disaster risk reduction education has
changed quite a bit over last 10 years. We have been approaching to more action
oriented, realistic disaster education, which links the schools, homes and commu-
nities. Focus has also given on the institutionalizing the efforts in the government
levels, mainly focusing on local governments board of education.

3.2 Evolution of Concepts

The importance of education in DRR has been emphasized in several international

agendas, frameworks, conferences, UN programs, as well as others. Chapter 36 of
Agenda 21, on ‘Education, Awareness and Training’ stated ‘Education, including
3 Disaster Risk Reduction Education: Issues and Challenges 39

formal education, public awareness and training, should be recognized as a process

by which human beings and societies can reach their fullest potential’. The theme of
“Disaster Reduction, Education and Youth” was introduced during the UN World
Disaster Reduction Campaign in 2000. This priority has become integral to the
2005–2015 Hyogo Framework for Action as part of Priority 3, focusing on the “use
of knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at
all levels”. At the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Japan, in
2005, the international community signed up to the HFA as 10 year DRR strategy
(UNISDR 2005). The HFA sets out three strategic goals and outlines five priorities
for action, which cover the main areas of DRR. It also suggests important areas for
intervention within each theme.
The adoption of the HFA also provides a global linkage and follows the United
Nations 1990s International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction efforts. It
proposed measurement of resilience is determined by “the degree to which the
social system is capable of organizing itself to increase this capacity for learning
from past disasters for better future protection and to improve risk reduction
measures.” While very broad, this definition contains two key concepts: (1) adap-
tation, and (2) maintaining acceptable levels of functioning and structure. While
adaptation requires certain capacities, maintaining acceptable levels of functioning
and structure requires resources, forethought, and normative action. Some of these
attributes are now reflected in the 2010 National Disaster Recovery Framework
published by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
(Siembieda 2010).
In 2006, the UNISDR campaign “Disaster risk reduction begins at school”
aiming to promote the integration of DRR into government plans for school
curricula and to ensure that school buildings are safe from the impacts of natural
hazards (UNISDR 2006). Activists connected with non-governmental organiza-
tions and scientific, academic and research institutions have worked with dedication
to bringing this priority to life at both grassroots and policy levels. The Second
Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2007 in India, urged
governments to make school safety and the integration of disaster risk reduction
into school curricula a priority on the national agenda (UNISDR 2007). The Third
Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2008, in Malaysia
recognized education as an essential contribution to effective implementation of
disaster risk reduction and concrete impact tin terms of shifts in behaviors art the
local level, where communities are most vulnerable to disasters. Last but not least,
the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) program emphasized
that ‘Education is the primary agent of transformation towards sustainable devel-
opment, increasing people’s capacities to transform their visions for society into
reality’.
The steps for that are good governance, use of risk knowledge to develop
effective early warning systems, awareness raising and education, changing prac-
tices and conditions that aggravate risk, and disaster preparedness through contin-
gency plans, emergency funds, and simulation exercises. In regards to awareness
40 R. Shaw

raising and education, the HFA addresses, through its Priority 3, the following
measures as relevant and necessary to accomplish its goal:
1. Inclusion of DRR knowledge is relevant in the school curricula at all levels and
the use of other formal and informal channels to reach youth and children with
information;
2. Implementation of local risk assessment and disaster preparedness programs in
schools and institutions of higher education;
3. Implementation of programs and activities in schools for learning how to
minimize the effects of hazards;
4. Development of training and learning programs in DRR targeted at specific
sectors (development planners, emergency managers, local government offi-
cials, etc.);
5. Promotion of community-based training initiatives, considering the role of
volunteers, as appropriate, to enhance local capacities to mitigate and cope
with disasters;
6. Ensure equal access to appropriate training and educational opportunities for
women and vulnerable constituencies; promote gender and cultural sensitivity
training as integral components of education and training for DRR.
In order to find out an effective way to approach DRRE, Gwee et al. (2011) has
proposed 16 tasks base on their relevance to the education. These 16 tasks are
considered as one between two frameworks that will be used in the research to
develop the educational disaster resilience assessment tool. The research studied an
integrated approach, which helps to both incorporating DRR into school curriculum
and into the education sector as a whole (Gwee et al. 2011). The approach
considered education curricula and safe school buildings as critical and also
addressed legislative measures such as having formal guidelines for implementa-
tion and funding) proper early warning systems and risk assessments, training of
qualified professionals, promoting community involvement as well as measures
taken to prepare community in responding to disasters. As from the description of
the HFA in session 2.2.2 that the HFA set out five Priorities for DRR actions and
22 tasks that are expected to help central as well as local stakeholders in the
implementation of HFA. Among the 22 tasks, Gwee et al. (2011) has identified
and modified the tasks to fit the educational context, and is considered as E-HFA
(Education in Hyogo Framework for action).
As an important result of the research, 16 tasks for application of HFA into the
education sector have been suggested (Table 3.1). For each of tasks, a number of
suggestions were given at community (or school level), local level and national
level as well.
In summary, following are the trends of DRRE over years:
1. The awareness or perception on the needs of disaster risk reduction has enhanced
over years. This is increasingly recognized by the governments, international
agencies and other related stakeholders.
3 Disaster Risk Reduction Education: Issues and Challenges 41

Table 3.1 Proposed 16 Tasks relevant to the Education sector

Priority 1: Developing institutional base for disaster risk reduction in education
1. Engage in multi-stakeholder dialogue to establish the foundation for disaster education
2. Create or strengthen mechanism for systematic coordination for disaster education.
3. Assess and develop the institutional basis for disaster education.
4. Prioritize disaster risk reduction and allocate appropriate resources for disaster education.
Priority 2: Identifying, assessing and monitoring disaster risks in the education sector
5. Establish risk assessments for the education sector
6. Strengthen early warning in the education sector through effective communication and
dissemination mechanism.
Priority 3: Building a culture of safety through disaster education
7. Develop public program to raise awareness of disaster risk reduction
8. Include disaster risk reduction in the education system
9. Develop disaster risk reduction training and learning at community level
10. Enhance dissemination of disaster risk reduction information
Priority 4: Reducing the underlying risk factors in the education sector
11. Environment: Understand sustainable ecosystem, environmental and natural resources
management
12. Establish measures to incorporate disaster risk reduction in urban and land-use planning
13. Structures: Strengthen mechanisms for improved building safety and protection of critical
facilities in the education sector
14. Disaster recovery: Develop a recovery planning process that incorporates disaster risk
reduction
Priority 5: Preparing for effective emergency response and recovery in education
15. Build on disaster preparedness capacities and mechanisms in the education sector
16. Assess disaster response preparedness capacities and mechanisms through strengthened
planning

2. The need of education goes beyond developing education awareness materials.

The recent trend is to link the education part with governance sector, and look at
the educational governance in holistic manner.
3. DRRE needs to be customized based on the local needs and context, and
therefore, local board of education needs to develop their own system of
DRRE based on certain guidance from the national authorities.

3.3 Examples of Innovations in Risk Reduction Education

In this section, a few innovations in DRRE are exemplified, followed by some

analysis.
42 R. Shaw

3.3.1 Development of Education Materials:

Example of Vietnam

This example is from Danang, Central Vietnam, where, SEEDS Asia, a Kobe based
Japanese NGO has undertaken an innovative approach of involving the teachers and
the board of education to create their own disaster education materials and menu.
The initiative was in the form of a 3 years project, funded by JICA (Japan
International Cooperation Agency), as a part of grass-roots cooperation scheme.
The project was conducted with the board of education of Danang city, where a core
group of 40 school-teachers was selected and trained by SEEDS Asia. These groups
of school teachers have gone through a unique approach of developing disaster risk
reduction education menu for their students.
A framework was developed by SEEDS Asia to incorporate the menu developed
by the teachers, which were categorized into the following:
– Lecture: Teachers will facilitate the classes and provide information and knowl-
edge that help to raise their awareness.
– Presentation: Students will present based on group discussion, their findings,
gathered information as well as their works.
– Practice: Students will practice by themselves to improve their skills to cope
with disasters.
– Life-saving activity: Students will receive trainings and/or practice to take
actions when they face an emergency situation caused by disasters.
These categories are linked with each other, and through each program, students
would gain knowledge on disasters risk reduction, and gain skills to cope with
disasters. Synthetic DRR programs will help students to raise their awareness
toward disasters and build capacities on how to prevent disaster risks. For each of
the menu, there were two pages, one page shows the details, like aims and excepted
goals, summary of program, preparation, assignment etc. The other page shows
sample lesson plan for the teachers, which has a specific breakdown of class, like
introduction [5 min], lecture [20 min], group discussion [20 min] etc. This type of
practical demonstration helps the teachers to conduct innovative DRRE with their
students, and also generate interests among the students. Figure 3.1 shows the front
cover of this document and the framework of different menu of programs, devel-
oped by the teachers.

3.3.2 Reaching out the Disaster Knowledge

Through Mobile Center

At the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis of 2008 in Myanmar, which took a huge toll of
around 140,000 people, the same Kobe based Japanese NGO SEEDS Asia
[as mentioned before] started a unique program to reach out farthest villages and
3 Disaster Risk Reduction Education: Issues and Challenges 43

Fig. 3.1 Handbook of DRRE (left) and framework of learning (right)

communities in the Irrawaddy delta region. The idea was to develop a mobile
knowledge center. Two vehicles, one truck and one boat were converted and
equipped with knowledge products of disaster risk reduction, and education pro-
grams were developed along with schools and communities.
The main lesson learnt from Cyclone Nargis was the need for better awareness
on DRR at the community level in Myanmar so as to make community people to
take action properly to prepare to mitigate disaster risks. In order to strengthen
resilience of communities that are at risk of natural disasters, the need for a
knowledge resource center was strongly felt and shared among the aid agencies.
However the main challenge was the logistics of implementing and delivering
effective training. After discussion with local counterparts, stakeholders and spe-
cialists, a unique DRR education project, called “Mobile Knowledge Resource
Centre (MKRC) and Water Knowledge Resource Centre (WKRC)”, with the
mission of “Reaching the unreachable” was developed by SEEDS Asia with local
counterpart Myanmar engineering Society. With the notion of school to family, and
family to community, the project targeted awareness raising programs in the
schools, with the involvement of Township Education Officers (TEOs) and gov-
ernment officials. It was also envisaged to be used for construction workers, as it
also contained miniature models of construction to learn about safer buildings
(Fig. 3.2).
The MKRC and WKRC is an attempt at sustainable learning for capacity
building on DRR: First is the impact of an educational tool, which has a strong
visual effect that enables people to understand easily and remain in their memory.
Flyers and pamphlets as IEC materials for participants to learn continuously are
also provided. The second is that the targets participants are mainly schools,
and conducting train-the-trainer programs for teachers ensures the knowledge
and skill for teaching mechanism, effects, and things to be prepared, are developed.
44 R. Shaw

Fig. 3.2 MKRC and WKRC activities in Myanmar

The teachers are expected to teach DRR to students continuously to make their
community resilient. The third is synchronizing of existing school subjects, which
is linked with topics that MKRC and WKRC introduces. Causes and effects of risks
and hazards can easily be explained by utilizing the MKRC and WKRC. The forth
is to provide trial visit service and renting service for other organizations. Trial visit
service is to introduce MKRC and WKRC to an organization such as DRR-related
NGOs or government agencies on request basis for the first time. If they find MKRC
and WKRC useful to integrate with their own activities, they can rent the MKRC
and WKRC on a per day basis. By establishing the institutional linkage among the
DRR working group, MKRC and WKRC can cover a considerably larger area and
reach more number of people to provide disaster education, compared to conven-
tional approaches (Shikada et al. 2012).

3.3.3 Engaging Through Experiential Learning:

Town Watching in Saijo

After the 2004 typhoon 21 and 23 damages, a small city called Saijo in Ehime
prefecture in Japan started “12-years old” education program targeting the elemen-
tary and junior high schools in the city. Kyoto University facilitated this process
with technical help to the committee formed with a group of ten committed
teachers. The idea was to provide the school children practical and experiential
3 Disaster Risk Reduction Education: Issues and Challenges 45

learning through bringing them to the field, and providing opportunities to interact
with the local communities.
Saijo is a small city of 100,000 people with mountain area, narrow plain land and
coastal areas. The city has several small rivers, and the upstream downstream
relation in the river basin is found to be important during the typhoon disaster. A
better forest management in the upstream is found to be effective to reduce the
landslide during the typhoon induced rain. Therefore, it is for the sake of holistic
disaster risk reduction education that the upstream downstream relation should be
made explicit.
The town watching was conducted with the following steps: (1) explanation of
the process, (2) town watching with the communities, (3) preparing map, and
(4) making presentation. The key learning points are: (1) to learn together with
the group, (2) teachers act as facilitator, not providing any lessons, (3) local
community member becomes the key teacher and knowledge provider, and
(4) town watching is not just finding the problems in the neighborhood, but to
also find the good part of the community, on which people can be proud of. Thus,
town watching is considered as an experiential learning process in the community.
Mountain watching is just like town watching and it is conducted in the moun-
tainous area. Main target was children, and also residents in the mountain, teachers,
municipal officials and forest workers were involved. The working field was upper
area of a river along school. Participants watch the site damaged by the typhoon in
2004 and hear the story from victims. At the same time, town watching was
implemented in the plain area. The main target was students and teachers, parents,
Jichikai and municipal officers. They walked around the school zone and search for
dangerous places, useful facilities in case of disasters and favorite places, which
they don’t notice otherwise in daily life. At first, town watching was implemented
in five elementary schools and mountain watching in three junior high schools as
“disaster education program”, which was an activity of 12-year-old education
project. The project started in 2005, and continued till 2007. From 2008 onward,
the city education board took leading role in continuing the process in the
implemented schools, and also expanded it to all primary and secondary schools
in the city.
The experiences of mountain and town watching were combined to develop the
town watching handbook for the teachers, and which then was disseminated to all
the schools in the city. Even after the completion of 6–7 years, the same program is
continued with the leadership of the board of education, with funding from city’s
own budget. This is considered as a great example of institutionalizing the efforts in
the local government.

3.3.4 Classic School Safety Program: NSET Nepal

A classic school safety program is found in Nepal, which started in late 1990s, by a
NGO called NSET [National Society for Earthquake Technology]- Nepal. The key
46 R. Shaw

target was to raise awareness on earthquake risk in the country. To enhance

awareness, the NGO started retrofitting schools in a participatory process, which
provided training to the local masons, established school disaster management
committee in the schools, and giving training to teachers. The program started
with the hard measures of school retrofitting, which gradually evolved to a holistic
school safety program with involvement of the education board, education ministry
and students and parents. As part of the hard measures, the retrofitting of school
buildings spread first to the Kathmandu valley, and then to the other parts of the
countries. Changes in the building codes were made based on these retrofitting
efforts.
On school education, like other countries, it is divided into curricular and extra-
curricular education. The curricular education is the set of the fundamental subjects
like Mathematics, Science and Social Studies, which are decided by the government.
In extra-curricular education, the school provides some activities that students can
participate in outside of their regular school time, like cultural programs. Extra-
curricular education is dependent on the school principal and schools can organize
programs as per their own wish. For disaster education in Nepal, no official special
subject or program is established. One of the advantages of this is that the same
education programs or contents can be provided to all students across the country.
This is made possible when all schools follow a uniform standard curriculum.
After the 10th grade, which is the final grade of secondary education, students
have to take an examination called “School Leaving Certificate (SLC)” to prove
that they have sufficient knowledge and abilities as 10th grade students. Only after
qualifying the SLC can they be permitted to enter Higher Secondary Level. At the
Higher Secondary Level, students select one of three specialized courses: Science,
Humanity, and Business. Hence, the Secondary Level (9th–10th grade) can be
considered as the final education level in which students can take the same type
of education in school together. Science textbooks mention disaster-related topics
clearly but the range of disaster education is limited compared to in the Environ-
ment and Social Studies subjects. The Environment and Social Studies subjects
have the possibility to increase the opportunities of school disaster education. These
two subjects are significant for future school disaster education. In this section,
three subjects are examined as disaster-related subjects. But any subjects can
actually be utilized if disaster-related topics are included (for example, disaster
statistics are sometimes discussed in the Mathematics subject) or if the teachers can
create such topics. The main problems of the curricular education in Nepal in terms
of disaster education are the following (Shiwaku and Fernandez 2011):
• The roles of the government or other institutions in any stage of the disaster
management cycle are not shown comprehensively. It is difficult for students to
know the specific problems encountered by the government or by other agencies.
• The lessons, problems, experiences and measures in the past disasters are not
shown.
• The activities in the recovery stage are not included.
• The disaster management cycle is not explained.
3 Disaster Risk Reduction Education: Issues and Challenges 47

However, the important part of the initiative that it started with the school
awareness programs and retrofitting of school buildings, which gradually evolved
to different types of holistic school safety programs.

3.3.5 Institutionalizing Community Efforts:

BOKOMI in Kobe

After the devastating Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake on 17 January 1995, which

left heavy traces of destruction on various infrastructures and resulted in the loss of
more than 6,400 human lives, the voluntary support of many surviving residents in
Kobe in rescue operations highlighted the potential of well-functioning communi-
ties. The inherent characteristics of communities to provide a network among
people, strengthen their social capital and ability to respond to potential disasters.
From the Hanshin Awaji-Earthquake, it is obvious that the age group of over
65 year-old is one of the most vulnerable groups in particular living in the density
area with old houses. Learning from these findings, the Kobe City Government has
been conducting an important initiative for developing “BOKOMI” with the aim to
building resilience of its communities against disasters. BOKOMI is the short term
of “Bousai Fukushi Community” [Disaster preparedness and welfare community],
where the disaster preparedness is linked to daily welfare of the people. It was
understood that the needs of the aged community is daily welfare. Therefore, to
continue to the disaster preparedness activities, it is required to link this to welfare
activities.
After the pilot phase in 11 districts, the BOKOMI concept was formalized in
1997 according to the Mayor’s decision, and mainstreamed in all the school
districts of Kobe City. BOKOMIs are established based on municipal elementary
schools districts in Kobe City (Matsuoka et al. 2012). The total number of munic-
ipal elementary schools is 191. The number of BOKOMI steadily increased and
reached 100 % coverage in 2008. The reason why BOKOMIs are based in elemen-
tary school districts is because ‘welfare-community’ groups were already
established in each elementary should district and thus, disaster prevention activ-
ities could be integrated into these existing groups. In addition, elementary schools
are designated as evacuation sites for communities in emergencies in Japan. These
are the key reasons why BOKOMIs are established in each elementary school
district.
The process of establishing BOKOMI in a district is based on multi-stakeholder
consultation in the district. Firstly, the establishment of a BOKOMI is discussed
and agreed by local government organizations, including the local city office (ward
office) and fire station, together with leaders of local residents and other local multi-
stakeholders. BOKOMI is a community-based organization comprised of local
residents’ associations, women’s associations, elderly associations, child commit-
tee member, youth associations, PTA, local fire station, and local business entities.
48 R. Shaw

In order to support activities of BOKOMIs, the Kobe City Government provides

various support measures like small funding, materials for community activities,
rescue tools, training by fire professionals etc.
Main activities by BOKOMIs have two perspectives; disaster prevention and risk
reduction activities and welfare related activities. These activities are combined and
carried out together. Disaster-prevention and risk reduction activities by BOKOMI:
• Disaster drills and training
• DRR education program with schools
• BOKOMI junior team (fostering children’s teams to lead and work on DRR
activities)
• Public awareness event
• First-aid seminar, checking emergency materials and equipment
• Town watching and preparation of community safety map, risk reduction activ-
ities with rescue workers and fire fighters (identification evacuation root,
removal of object blocking these roots, fixing furniture etc.)
Combining with welfare activity:
• Regular communication within communities to form their unity, so that they can
take action, when emergency/disaster happens, considering needs of vulnerable
groups such as elderly and disabled people
• Leaning how to support the people with special needs during disasters (elderly
people and handicapped people).
The key aspect of this example is to link the community based disaster risk
management activities to local daily needs like health and welfare activities. The
example shows that BOKOMI was formed in all 191 school districts in Kobe, and is
still continued, even after 18 years after the disaster.

3.3.6 Measuring Progress in Education Governance: SDRA

Adapting the 16 tasks of HFA for the education sector developed by Gwee
et al. (2011), Tong et al. (2012) defined the five dimensions on the measurement
of climate disaster resilience of schools based on the local context of Central
Vietnam including physical conditions, human resources, institutional issues, exter-
nal relationships, and natural conditions. Because of the unique characteristic of the
public education system as being a non-profit entity, economic issues are excluded.
The questionnaire covers five dimensions (Physical, human resources, institutional
issues, external relationships, and natural conditions) with each dimension
consisting of three parameters. Each of the parameter is then represented by five
variables measuring parameter in more details. As such, there are seventy five
variables are selected to define the resilience of a particular educational system;
whereby, each variable (x1 x2 . . . x5), allows five different choices with the score of
1 being the worst ranked, poor or not available/non-existent and a score of 5 being
the best, very good.
3 Disaster Risk Reduction Education: Issues and Challenges 49

The same methodology (School Disaster Resilience Assessment: SDRA) was

applied to the Hue city in 2011 and 2013, and it was found that the SDRA value is
decreased over these 2 years, with a major contribution to drop of natural resilience
value. Thus, while other aspects showed some level of increase or improvements,
the increasing natural hazards of the region [in terms of frequency and severity] has
contributed significantly in terms of lowering of SDRA value.
This methodology has a significant contribution in measuring holistic prepared-
ness of education sector as a whole. The DRRE play an important role here with
enhancing teacher training and community relationship.

3.4 Prospects and way Forward

Table 3.2 provides a summary of the examples on DRRE. It shows that in most
cases, there is a need of a facilitator, which can create and enhance DRRE in close
cooperation with local governments. The facilitator can be NGO, university or the
city government disaster risk reduction departments. The key point of sustainability
of the efforts is the link to the local governance system, especially with the board
of education.
In terms of education, the key point of DRRE is link to community. Therefore,
experiential learning plays a significant role in enhancing knowledge level of the
students. In order to realize the aim that students will be able to take appropriate
measures to prepare for emergency, the KIDA (Knowledge-Interest-Desire-Action)

Table 3.2 Summary of the examples on DRRE

Programs Facilitate by Comments
1. Development of education NGO (SEEDS Asia) Teachers prepared their own disaster
materials (Vietnam) education materials through
consultation and training
2. Reaching out disaster NGO (SEEDS Asia) Developed mobile knowledge centers
knowledge through and linked with schools to
mobile center disseminate knowledge
3. Engaging through University (Kyoto Developed town watching handbook
experiential learning University) through participatory
neighborhood watching of students
4. School safety program NGO (NSET-Nepal) Started from school retrofitting and
then expanded to the holistic
school programs
5. Institutionalizing Local government Community efforts linked to school
community efforts: (Kobe City) district, merged with welfare
BOKOMI activities
6. Measuring progress in University (Kyoto Working with local government, the
education governance: University) effort developed a measurable
SDRA index for holistic preparedness in
education governance
50 R. Shaw

tree model can be adapted. The KIDA approach is based on the AIDMA (Attention-
Interest-Desire-Memory-Action) model, which is being used in the field of adver-
tising to consider the process of the consumer attraction to, and purchasing of, a
product. DRR requires people to have appropriate knowledge, and to take action.
KIDA emphasizes knowledge, interest and desire to promote action, and actual
actions are significant outputs of disaster education. The common link of the DRRE
and ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) is the link to the local commu-
nity, where both type of education focuses on establishing better link to the people,
and having exposure to real life problem, linked to taking actions.

References

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community-based disaster prevention organizations in Kobe, Japan in community based
disaster risk reduction. Emerald Publisher, UK, pp 151–184
Petal M (2009) Education in disaster risk reduction. In: Shaw R, Krishnamurthy RR (eds) Disaster
management: global challenges and local solutions. Universities Press, India, pp 285–301
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risk reduction. In: Bosher L (ed) Hazards and the built environment: attaining built-in resil-
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Chapter 4
Climate Change Education: Recent Trends
and Future Prospects

Glenn Fernandez, Tong Thi My Thi, and Rajib Shaw

Abstract Education is a critical element in our response to climate change.

Climate change education (CCE) can help us plan and implement adaptations
with respect to current and future impacts of climate change. In this chapter, we
will review the status of CCE in the Philippines and Vietnam, two of the countries
that are most at risk to climate threats. In order to address the complex climate
change problem, CCE curricula should be informed by dialogue between the
academe and those most likely to be affected by the impacts of climate change,
in a transdisciplinary approach. Out-of-school settings for CCE should be explored
and utilized. By providing several avenues for CCE, we might be able to engage
learners in discussing the causes and urgent implications of climate change and
what needs to be done and achieved. Learners need to develop the knowledge,
attitudes, and skills to make informed decisions and to act upon these decisions. In
addition, CCE developed within the overall context of Education for Sustainable
Development (ESD) and closely aligned with disaster risk reduction (DRR) edu-
cation can contribute to safeguarding development gains and building resilience in
countries vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change.

Keywords Climate change education • Disaster risk reduction education • Educa-

tion for sustainable development

4.1 Introduction

Climate change is one of the most serious challenges facing humanity today
(McCright et al. 2013; Marcinkowski 2009). Climate change is an enormous threat
to human development and is already compromising efforts to reduce extreme

G. Fernandez (*) • T.T.M. Thi • R. Shaw

Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
e-mail: [email protected]

R. Shaw and Y. Oikawa (eds.), Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster 53
Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices,
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55090-7_4, © Springer Japan 2014
54 G. Fernandez et al.

poverty (UNDP 2007). Climate change has hampered attempts to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals (UNDP 2007). Climate change presents a global
challenge the magnitude of which we have not encountered previously (Bangay and
Blum 2010). Its impacts have implications on socioeconomic and political stability
and security from local to international levels.
Education is a critical element in the response to climate change that should not
be overlooked (Bangay and Blum 2010). Education has a key role to play in
understanding, mitigating, and adapting to changing climate (UNESCO 2009).
Article 6 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) calls on signatories of the convention to develop and implement
educational and public awareness programs on climate change and its effects.
Climate change education (CCE) can help us plan and implement adaptations
with respect to current and future impacts of climate change (Pruneau et al. 2013).
According to Koichiro Matsuura, former Director-General of UNESCO, “cli-
mate change education is about helping learners understand and address the impacts
of global warming today, while at the same time encouraging the change in
attitudes and behavior needed to put our world on a more sustainable path in the
future” (UNESCO 2009). CCE must: (1) address the root causes of climate change;
(2) happen within interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary frames; (3) include social
justice education; (4) be both local and global while embracing key human family
values; (5) embrace a social and holistic learning process replete with emergent,
contextual curricular approaches; and (6) build a culture of learning which respects
that uncertainty about the future inspires transformation, rather than provoking
paralysis (Kagawa and Selby 2009).
In the context of climate change, there is a need to reconsider existing
approaches to education, especially the potential to provide learners with education
and training that will help them to respond to diverse situations in a rapidly
changing world. Climate change education covering a wide range of relevant topics
and content areas needs to be incorporated at all levels (primary, secondary,
tertiary, and adult education) and delivered through diverse modes (formal,
non-formal, professional development) (Bangay and Blum 2010).

4.2 Climate Change Education: Two Case Studies

According to the World Bank (2009), two of the countries most at risk to climate
threats are the Philippines (for storms) and Vietnam (for floods, storms, and
sea-level rise). In this chapter, we will review the status of CCE in these two
countries. The two case studies are based on national reports originally prepared
for UNESCO to assist in the development of policy guidelines on CCE (Fernandez
and Shaw 2013; Thi and Shaw 2013).
4 Climate Change Education: Recent Trends and Future Prospects 55

Table 4.1 Top 10 Natural Disaster Date Total affected (million)

Disasters in the Philippines
for the period 1900–2014 Typhoon 8-Nov-2013 16.1
Typhoon 4-Dec-2012 6.2
Typhoon 12-Nov-1990 6.2
Typhoon 24-Sept-2009 4.9
Typhoon 21-Jun-2008 4.8
Typhoon 29-Sept-2009 4.5
Flood 6-Aug-2012 4.5
Typhoon 21-Oct-1998 3.9
Typhoon 27-Sept-2006 3.8
Typhoon 20-Nov-1973 3.4
Sources: CRED (2014), NDRRMC (2014)

4.2.1 Climate Change Education in the Philippines

Climate change impacts in the form of extreme weather events, changes in

precipitation that affect agriculture and water supply, and sea level rise will be
formidable challenges for the Philippines (World Bank 2010). Climate-related
risks accounted for almost half of deaths and about 80 % of economic losses in
past disasters (Jose 2011). Particularly alarming is the possibility that 43 % of
Philippine territory is likely to be affected by climate change-induced droughts,
floods, and landslides in the years ahead, leading to negative economic impacts
such as water shortages, decreases in agricultural productivity, infectious diseases
due to heat stress, residents in low-lying coastal areas becoming “climate refu-
gees,” coral bleaching, disappearance of small islands, and a decline in livestock
production (Strietska-Ilina et al. 2011). The Philippines is among the Top 10
countries most vulnerable to climate change according to the Climate Change
Vulnerability Index 2012 (Maplecroft 2011). Climate change is putting the
Philippines’ already vulnerable environment and economy at even greater risk
(UNICEF 2012).
In 2011, the Philippines endured a harsh typhoon season and was severely hit by
Severe Tropical Storm Washi (local name Sendong) in December which claimed
over 1,600 flood victims (Harmeling and Eckstein 2012). Toward the end of 2012,
Super Typhoon Bopha (Pablo) made landfall on Mindanao, the same island hit by
Washi, and caused more than 1,000 fatalities, with more than 800 still missing. In
November 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), one of the strongest typhoons
ever recorded in history, hit central Philippines and killed 6,268, injured 28,689,
with 1,061 still missing (NDRRMC 2014). A total of 16 million persons were
affected in 44 provinces. For the period from 1900 to 2014, seven of the Top
10 natural disasters in the Philippines in terms of the number of people affected
happened in the last 7 years, all caused by hydro-meteorological hazards
(Table 4.1).
56 G. Fernandez et al.

4.2.1.1 Formal Climate Change Education

After the First National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation in 2007, the
resulting Albay Declaration signed by the delegates called for the introduction of
climate change education into the school curricula (Peralta 2008). When the
Climate Change Act of 2009 (Republic Act 9729) was passed, it explicitly directed
the Department of Education (DepEd) to “integrate climate change into the primary
and secondary education curricula and/or subjects, such as, but not limited to,
science, biology, civics, history, including textbooks, primers, and other educa-
tional materials, basic climate change principles and concepts.”
In response, DepEd issued a standing order (DepEd Order 82 series of 2010)
entitled “Reiteration of Related Implementing Guidelines on Climate Change
Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at the School Levels,”
directing schools to revitalize the various programs and projects on DRR and
CCA (Reyes 2011). Various memoranda have also been released to support such
standing order, such as DepEd Memo 276 series of 2010 which orders the integra-
tion of CCA and DRR with Environmental Education into elementary and high
school curricula. A memorandum was also issued to all accredited publishers of
educational materials to authorize them to publish approved instructional materials
on DRR and CCA.
College-level and graduate school-level subjects that deal with certain aspects of
disasters and disaster management are offered in a few universities such as the
tertiary degree course in Disaster Risk Management in Camarines State Agricul-
tural College and as an area of concentration for a masteral degree in Public
Management in Bicol University (NDCC 2009). Starting from academic year
2008–2009, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) has been
offering its ladderized Master of Science in Disaster Risk Management (this
means that half-way through the program the students can earn a graduate diploma)
(Binoya et al. 2010). With the enactment of Republic Act 9729 and Republic Act
9512 (National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008), CBSUA
intends to integrate CCA concerns into the existing program and come out with a
Master of Science in DRM and CCA program.
Integration of CCE into the school curriculum is one of the activities under the
Knowledge and Capacity Development strategic priority in the NCCAP (Fig. 4.1).
Preparation of elementary and high school textbooks, college courses, and training
of teachers in CCE are expected to be done from 2011 to 2016 (Fig. 4.2).
Many government officials noted the convenience and utility of linking school-
based climate change initiatives to existing environmental agendas. DepEd has
been doing work in environmental protection, biodiversity, road safety, peace
education, and disaster risk reduction for more than 10 years now, and its strategy
is not to set up new initiatives on climate change, but to use the existing language of
Environmental Education. There is also recognition by the DRR and climate
change communities that climate change and disaster risk reduction are “closely
interrelated and effective DRR will enhance climate change adaptive capacity” and
thus “the State shall integrate disaster risk reduction into climate change programs
4 Climate Change Education: Recent Trends and Future Prospects 57

Fig. 4.1 Strategic Actions on Knowledge and Capacity Development from 2011 to 2028
(CCC 2011)

and initiatives” (OCD 2011). Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding has been

signed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC) and the Climate Change Commission (CCC) to forge formal institu-
tional ties and “strengthen, integrate, consolidate and institutionalize government
initiatives to achieve coordination in the implementation of plans and programs to
address climate change in the context of sustainable development.”

4.2.1.2 Nonformal Climate Change Education

There are also CCE initiatives beyond the formal school curriculum. With the
passage of the Climate Change Act of 2009, the National Economic Development
Authority (NEDA) is developing training modules for cities, municipalities, and
provinces to enhance capacity to develop, manage, and administer climate change
programs. In fact, a Climate Change Academy is in the works to ensure sustain-
ability of climate change-related IEC efforts (UNISDR AP 2011; OCD 2011).
In Bulacan province, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronom-
ical Services Administration (PAGASA) has partnered with DepEd in training and
mobilizing students in the task of monitoring precipitation through the use of
PAGASA-supplied rain gauges in a project called SHINE (School-based Hydro-
meteorological Information Network). The students (members of science clubs in
58 G. Fernandez et al.

Fig. 4.2 Knowledge and Capacity Development output indicators and target dates (CCC 2011)

nine Bulacan public high schools) report or feed the information collected to a flood
warning system that PAGASA has put in place in upland, riverine, and lowland
communities at risk of inundation especially during typhoons when excess water is
released from the Angat Reservoir, a huge multipurpose dam located in a moun-
tainous section of the province. The SHINE project which started in 2008 was vital
in facilitating quick decision-making for evacuation by communities at risk of
flooding at the height of Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) in September 2009. SHINE is
one of initiatives selected as good practice under an 18-month joint Oxfam-AusAid
documentation project that begun in June 2009 (Oxfam 2010).
Under the Climate Change Act of 2009, local governments are entrusted with the
responsibility to take a leadership role in educating citizens in climate change
mitigation and adaption as well as in measures aimed at protecting communities
against other various environmental risks (Ofreneo 2010). Given the number of
local government units across the country, this is expected to be a massive under-
taking for providers of climate change education.
4 Climate Change Education: Recent Trends and Future Prospects 59

4.2.1.3 Teacher Training in Climate Change Education

Providing skills to teachers for the effective delivery of CCE curriculum involves a
combination of training in CCA and DRR content and training in facilitation of
active forms of learning. However, thus far such training has taken place in the
Philippines as a one-off event with no follow-up or teacher aftercare (Selby and
Kagawa 2012).
At the regional level, “Integrating Climate Change Issues in Southeast Asian
Schools Teacher’s Guidebook” is an initiative by the Southeast Asian Ministers of
Education Organization (SEAMEO) to provide teachers with useful initial
resources to facilitate the capacity building of young people on the issues (Abdullah
2010). This guidebook, which covers a range of related climate change concerns
such as poverty, health and nutrition, and food security, would be particularly
helpful to assist teachers to prepare students in experiencing and dealing with the
effects of climate change. At the moment, there is no available information on how
the lesson exemplars in the guidebook have been used by teachers in the Philippines
and in other ASEAN-member states.
Teachers must be equipped with knowledge, skills and attitude on the basic
concepts of Education for Sustainable Development, Environmental Education,
Climate Change Education, and DRR Education. Teachers have pivotal responsi-
bility to make their learners aware of the nature of every disaster, their impacts on
health, agriculture, and fishery and on society at large. At the earliest age possible,
young people must become aware and should be prepared to cope with these at all
times. If pre-service education can adequately prepare all would-be teachers to
teach the concepts, this will mean tremendous savings in-service training cost
(UNESCO Jakarta 2011).

4.2.1.4 Potentials of Climate Change Education in the Philippines

In a resource manual prepared by UNICEF in 2012 entitled “Climate Change

Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Education Sector,” five mechanisms
of support are identified that can help build an enabling environment for CCE in the
Philippines to be successful. First, strong local leadership is needed in pursuing
school-based initiatives to tackle climate change. This is especially true given the
highly decentralized nature of the Government of the Philippines. It is crucial to
first demonstrate effectiveness on a small scale and only then advocate at the policy
level. The cultivation of leadership through training and sharing of knowledge and
best practice is needed to promote successful initiatives at the subnational level.
The most effective local champions may be politicians, since they control budgets,
but others—for example, professors, other prominent members of civil society, or
even passionate students—could also fill this role.
Second, school support networks are necessary. Schools lack the resources to
implement climate change initiatives on their own. Thus, partnerships and sponsors
60 G. Fernandez et al.

are needed to sustain such projects. For example, DepEd established an Adopt a
School program in which private sector companies, NGOs, and civil society
organizations partner with public schools to provide support, including facilities,
infrastructure, textbooks, computers and other electronics, science laboratory
equipment, teaching and skill development. A broader range of partners and
networks were identified to sustain climate change-related endeavors; these
included emergency forces such as the fire department and military officers to
train students in disaster management, utility companies to promote public educa-
tion on energy and water reduction strategies, and NGOs to provide environmental
and community organizing expertise. National efforts were ineffective without
local support or community-based initiatives. In order to ensure a broad and diverse
base of resources and input, school officials should reach out to local emergency
agencies, government committees, service organizations, parent-teacher associa-
tions and businesses to support their climate change activities. An earlier DepEd
program, Child Friendly Schools (CFS), should be used as models because the
holistic approach draws support from a variety of sectors, NGOs and community-
based organizations. The main challenge of this strategy is developing productive
relationships while avoiding fragmentation and duplication. But school support
networks should also not detract from government obligations. Brainstorming
strategies to find complementary activities and avoid this potential dilemma should
be conducted in the early stages of planning processes.
Third, primary and secondary schools should develop partnerships with tertiary
schools. For example, currently Albay Province is jointly piloting a climate change
study with the College of Forestry and Natural Resources of the University of the
Philippines and the University of the Sunshine Coast of Australia. DepEd also
harnesses the resources of various universities to support primary and secondary
school teacher training, with an emphasis on child-centered approaches and the
inclusion of a climate change curriculum. There is a general understanding that
more can be done to take advantage of the financial and human capital of tertiary
schools to support child-centered climate change initiatives. Tertiary schools can
also tap elementary and high school students as research data collectors or actual
subjects. Government coordination and the provision of grants could be used as
incentives to strengthen partnerships.
Fourth, the potential of using new media should be explored. The Internet and
mobile phones are popular in the Philippines and especially utilized by children.
The number of Internet users in the Philippines rose 1,100 % from 2000 to 2009,
reaching 25 % of the population. The country is also one of the most prolific text
messaging centers of the world. Even in poor rural areas, it is not unusual to observe
people using cell phones, and the majority of students have some means of access to
a mobile phone. The use of new media to implement climate change programming
depends on the infrastructure and resources of local communities and schools, as
well as on children’s access to such devices as mobile phones and computers. In
areas where technology is scarce, schools and governments should partner with
private corporations or seek charitable donations. For example, in 2007 Manila
Observatory’s Klima Climate Change Center partnered with PAGASA, DepEd, and
4 Climate Change Education: Recent Trends and Future Prospects 61

Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) on Project Rain Gauge, which introduced

rain gauge data collection and education in the context of climate change monitor-
ing and disaster risk management. Children were taught how to collect and gauge
rainfall in an effort to advance their environmental education and ensure their
participation in disaster risk reduction. SMART donated mobile phones to support
data collection in 44 schools.
Fifth, a cross-sectoral approach should be used. Climate change is not an issue
confined to one specific sector, so addressing it effectively requires inputs from a
wide variety of stakeholders. For example, links between health and education can
lead to mutually beneficial outcomes for both sectors. In 2007, the Philippines
Education Cluster was created as the primary mechanism for inter-agency coordi-
nation for emergency preparedness, strategy planning and relief. The cluster is led
by UNICEF and Save the Children, both of which support the DepEd. The cluster
helps appoint contacts, divide the work and prevent overlap, and it has been the
entry point for school-based climate change activities. While cooperation between
government agencies dealing with health, the environment, education and emer-
gencies is particularly relevant for national policy coordination, NGOs must also
have a strong cluster presence. Such organizations often have the capabilities to pull
in resources beyond the reach of government. They may also have a better under-
standing of what is needed at the local level or on the ground. Because this strategy
comes with transaction costs and coordination obstacles, appointing an efficient
coordinator is crucial.

4.2.1.5 Challenges to Climate Change Education in the Philippines

Among Asia’s developing countries, the Philippines is considered relatively

advanced in terms of legislation related to various environmental challenges such
as reforestation, biodiversity conservation, air and water quality regulation, solid
waste management, renewable energy development, natural disasters, and adoption
of mitigation and adaptation measures related to climate change. However, there is
a wide gap between the enactment of laws and the enforcement of the laws
(Strietska-Ilina et al. 2011).
Given the cross-sectoral approach to tackling climate change and disasters, there
is an urgent need to pursue coordination mechanisms among various actors. The
challenge is to harmonize different plans and initiatives under a strategic frame-
work which integrates CCA, DRR, and other related initiatives (OCD 2011).
DepEd recognizes the need to set-up a monitoring and evaluation system of its
programs and projects in order to improve them (OCD 2011). However, resource
constraints such as budget and lack of dedicated staff to work on mainstreaming
DRR and CCA into the curriculum are barriers to this. Further, personnel handling
DRR and CCA are borrowed from different offices in the department, who have
their regular workload. Hence, mainstreaming programs may suffer from lack of
focus and permanency of personnel. The sustainability of capacity building and
training programs also has to be ensured.
62 G. Fernandez et al.

In terms of livelihood, there is no coherent national skills program responding to

climate change and environmental degradation (Strietska-Ilina et al. 2011). It is fair
to state that restructuring of a green Philippine economy is still at its incipient stage.
The green economic shift requires the alignment of education, skills development
and training with the labor requirements of green and greener industries. Additional
strategies are necessary for environmental conservation and for communities that
are vulnerable to climate change risks. DepEd, especially in its K to 12 program,
and the Climate Change Commission should include anticipation of these kinds of
skills changes as part of the national action planning on climate change.
The list of climate change education initiatives presented above is admittedly not
comprehensive, as information is highly fragmented, an indication of an overall
coordination issue among numerous actors like DepEd, CCC, NDRRMC, etc. Nev-
ertheless, with a very conducive enabling environment in terms of legal and policy
bases and institutional frameworks at the national, regional, and local level, the
outlook for climate change education in the Philippines is promising. Strengthening
the capacities of schools and teachers should be the next immediate step in order to
put all these policies and plans into practice and eventually result to less vulnerabil-
ities and more resilience to climate-related disasters. While progress so far has been
slow, we can expect more outputs in the next few years when the comprehensive K to
12 Basic Education Program is already in full swing and all the other pieces in the
education jigsaw puzzle have already been placed in their proper position.

4.2.2 Climate Change Education in Vietnam

The economy of Vietnam grew at an annual rate of around 7 % from 2000 to 2005,
making Vietnam one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Growth remained
strong even in the face of the late-2000s global recession, holding at 6.8 % in 2010.
According to an estimation of the International Monetary Fund, Vietnam’s nominal
GDP reached USD 135.4 billion, with a nominal GDP per capita of USD 1,498
in 2012.
However, these socioeconomic achievements are threatened by the impact of
climate change in Vietnam. In 2007, an assessment by the World Bank listed
Vietnam as one of the five countries in the world potentially most affected by
climate change because much of its population, infrastructure, and economic
production are located in coastal low-lands and deltas (GFDRR 2013). As defined
in the Second National Communication on Climate Change submitted to UNFCCC,
Vietnam is “particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate changes”
(MONRE 2010). According to the Climate Change Scenario developed by the
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) in 2009, the average
annual increase in temperature, changes of rainfall, sea level rise, and saline water
intrusion are examples of climate change-induced stresses that will cause vast
damages in Vietnam. Over the past 50 years (1951–2000), average temperature
has increased about 0.5–0.7  C. Annual temperature average over the past four
4 Climate Change Education: Recent Trends and Future Prospects 63

decades (from 1961 to 2000) is higher than the annual average temperature of the
previous three decades. In all regions, changes in average rainfall in the past nine
decades (from 1911 to 2000) are not uniform. There have been periods of increased
rainfall and periods of reduced precipitation. According to monitored data of the
least 50 years, sea level has risen about 20 cm. These scenarios indicated that
climate would significantly change over all regions of Vietnam. By the end of the
twenty-first century, average temperature in Vietnam is expected to increase about
2.3  C; total annual rainfall and rainy season’s rainfall would increase while dry
season’s rainfall would decrease; sea level is expected to rise about 75 cm com-
pared to the average for 1980–1999 (MONRE 2009). This set the initial orientation
for the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) to assess the possible impacts
of climate change on the education sector and to develop and implement action to
adapt and minimize the potential impacts of climate change in the future.
MOET (2011) reported that the education sector is one of the most vulnerable to
climate change as it covers a large number of people, accounting for nearly one
quarter of the country’s population. The impacts of climate change on the education
system vary from physical damage to infrastructure, economic losses, direct
impacts to human lives and health or indirect effect to educational quality. Some
parts of the central provinces, floods cause students to leave school for a month,
badly disrupting the process of teaching and learning.
Aware that children will be the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change
and natural disasters, MOET has gone far ahead than institutional commitment and
yielded good results from some programs and projects from the primary level
(“Education project for poor primary school children”), to the secondary level
(“Project to bring secondary school to the remote areas”), and even to higher
level (“Bring educational programs on marine meteorology and hydrology into
many universities and other communication activities”). Another education project
on energy savings and efficiency has been implemented as effort of education sector
in combating climate change. Besides, MOET has developed an action plan for the
education sector response to climate change from 2011 to 2015 with a project
focusing on the integration of climate change into the national curriculum. Follow-
ing this, the instruction document for management and direction of the sector
related to climate change and a number of programs have been set up to compile
teaching content related to climate change in schools. In March 2011, MOET held a
workshop on “Sharing experiences and strengthening cooperation on climate
change education” as an initiative to implement the action plan of the education
sector response to climate change.
In addition, there are about 50 on-going projects on CCE being carried out by
international organizations, NGOs, private sector actors, university, media, and
others (Live & Learn, Plan Vietnam and Australian AID, 2013). The main topics
of these projects and programs are the provision of basic knowledge on climate
change, sustainable use of energy or renewable energy, resource management,
sustainable consumption and production. The approaches being used are mainly
integration of climate change into the curriculum and extra-curricular activities
such as knowledge contests, clubs, forums, participatory films, photo voices, etc.
64 G. Fernandez et al.

4.2.2.1 National Target Program in Response to Climate

Change (NTP-RCC)

In the last 10 years, there have been approximately 300 projects related to climate
change in Vietnam by about 70 organizations which had been carried out, are being
implemented, or are in the planning stages. In 2008, the Government took an
important step forward with the important decision to start the National Target
Program in Response to Climate Change (NTP-RCC). This gives implementation
instructions, indicates the objectives to be achieved, and identifies the tasks that
need to be planned and implemented in all sectors and localities following the
principle of sustainable development. It also stresses that investment in response to
climate change is an important factor to ensure sustainable development. Princi-
pally, the implementation of NTP-RCC at all levels must be in compliance to the
State’s direction, policy, and legal system and must protect sustainable develop-
ment of the country. Its general objectives are to assess climate change impacts on
sectors and regions in specific periods and to develop feasible action plans to
effectively respond to climate change in the short-term and long-term to ensure
the sustainable development of Vietnam.
Currently, NTP-RCC is the strategic framework for all activities dealing with
climate change in Vietnam. It has four overall goals and eight specific objectives, of
which four objectives relate to education and training: (1) to promote scientific and
technological activities to establish the scientific and practical basis for climate
change response measures; (2) to enhance public awareness, responsibility and
participation; and develop human resources to respond to climate change; (3) to
mainstream climate change issues into socio-economic, sectoral and local devel-
opment strategies, plans and planning; and (4) to develop and implement action
plans of all ministries, sectors, and localities to respond to climate change. For each
of these, the role of the education sector is clearly defined with a number of tasks
and solutions to be targeted by 2010 and 2015.
As defined in NTP-RCC, responding to climate change is the duty of the entire
society and should be implemented with consensus and determination, at all levels:
local, regional, national, to global. The task of responding to climate change must
be reflected in the strategies, programs, planning and development plans of sectors
and localities, been institutionalized in the legal documents and be consistent
thoroughly in implementation. Accordingly, all ministries, including MOET has
developed action plans to respond to climate change. Also, NTP-RCC has set for
the education sector the mission to strengthen propaganda and education and raise
awareness and social responsibility on climate change, promoting human resource
development. Particularly, the introduction of knowledge on response to climate
change in the national education system is recognized as an indispensable compo-
nent of NTP-RCC. This creates a strong basis for the development and implemen-
tation of the project “Integration of climate change response contents into education
and training programs 2011–2015.”
To organize the implementation of NTP-RCC, MOET is appointed as one of the
members of the Executive Board to lead the project “Develop education and
4 Climate Change Education: Recent Trends and Future Prospects 65

training programs on climate change in school curricula” in cooperation MONRE

and to support the Ministry of Information and Communication (MOIC) in
establishing thematic channels on public media (newspaper, radio, television,
Internet) for climate change information exchange.
In August 2012, the Prime Minister approved the National Target Program to
Respond to Climate Change in the period 2012–2015. It highlights the CCE
approach in formal and non-formal education. One of its main components is to
disseminate the basic knowledge about climate change, the impacts of climate
change for the vast majority of public employees, 75 % of students, and 50 % of
the communities.

4.2.2.2 National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS)

In 2011, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2139 approving the National
Climate Change Strategy (NCCS), which again emphasizes the inter-linkages
between climate change and sustainable development by stating that responding
to climate change must be associated with sustainable development. It also
acknowledges the role of the education sector in mitigating the impacts of climate
change and contributing to sustainable development in Vietnam. One of the key
objectives of NCCS is strengthening human and natural system resilience to climate
change. Developing community capacity and scientific and technological basis to
respond to climate change are defined as two important strategic tasks that are
related to the education sector. The roles of education in enhancing community
capacity to respond to climate change are clearly defined as to raise awareness and
engagement of governmental officers and communities in climate change issues; to
develop suitable approaches to disseminate climate change information to different
communities using a variety of media; to disseminate the impacts, risks and
opportunities of climate change to people, especially in the vital areas; to bring
climate change sciences into educational programs and develop human resources in
the relevant fields to climate change adaptation and GHG emission reduction; to
raise community awareness and involvement in preventive and recovery activities
to disaster, promote a climate-friendly way of life and behavior for communities
and encourage people to adopt climate change response activities. These tasks
support and complement the tasks of the education sector as defined in
NTP-RCC, especially the integration of climate change issues into education and
training programs.

4.2.2.3 Action Plan of Education Sector Response to Climate

Change from 2011 to 2015

In 2010, the Action Plan of Education Sector Response to Climate Change from
2011 to 2015 was approved by MOET and followed by the formulation of the
project “Integration of climate change response contents into education and training
66 G. Fernandez et al.

programs in the period 2011–2015.” The general objectives of the action plan are
raising awareness, the ability to cope with climate change of the education sector in
each specific period to ensure educational sustainable development, preventing and
mitigating the threat of climate change, and contributing proactively to the imple-
mentation of NTP-RCC. Specific objectives include: (1) raising awareness of
managers, teachers, researchers, and students on the reality of global, regional,
and domestic climate change; (2) assessing the impact of climate change on the
education sector, in different regions on the basis of National Climate Change
scenario; (3) proposing guidelines and developing educational policies to cope with
climate change; (4) integrating corresponding activities of the Action Plan into the
development plans on education and training; (5) consolidating and strengthening
institutional capacity to direct, administer, and implement action plans to respond to
climate change; and (6) developing plans for training, scientific research, interna-
tional cooperation, and human resource development to respond to climate change.
For each of specific objective, a number of tasks and solutions are defined with
set targets, time frame, funding, and indicators for evaluation. Both structural and
non-structural measures are taken into account as approaches to promote CCE.
Structural components include the development of climate-proof school models in
the affected regions and improvement of school equipment and learning tools for
CCE. Non-structural approaches focus on improving the governance capacity and
implementation ability and the inclusion of information on climate change in the
national education system.

4.2.2.4 “Integration of Climate Change Response Contents

into Education and Training Programs in the Period
2011–2015” Project

The inclusion of climate change issues in education and training programs has been
stressed in NTP-RCC, which is reflected as one main component of the action plan
of the education sector response to climate change. The project sets a number of
specific targets to be achieved by 2015: (1) 80 % of leaders, managers, teachers, and
lecturers in education sector will have raised awareness on climate change and
climate change response; (2) 100 % of teachers and lecturers will be trained on
climate change and climate change response; (3) 100 % of curricula, textbooks, and
reference materials for teaching and learning on climate change and climate change
response will be developed, endorsed, and distributed to schools; and (4) 100 % of
students will be educated on climate change and climate change response.
The main approach for incorporating climate change contents into education and
training is top-down approach whereby MOET will be mainly responsible for the
review and evaluation to include and expand the existing educational programs
related to climate change issues. Aside from this, activities to raise awareness and
develop skills for educational managers, teachers, and lecturers will be carried out
to enhance capacity in adopting new educational programs.
4 Climate Change Education: Recent Trends and Future Prospects 67

For early childhood education, there will be books for teachers (including
guidebooks on climate change response for infant education programs, collection
of poems, songs, games on CCE) and books for kids (including comic books for
kids to recognize right and wrong actions related to CCE, and drawing books to
help kids get to know climate change and climate change impacts).
For primary and secondary education, the integrated approach will be conducted
in both curricular and extra-curricular activities. Particularly, specific carrier sub-
jects have been assigned for each grade of education. For example, in grades 1, 2,
and 3, climate change contents will be integrated into Science and Social Studies,
Art, and Ethics and in grades 4 and 5 into Science, History, Geography, Art, and
Ethics.
For higher education and TVET, there will be special textbooks dedicated only
for teaching and learning about climate change issues.
For continuing learning centers and community learning centers, there will be
special books or manuals on climate change response.

4.2.2.5 Challenges and Recommendations

Despite the fact that Vietnam has built a strong institutional basis and framework
for the promotion of ESD and CCE, there are challenges which were not clearly
addressed in the existing policies: (1) research-informed or evidence-based
approach; (2) concrete guideline on the integration of relevant contents; and
(3) mechanism for implementation. The following discussion provides support for
this argument.
Firstly, it is observed that there is a gap between set targets and the current
capacity of the education sector. This is partially due to the fact that the policy
framework of ESD and CCE was built on a weak foundation that was not research-
informed or evidence-based. Especially for CCE policy, in order to be credible, it is
important to carry out further studies of current climate change issues apart from the
scenarios of climate change and sea level rise in Vietnam. In addition, intensive
research and more information sources are needed for better understanding of
education quality and capacity assessment to provide policy-makers with adequate
evidence to develop appropriate long-term strategies. Without being informed by
concrete research, the existing policy framework on ESD and CCE is unlikely to be
able to achieve the set targets in responding to climate change and contributing to
sustainable development.
Secondly, the separate inclusion of issues on sustainable development, climate
change, energy, and disaster risk reduction into the national curriculum system is a
risk. At first, including such a huge volume of knowledge has the potential to harm
the curriculum and impact negatively to training activities and burden the students.
Also, as the education system in Vietnam has a national curriculum system, the
integration which targets only a number of vulnerable groups of people will have
effect on nearly 15 million students in public schools. Therefore, mainstreaming
sustainable development and climate change issues into education and training
68 G. Fernandez et al.

should be flexible and school-based whereby the centrally developed approach is an

option. It allows the identification of core messages, key concepts, key knowledge
and, especially, key competencies and skills to be built into the curriculum at the
central level. On the other hand, planning and implementing further steps are laid
out deliberately, based on experience and evaluation at the local level.
Furthermore, the multi-dimensional content of ESD and CCE remains one of the
barriers in selecting and smoothly integrating them into existing curricula in
Vietnam. Especially for CCE, there is little mention on updating, integration, and
combination of knowledge in CCE in relevant subjects and textbooks with close
coordination with educational contents such as ‘Environment,’ ‘Life skills,’ ‘Con-
trol of accidental injuries,’ ‘Disaster risk reduction,’ ‘Minimum standards on
education in emergencies’ as well as ‘Psychological support to children in educa-
tion during emergencies’ to avoid overlap with other courses and overload the
students. Therefore, concrete guidelines on ESD and CCE as a tool for teaching and
learning are needed.
Thirdly, there is a lack of mechanism for implementation, division of work and
responsibilities, as well as the establishment of the committee responsible for
leading and coordinating the implementing units both at the national and local
levels. At the central level, there is a lack of mechanism for collaboration between
MOET and other ministries as well the relevant units under the MOET itself. This
has the potential to erode the steering capacity of the MOET to carry out activities
to attain the set goals. At the local level, the top-down centrally-based approach has
prevented the participatory engagement of local departments of education as well as
the involvement of educators, teachers, students, and communities. The role of
local department of education has not been reflected in the central action plan.
However, it is clear that without decentralized supportive measures, national
policies will not easily result in changes in instructional practices. Therefore, it is
necessary to develop supportive structures and guidelines and to stress the respon-
sibilities of local education departments to translate these guidelines to educational
plan at the local level.

4.3 ESD, CCE, and DRR Education

At the UNESCO International Seminar on Climate Change Education in July 2009

in Paris, there was a general agreement of the urgent need for climate change
education (UNESCO 2009). UNESCO is promoting climate change education
within the overall context of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
(UNESCO 2013), to help learners develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to
make informed decisions and to act upon these decisions. In addition, closer
alignment of CCE with disaster risk reduction (DRR) education contributes to
safeguarding development gains and building resilience in countries vulnerable to
the negative impacts of climate change (UNESCO 2013).
4 Climate Change Education: Recent Trends and Future Prospects 69

In the Philippines, the main topics addressed under ESD include climate change,
DRR, indigenous knowledge, and national plans for sustainable development
(Didham and Ofei-Manu 2012). For the Philippine programs on ESD, CCE, and
DRR education to move forward in a truly harmonized fashion, a steering group or
an interagency consultative group has been suggested to be constituted (UNESCO
Jakarta 2011). It should be composed of representatives from the DepEd, Commis-
sion on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA), CCC, NDRRMC, Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), UNESCO
National Commission, civil society, and the private sector. The steering group
should then plot the linkages between the national ESD, DRR, CCA, and other
relevant frameworks, goals, targets, and indicators for the approval of and with the
support of high-level officials from relevant line departments, from the civil
society, and from the private sector.
Developing countries like the Philippines, which are still grappling with their
sustainable human development concerns, have to increasingly deal with the
looming realities of climate change and disaster impacts. The Philippines is there-
fore implementing an integrated approach to systematically factor disaster and
climate change risks into all national and local development planning, program-
ming, and relevant regulatory processes. CCE, together with ESD and DRR edu-
cation, is in the heart of these initiatives.
In Vietnam, at ministerial level, policies on ESD and CCE have also been
introduced in order to keep driving further efforts aimed at improving the capacity
of the education sector to handle climate change and sustainable development. The
education sector is considered as one of the priority areas for investment to achieve
an important goal for Vietnam’s socio-economic development in the coming years:
lay the foundation for accelerating industrialization, modernization, and develop-
ment of the knowledge economy, i.e., to continuously increase the knowledge
content in all socioeconomic development activities and to bring about fundamental
changes in education and training. Currently, there is an on-going process of
developing institutions and policies on ESD and CCE which covers central to
local levels. The Education Strategy 2001–2010 has been finished. Practical edu-
cational development of the country has confirmed the correct direction of the
strategy but has also shown that there should be additional adjustments in the
context of global climate change and sustainable development. The Education
Development Strategy for 2009–2020 has been continued to make the more impor-
tant transition of education over the next decade, the decade of information
technology and education for sustainable development and climate change. This
has set a foundation for the integration of climate change and sustainable develop-
ment issues into the educational policies such as the National Target Program of
Education and Training in the period 2012–2015, the Action plan of Education
Sector in the period of 2011–2016, and the National Strategies on Educational
Development in the period of 2011–2020.
The formulation of the National Action Plan of Education for Sustainable
Development of Vietnam (2010), the establishment of Committee Board of
70 G. Fernandez et al.

Fig. 4.3 National policy framework of ESD, CCE, and DRR Education

Education Sector responding to climate change in the period of 2009–2015 (2008),

the Action Plan of Education Sector Response to Climate Change from 2011 to
2015 (2010), and the project “Integration of climate change response contents into
education and training programs” in the period 2011–2015 (2010) are the most
important progress in the promotion of ESD and CCE in Vietnam (Fig. 4.3).
A review of ESD and CCE policies and initiatives in Vietnam indicates that
these two systems are supportive and complementary. One of the main goals of
CCE is to contribute proactively to the implementation of NTP-RCC whereby
ensuring sustainable development is a crucial factor. In addition, both documents
on ESD and CCE are oriented toward the promotion of prescriptive learning at the
same time empower students’ role in responding to climate change and contributing
to the goals of sustainable development. The inclusion of issues on sustainable
development and climate change is considered as fundamental initiative in
approaching ESD and CCE. Accordingly, the advance of curricular and extra-
curricular activities, textbooks, reference materials, and tools for teaching and
learning in ESD and CCE is employed at all levels from pre-school through higher
education, science education, and technical and vocational training using diverse
types of education from formal, informal, and non-formal education. Aside from
this, building capacity for educational staff, educators, teachers, and lectures is
considered as an indispensable part of the ESD and CCE polices. The role of
science and technology education which is highlighted in larger national policies
4 Climate Change Education: Recent Trends and Future Prospects 71

as one main target “to promote scientific and technological activities to establish the
scientific and practical basis for climate change response measures” has been
comprehensively reflected in educational policies, especially in CCE policies. All
of these create a platform to open up the possibility of simultaneous application of
ESD and CCE within and across all or most types of education. However, the issues
of how these two complex concepts can be joined together in a holistic and
integrated framework remains as question.

4.4 Future Directions of Climate Change Education

Simply teaching the science of climate change is often insufficient to change

attitudes and behavior (Dickinson et al. 2013; Grajal and Goldman 2012; Cordero
et al. 2008). Introduction of new educational inputs (e.g., curricula, textbooks,
training programs, etc.) will likely not result in significant individual and systemic
change (Bangay and Blum 2010). An important general principle of learning is that
people build up what they know and understand through direct, personal experi-
ences and formal, non-formal, and informal educational experiences (Grajal and
Goldman 2012). Effective climate change education should emphasize the com-
pelling personal connection between the student and climate change using active
learning methods as a means of engaging the student and encouraging interest in
taking personal action (Cordero et al. 2008). One method of active learning is
problem-based learning (PBL), which requires students to focus on problem anal-
ysis, knowledge application, and cooperative work around relevant issues
(McCright et al. 2013). To be successful, CCE will have to form cognitive bridges
between learners’ prior experiences and objects to which they are attached, as well
as using physical analogies that allow them to imagine the consequences in the
future if climate change continues (Dickinson et al. 2013). If we want to establish a
new behavior, we have to practice it until it becomes a habit (Kollmuss and
Agyeman 2002).
Formal and non-formal educational approaches should be used together to
provide rich, in-depth learning (Grajal and Goldman 2012). In order to address
the complex climate change problem, CCE curricula should be informed by dia-
logue between the academe and those most likely to be affected by the impacts of
climate change, in a transdisciplinary approach (McGregor 2010). Out-of-school
settings for climate change education, like zoos and aquariums (Grajal and
Goldman 2012); botanical gardens (Sellmann and Bogner 2013); TV weather
reports, news media coverage, and Internet use (Zhao et al. 2014); citizen science
(Dickinson et al. 2013); etc. should be explored and utilized. By providing several
avenues for CCE, we might be able to “engage learners in openly debating and
discussing the roots, personal meanings, and societal implications of climate
change scenarios and what needs to be done and achieved” (Kagawa and Selby
2009).
72 G. Fernandez et al.

The effort needed for comprehensive climate change education is far greater
than any one education sector actor can handle. Recognizing a need to synergisti-
cally combine efforts, there is a necessity for a collaborative community to work
together and coordinate actions toward a successful CCE initiative. Resources must
be shared, and communication among various members of the emerging CCE
community should be facilitated.

Acknowledgement We thank the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technol-
ogy (MEXT) of Japan for the generous scholarship grant that made it possible for the first and
second authors to pursue their PhD degree at Kyoto University. We also acknowledge the financial
support for the first and second authors’ fieldwork from the Global Center of Excellence Program
on Sustainability/Survivability Science for a Resilient Society Adaptable to Extreme Weather
Conditions (GCOE-ARS) of Kyoto University. We are likewise grateful to UNESCO for the
opportunity to contribute in the development of policy guidelines on Climate Change Education
through the preparation of the national reports on the status of CCE in the Philippines and
Vietnam.

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Chapter 5
Disaster-Affected Schools and School
Districts After the East Japan Earthquake
and Tsunami: Issues for Recovery Education

Tomonori Ichinose

Abstract During the period after the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, which
occurred on March 11, 2011, many schools produced and submitted records of the
earthquake and their recovery process. The purpose of this paper is, based on the
records of the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, to present universal information
for local disaster prevention.
First, this paper categorically summarizes the information gathered immediately
after the quake and the tsunami. Next, this paper describes the status of the schools’
restructuring 3 years after the disaster.
These schools are separated into three types: Schools directly affected by the
disaster and therefore isolated, schools located between the affected and safe areas,
and schools located in the safe zone but near the affected area. Although the third
type of school had no damage, these schools acted as relief suppliers and bases of
operation.
Schools directly affected by the disaster were later abolished. It was necessary
for the schools located between the affected and safe areas to serve as temporary
housing for a long period of time. Schools located in the safe zone near the affected
area played a core role in school recovery.
Finally, this paper introduced a new design of the disaster risk reduction drill on
the basis of the relationship between the school and local community.

Keywords Combination of schools • Disaster prevention drill • Disaster-affected

school • Education for sustainable development

T. Ichinose (*)
Miyagi University of Education, 149 Aobaku Aramaki Azaaoba, Sendai 9800845, Japan
e-mail: [email protected]

R. Shaw and Y. Oikawa (eds.), Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster 75
Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices,
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55090-7_5, © Springer Japan 2014
76 T. Ichinose

5.1 Introduction

From 2011 to 2013, the post-quake recovery has accelerated. During this period,
many schools produced and submitted earthquake and tsunami records and their
recovery processes. The records contained many pieces of information useful for
school disaster prevention and provided much information about how schools could
play a role in the local community during and after a disaster.
The purpose of this paper is to present information that is universal and useful
for local disaster prevention, focusing on the relationship between the school and
local community.
First, this paper will categorically summarize the information gathered imme-
diately after the quake and the tsunami. Next, this paper will describe the condition
of the school combination 3 years after the disaster. This paper also introduces the
new design of the disaster risk reduction drill on the basis of the relationship
between the school and local community.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology recognized
the importance of the disaster prevention function of schools by collaboration
between the school and community. For this reason, they formed steering commit-
tee concerning strengthening the issue of school disaster preparedness in collabo-
ration with the local community.
The final purpose of this paper is to describe the condition of the disaster-
affected schools and school districts after the East Japan Earthquake and derive a
plan for the recovery of education in the future.

5.2 Formation of the Disaster-Affected Schools

and School Districts

5.2.1 Condition of the Schools and School Districts

Immediately After the East Japan Earthquake
and Tsunami

Many disaster risk prevention drills for students were formed after the Hanshin
Awaji Earthquake 1995 and East Japan earthquake and tsunami 2011 in Japan.
The school disaster prevention plans and study materials provided information
about what each school and each individual should do at the time of a disaster. For
example, The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
formed the School Disaster Prevention Manual (earthquake and tsunami), the first
national manual containing a plan of East Japan for earthquakes and tsunamis.
However, it does not provide information about how the schools should work
together in taking action against disasters.
Looking back on the schools at the time of at the time of the 2011 disaster, they
contained three divisions: the ones in the middle of the flooded area, the ones on the
5 Disaster-Affected Schools and School Districts After the East Japan. . . 77

verge of the flooded area, and the ones in the hinterland. The following sections,
Category 1–Category 3, were presented at the symposium, Ichinose (2012).
Category 1: Schools Directly Damaged by the Tsunami
Category 1 contains schools to which students and local residents were evacuated as
a protection against the tsunami. However, the first and second floors of the school
buildings were submerged, and thus people became isolated.

• Although evacuation from the tsunami was announced over the commu-
nity wireless system after the earthquake, people were not able to hear
what was being said.
• Mobile telephone lines were tied up immediately after the quake and no
wireless station was available. There was no communication method to
seek assistance from police, fire stations, or the school board, so the people
became isolated.
• When the floods came, citizens witnessed tragedy firsthand. Their houses or
family members were swept away by the tide, and teachers made pain-
staking efforts to keep such dreadful scenes away from children’s eyes.
• Local residents were evacuated to the school. Relief supplies, including
blankets, emergency food, drinking water, and flashlights, were insuffi-
cient, and therefore, they were not supplied to all evacuees.
• It snowed, but no heating was available. Evacuees used newspaper and
curtains to ward off the cold.
• They had to fight against not only submerging in the water and isolation,
but also against secondary disasters, including burning, floating debris and
forest fires.
• While they were waiting for rescue, evacuees panicked in the psychology
of crowds (in fear of explosions of gas holder and electric leakage).
• The toilets could not be flushed, so establishing temporary toilets (e.g.,
using water from swimming pools) became essential.

Category 2: Schools that Became Shelters

Category 2 schools were located between a flooded area and a safe area and
accommodated many evacuees, including local residents who escaped from the
flooded area.

• A contingency planning manual states that a shelter shall be established by

persons dispatched from a city office when a disaster strikes. However, no
transportation was available, no one was dispatched to support the shelter,
and the school had to accommodate a number of evacuees on its own.
• It was difficult for school staff members to operate shelters. Whether
evacuees, themselves, (i.e. the members of local residents’ organizations,

(continued)
78 T. Ichinose

(continued)
including residents association and fire-fighting teams) could voluntarily
operate them determined the quality of the operation.
• The amount of stocked relief supplies, including blankets, emergency
food, and drinking water, was not nearly enough compared with the
number of evacuees. Whether stores and residents in the vicinity of
the school worked together to provide food, blankets, etc., also determined
the environment of the shelter.
• Because it was too cold in shelters with no heating equipment, some shelters
asked evacuees to stay in cars parked in schoolyards to ward off the cold.
• Measures to prevent the spread of infection were required when a number
of residents stayed together in school buildings.
• Mutually supportive relationships were key to the smooth operation of
shelters. Examples include the help of local residents to reestablish school
systems and the support of residents by the pupils of the junior and senior
high schools that were used as shelters.
• Accommodating all local residents included accommodating people with
mental diseases and the homeless. In addition, precautions against crime
were required.
• Some schools in the heart of a city or along railroad lines had to accom-
modate as many as 2,500 evacuees.

Category 3: Schools that Did Not Act as Shelters

Category 3 consists of schools outside the area flooded by the tsunami where no
local residents came to be sheltered.

• Some schools outside the disaster-stricken area had no damage and did
not need to provide shelter. They assumed the function of a relay point for
relief goods at first. Later, after the Self-Defense Forces had arrived, they
became lodging areas and bases of operation.
• Corpses were transported to the schools that served no other function and
were vacant, and many of them had to be used as mortuaries.

5.2.2 Model of the Formation of Local Schools

and School Districts

The schools listed above are the results gathered immediately after the earthquake
and tsunami in 2011. These experiences clarified a method for establishing corrob-
oration between schools and the community at the time of a disaster. Schools are
5 Disaster-Affected Schools and School Districts After the East Japan. . . 79

Schools located in the safety area • They acted as a relay point for relief goods.
near the affected area. • They became lodgings and bases of operation.

Schools located between the • It is difficult for school staff members to operate
shelters.
affected area and safe area that • Mutually supportive relationships are key to the
accommodated many evacuees. smooth operation of the shelter.

• Local residents were evacuated to the school.

Schools directly affected and Stocked elief supplies were insufficient.
isolated by the disaster. • People were rescued by professionals after
several hours.

Fig. 5.1 Model of school formation during a disaster

separated into three types: (1) Schools directly affected and, therefore isolated by
the disaster; (2) Schools located between the affected and safe areas; and (3) Schools
located in a safe vicinity near the affected area (Fig. 5.1). Once a natural disaster
occurs, it is necessary to acknowledge the difference of the position and the role.
For example, although the category 3-type schools experienced no damage, these
schools acted as relief suppliers and the bases of operation. After the disaster,
schools needed to contact each other immediately and ensure they are fulfilling
the role of their school.

5.3 Combination of Schools for the Recovery of Education

5.3.1 Loss of Local Community and School Districts

Several months after the disaster, many residents moved into temporary housing in
remote areas or into new houses that they chose, themselves. As a result, it became
difficult to maintain the school district and the school, itself. Some schools were
abolished because the school buildings were submerged and the surrounding
communities were lost.

5.3.2 An Example of the School Combination in Miyagi

To consider the relationship between local communities and schools during and
after a disaster, the following five areas were chosen as examples: Kesennuma City,
the mouth of the Kitakami River, the Higashimatsushima area, the Onagawa area,
and the Yamamoto town area.
The Figures (Figs. 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, and 5.7) below indicate the geographic
relationship between the areas flooded and submerged by the tsunami and local
schools.
80 T. Ichinose

Fig. 5.2 Location of Miyagi and the disaster-affected schools and school districts

Fig. 5.3 Kesennuma city (Inside the red line, submerged area)

In Kesennuma city, the local area along with the Okawa river were submerged.
Kesennuma City-run Minami Kesennuma Primary School lost its school district. As
a result, the primary school was closed and integrated into Kesennuma Primary
School located in the hinterland.
The mouth of the Kitakami River was severely is known for the devastating
damage caused by the Tsumami, many of the towns and villages along rivers were
lost their land. As a result, many schools lost their school district.
Fig. 5.4 The mouth of the Kitakami River

Fig. 5.5 The Onagawa area

Fig. 5.6 The Higashimatsushima area

82 T. Ichinose

Fig. 5.7 The Yamamoto Town area

Ishinomaki City run Hunakoshi Primary School was integrated to Ogatsu

Primary School. Aikawa Primary School and Yoshihama Primary School were
integrated into Hashiura Primary School. Hashiura Primary School changed its
name to Kitakami Primary School, and Okawa Secondary School was integrated
into Kahoku Secondary School
In the town of Onagawa, the population decreased to 23.7 % compared to the
population before the earthquake. Many local schools closed in this area. In
the Izushima area, all residents moved to another district outside Izushima after
the tsunami. As a result, one primary school and one secondary school moved to the
surrounding area of Onagawa Town. Onagawa Town-run Onagawa Daini Primary
School was incorporated into Onagawa Daiichi Primary School. Onagawa Daiyon
Primary School was integrated into Onagawa Daiichi Primary School. Onagawa
Daiichi Primary School changed its name to Onagawa Primary School. Onagawa
Daini Secondary School was integrated into Onagawa Daiichi Secondary School.
Onagawa Daiichi Secondary School changed its name to Onagawa Secondary
School.
A big part of Miyato Island was submerged and small villages were lost. Ono
Primary School and Naruse Secondary School were abolished and moved to the
hinterland along the Naruse River. Higahimatsushima City-run Ono Primary
School was integrated into Hamaichi Primary School. Hamaichi Primary School
changed its name to Maruse-Ouka Primary School. Higahimatsushima City-run
Naruse Daini Secondary School was integrated into Naruse Daiichi Secondary
School. Naruse Daiichi Secondary School changed its name to Naruse-Mirai
Secondary School.
Large parts of the lowlands were flooded. Examples include the Sendai Plain,
Natori City, and Yamamoto-Chou area. There are no hinterlands in this area.
Local residents were displaced and the schools near the seacoast were all closed.
Yamamoto Town-run Nakahama Primary School was integrated into Sakamoto
Primary school.
5 Disaster-Affected Schools and School Districts After the East Japan. . . 83

Schools located in the safety • After the disaster,they played a core role in
area near the affected area. consoridation of disaster affecteed school.

Schools located between • School buildings and school grounds were

the affected area and safety used as temorary housing for a long period
of time after the disaster.
area.

• Schools were abolished some time after

Schools directly affected and the disaster.
• School districts were obsolete, and schools
isolated by the disaster. were abolished some time after
the disaster.

Local residents moved to the safety zone

Fig. 5.8 Model of school formation after the disaster

As described above, submerged areas experienced an outflow of local residents,

causing the problem of a declining population. Most of the submerged schools lost
their school district and were integrated into schools located in the safety zone. In
the Japanese school system, considering the feelings of the students in the affected
areas, it was decided not to use the original school’s name, and instead to create a
new school name. From this information, a chart of school districts after the big
disaster can be formed (Fig. 5.8).

5.4 New Additions to the Disaster Prevention Drill

5.4.1 Example of Hashikami Junior High School,

Kesennuma

This chapter introduces the improvement of and the new challenges for the activ-
ities concerning disaster risk reduction. The following summarizes the report
(Kesennnuma Board of Education 2013).
Hashikami Junior High School was famous for the DRR before the East Japan
Earthquake. Previously, drills were carried out following the themes of “Self-
Help,” “Mutual-Help,” and “Public-Help” in three-year cycles. However, after
the East Japan Earthquake, the program was changed to three-year cycles of
“Self-Help,” “Self-Help/Mutual-Help,” and “Self-Help/Public-Help” built on the
basis of “Self-Help-protecting one’s own life first of all.”
With the cooperation of local neighborhood associations “Hashikami Junior
High School District Disaster Preparedness Promotion Committee” was newly
established and the school carried out evacuation drills jointly with neighborhoods.
84 T. Ichinose

Through primary evacuation drills conducted by neighborhood associations in

collaboration with the Hashikami Junior High School District Disaster Prepared-
ness Promotion Committee, students were able to learn how to make disaster
preparations and take action together. When the tsunami warning was issued on
December 7, 2012, students were able to take the initiative in setting up and
performing evacuations in collaboration with the local community.

5.4.2 Collaboration with the Local Community in Miyagi

The Kahoku Newspaper Company inquired about the current evacuation drills of
56 schools in Miyagi Prefecture that were affected on May 2012 (Kahoku Shinpo,
June 9, 2012).
This research revealed that out of 11 elementary schools and 3 junior high schools,
a total of 25 % of the public schools stricken by the tsunami planned a disaster drill in
corroboration with local residents. For example, at Higashimatsushima Elementary
School, the 700 number-scale, joint evacuation drill was held with local residents.
Kesennuma Oya Primary School (215 students), in which the first floor was flooded by
the tsunami, performed a joint disaster drill with a kindergarten and junior high school.
Thirty local residents living in temporary housing in the schoolyard also participated
in this drill, walking to the hinterland 15 min away from the school with Oya students.
In the Sanriku coastal area, escaping to the hill behind the school became a key
survival point. After the earthquake and tsunami in 2011, in collaboration with the
local society, maintenance on the evacuation route to the hill behind the school was
begun. Kitakami Elementary School is located in the opposite direction of Okawa
Elementary School and Okawa Secondary School, which is known for the devas-
tating damage caused by the earthquake. Out of 108 children evacuated to the
schoolyard, 70 were dead and four were missing (as of January 23, 2012). The
forest behind Kitakami Elementary School was maintained through cooperation
with the Miyagi Forest Instructor Association. The forest was maintained, the
public square was opened and the escape route for evacuees was secured. Thus,
the hill became a place of disaster reduction and disaster prevention.

5.4.3 ESD’s Contribution to Relationship-Building Between

Local Communities and Schools

The idea of the sustainable development of society proposed by the United

Nations provides important suggestions for relationship-building between local
communities and schools.
As a core institute of the Regional Centers of Expertise (RCEs) on Education for
Sustainable Development, which the United Nations University promotes, the
5 Disaster-Affected Schools and School Districts After the East Japan. . . 85

University has sought how the relationship between local communities and schools
should be formed.
In greater Sendai, the RCE was established in 2005 through the liaison of local
communities and organizations, which had made efforts to develop human
resources and local communities to create a sustainable future.
In Miygai Prefecture, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) promotion
under the UNESCO Associated School Project (ASPnet) has gained in popularity.
Currently, it has become the number one ASPnet, with 73 schools being the largest
number in Japan. A variety of ESD’s activities concerning the environment,
disaster prevention, food, traditional culture, and international understanding
were put into practice in the ASPnet member schools collaborating with local
communities (Ichinose 2011).
Many ASPnet schools in Miyagi chose DRR as their research topic. Currently,
Miyagi ASPnet schools have started to relate their experience and DRR search topic
to other ASPnet schools.
Continuation of these practices resulted in a deepened, mutual understanding
and communication among children and students, parents, community residents,
and social education facilities, such as community centers. The previously men-
tioned example of Kesennuma Hashikami Junior High School, Kesennuma Oya
Primary School, and Kitakami Elementary School were all supported by the
concept of ESD. During the earthquake, the relationship between communities
and schools played an important role in establishing and operating evacuation
centers. From the experience, local residents have gained an awareness of the
school as an imperative part of a local community.

5.5 Conclusion

In conclusion, this paper first categorically summarized the information gathered

immediately after the earthquake and the tsunami in 2011. After the disaster,
schools were able to communicate with each other and quickly create a plan for
supporting the schools and the community.
Next, this paper described the condition of the combination of schools
streamlining 3 years after the disaster. In the submerged area, the outflow of the
local population caused most of the submerged schools to lose their school district,
and they were integrated into schools located in the hinterland. From these expe-
riences, we could create a chart of the local society after the big disaster.
Schools directly affected by the disaster were abolished some time after the
disaster. Schools located between the affected and safe areas provided their grounds
as temporary housing for a long period of time. Schools located in the safe zone
near affected areas played a core role in school streaming. This paper described the
results after East Japan earthquake and tsunami 2011 and created a map of school
districts after the big disaster.
86 T. Ichinose

Third, this paper introduced a new program of the education for DRR. The
practice of Kitakami Elementary School, which was mentioned earlier, is a typical
example of disaster risk reduction in collaboration with local society and other
NPOs. They created this procedure as a result of the tragedy of Okawa Primary
School. The school and community maintained the forest behind the school and
created an escape route for evacuees, as well. Thus, the hill became a place of
disaster prevention.
Currently, with the cooperation of local neighborhood associations, a “District
Disaster Preparedness Promotion Committee” has been newly established in some
areas, and the schools have performed evacuation drills jointly with neighborhood
associations.
The concept of the sustainable development of society proposed by the
U.N. provides important suggestions for relationship-building between local com-
munities and schools. It is necessary to strengthen the ability to fight against
disasters, and contribute to the restoration of local communities through the activ-
ities of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

References

Ichinose T (2011) ESD activities of UNESCO associated school project network and cooperation
with local universities. Synergies and linkages EFA, ESD and ASPnet final report of Asia-
Pacific forum on educational cooperation: synergies and linkages of EFA, ESD and ASPnet for
sustainable Asia and the Pacific, ACCU, Tokyo, 19–21 Feb 2011, pp 296–297
Ichinose T (2012) Creating new relationship between school and local community from the lesson
of East Japan Earthquake 3.11. In: 16th UNESCO-APEID international conference, The heart
of education: learning to live together, Bangkok, 28–30 Nov 2012
Kesennnuma City Board of Education, Association of Vice Principals in Kesennuma City Schools,
Miyagi University of Education, National Federation of UNESCO Association in Japan (eds)
(2013) Towards the education of future leaders in restoration and creation following disasters.
National Federation of UNESCO Association in Japan, Tokyo, p 178, 30 September 2013
Chapter 6
Governance and Policy on ESD

Wataru Iwamoto

Abstract This Chapter traces the mechanism of promotion of Education for

Sustainable Development (hereafter “ESD”) both on the model suggested by the
International Implementation Scheme (hereafter “IIS”) and on the reality of Japan.
It is needless to say that as ESD concerns the learners at all stages of life and also
mobilizes the formal and non-formal education, it involves various factors other
than school systems and requires the new model of governance which the tradi-
tional administration of education does not fit to. The Chapter, following the
analysis of the theories of the governance in recent years, will examine the reality
of the mechanism of implementation of ESD at both governmental and local levels
and clarify the role played by NPOs. This will permit us to identify the character-
istics of the governance on ESD in Japan. Finally the possible model of the
governance after the United Nations Decade of the Education for Sustainable
Development (UNDESD, 2005–2014) will be presented.

Keywords Administration of education • ASPnet • Education for Sustainable

Development (ESD) • Governance • School systems

The article is based upon the author’s individual thought, and it does not imply the expression of
any opinion of his organizations.
W. Iwamoto (*)
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT),
Government of Japan, Tokyo, Japan
Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoicho, Inageku, Chiba, Japan
e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

R. Shaw and Y. Oikawa (eds.), Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster 87
Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices,
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55090-7_6, © Springer Japan 2014
88 W. Iwamoto

6.1 The Significance of the Governance in ESD

The nature of the governance depends on what kind of policy is required, who are
the targets of this policy and who are the providers of the policy. Here we will
clarify the characteristics of ESD from viewpoint of the governance and then will
examine what is the theoretical approach on the governance proposed recent years.

6.1.1 The Governance Issue in the Context of ESD

The plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development

adopted in September 2002 (WSSD 2002), famous for its recommendation “to the
United Nations General Assembly that it consider adopting a decade of education for
sustainable development, starting in 2005”, indicates, from the paragraph 116 to
124, various important points for ESD. Not only the linkages with the targets of the
Education for All, but also the necessity of the integration of sustainable develop-
ment into educational level at all levels as well as the importance of the provision of
a wide range of formal and non-formal continuing educational opportunities, includ-
ing volunteer community service programmes etc. are mentioned in the Plan. This
shows well a wide range of action concerning ESD. UNESCO, designated as the lead
agency for the UNDESD was tasked to prepare an international implementation
scheme by the Resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its
57th session. The International Implementation Scheme (IIS) (UNESCO 2005)
established in October 2005 explicitly mentions, as one of the objectives of the
UNDESD, “to facilitate networking, linkages, exchanges and interaction among
stakeholders in ESD” It also takes a partnership/alliance approach as responsibility
for the Decade and indicates the possible partners at all levels – subnational (local,
community), national, regional and international, and from all spheres -governmen-
tal, civil society and NGOs and private. Seven strategies are proposed by the
Scheme, and among them the two concern the governance such as Consultation
and Ownership/Partnership and Networks. (Already at preparatory stage of IIS, the
nature of multiple factors was presented by the author (Iwamoto 2003)). The respect
of the importance of the governance can be explained one part by the nature of ESD
as described above and on the other, by the recent progress of the theory of the
governance which we will examine in the next sub section.

6.1.2 The Progress of the Theoretical Approaches

of the Governance

Bevir (2012), in his compact but exhaustively informative book gave the definition of
the governance as follows: “The process and interactions through which highly diverse
social interests and actors produce the policies, practices and effects of governing”.
6 Governance and Policy on ESD 89

According to him, it is also related to the rise of new process of governing that are
hybrid and multi-jurisdictional with plural stakeholders working in networks. After
indicating various type of governance according to the type of network, he character-
izes the collaborative governance as referring to cases in which citizens play a more
active role in policy-making or service delivery. Chhotray and Stoker (2009) indicated
that the concept of governance becomes challenging with help of the twin forces which
are globalization and democratization. They define that the governance theory is about
the rules of collective decision-making in settings where there are a plurality of actors
or organizations and where no formal control system can dictate the terms of relation-
ship between the actors and organizations. Osborne (2010), after describing the Public
Administration which reigned from the eighteenth century through to the late 1970s
and the New Public Management until the start of the twenty-first century, presents the
New Public Governance, which is predicated upon the existence of a plural state and a
pluralist state. The New Public Governance is, according to him, a product of and a
response to the increasingly complex, plural and fragmented nature of public policy
implementation and service delivery in the twenty-first century. Kennett (2010)
indicates the shift from direct forms of governance to a process of governance
exercised through a plurality of actors, sites, spatial scales, and processes, with an
increasing reliance by governments on informal powers and influence rather than on
formal authority. According to Denters and Rose (2005), the transformation of the
local governance is explained by the change in a macro sense such as urbanization,
globalization and Europeanisation and by the change in a micro sense which is the
citizens’ orientations dominated by instrumental considerations concerning the per-
formances and efficiency of governments in meeting citizens’ demand.
It becomes clear that the theory of the governance nowadays reflects the exis-
tence of collective or plural actors and the complex nature of the issues.
In this context, the concept of the transparency has changed as follows: “the need
for thinking more broadly as accountability through genuine power-sharing than
‘narrowly’ as simply displaying information.” (Chhotray and Stoker 2009)
Concerning the links with the substance of the context such as environmental
issues, Defarges (2011) points out that different from the politics in a classical
sense, the governance is linked with the common interest such as sharing of wealth,
management of the planet, and he then argued that here the problem replaces the
conflict. Chhotray and Stoker (2009) point out that the environment encompasses
issues that are simultaneously local and global in characters and that the discussion
is underpinned by a fundamental paradigmatic shift from limitless and extractive
growth to sustainable development.
We can resume that the governance nowadays is different from a classical sense
of the participation of the stakeholders such as provision of the chance of consul-
tations or hearing, and it is requested to satisfy the interest of various stakeholders
who will be also the main actors of the implementation of the policy. It also seems
that the new style of the governance tends to reinforce the coordination of different
actors rather than the respect of the authority or the hierarchy since there is no single
actor who monopolyzes the power. This aspect of the governance is crucially
important in the field of the ESD which requires the involvement of multiple
90 W. Iwamoto

stakeholders in all aspects of education. Particularly, the governance plays an

important role since Disaster Risk Reduction Education whose linkage with ESD
can be explained by its nature of preparedness for the global challenges which
requires full mobilization of school education, but also all the sectors of the
community like other fields of ESD (Cheal 2010; Coppola 2011).

6.2 Governance and Policy on ESD in Japan

As country initiating the proposal on the UN Decade for Education for Sustainable
Development, Japan continuously makes effort to promote ESD in the country. This
Section will examine the policy on ESD in Japan with highlight on the governance
at the governmental and local level and the activities of NGOs.

6.2.1 ESD Policy at Governmental Level

ESD policy driven by divers Ministries is coordinated by the Cabinet of the

Japanese Government while the organ corresponding to UNESCO activities is
located as Japanese National Commission for UNESCO at the Ministry of Educa-
tion, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

6.2.1.1 Coordination by the Cabinet

The IIS elaborated by UNESCO points out the importance of the building of
national plan and inter-ministerial team. The Interministerial Meeting chaired by
the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, established in December 2005, composed of
11 ministries, including four Vice-chair Ministries which are the Cabinet Secretar-
iat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Ministry of Environment is a kind of
Japanese reply to the UNESCO’s recommendation, but the reinforcement of the
coordination function at the cabinet level also reflects the solution of Japanese
government towards the problem of the sectionalism of Japanese bureaucracy.
The Interministerial Meeting established Japan’s Action Plan for the UNDESD
in March 2006. (Interministerial Meeting on DESD 2006) The Action Plan states
the Guidelines for the implementing ESD, such as programmes leading to commu-
nity building, diverse places of education and implementing actors, integrated
approaches under various agendas, learning from participation, and communication
and collaboration between diverse actors. This represents well the nature of multi-
stakeholder for promotion of ESD.
Based on UNESCO’s mid-decade review and the Great East japan earthquake
that occurred on 11 March 2011, a new paragraph added as follows;
6 Governance and Policy on ESD 91

“The Great East Earthquake and the accident at the Nuclear electricity plants and
the shortage of electricity caused by the disaster makes many people rethink of the
image of “sustainable society” including what should be the supply and use of
electricity power. In addition, our country including the affected area will conceive
the formation of the new region and society. “Sustainable society” will be a main
pillar of the reflection on this issue.”(Translated tentatively by the author) Among
others, the publishing of the “Japan report” in 2009 and the decision on the venues
of the UNESCO World Conference on ESD were coordinated by the Cabinet. The
Cabinet Secretariat organises regularly the Round Table composed of around
fifteen representatives of different stakeholders such as NGOs, companies, local
government etc.

6.2.1.2 Japanese National Commission for UNESCO

The establishment of national commission is recommended by the UNESCO

Charter. The Japanese National Commission, an institution under the Law
concerning UNESCO activities, provides advice, plan, liaison and survey on
UNESCO activities.
Since the proclamation of the UNDESD at UN General Assembly, the National
Commission energetically deliberated the issue of ESD. Already in July 2003,
National Commission elaborated “Proposal to the UNESCO’s International Imple-
mentation Scheme on the DESD” which was highly taken into account in the IIS.
“Proposals by the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO Regarding the
Further Promotion of the UNDESD” issued in August 2007 leads to the resolution
adopted at 37th session of the General Conference of UNESCO. Further, “Proposals
regarding Effective Utilization of UNESCO Associated Schools for Promotion and
Dissemination of ESD” in February 2008 positions UNESCO Associated Schools as
base for promotion of ESD. The Commission also elaborated “the Recommendation
to the Japanese Government for Further Dissemination of ESD and Promotion of
Support to ESD”, which was sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of
Finance, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and
Minister of Environment. Inside the National Commission ESD is discussed pre-
liminary in Education Committee. To discuss the principle of the UNESCO World
Conference to be held in 2014, the Working group for the UNESCO World Confer-
ence on ESD was established in the National Commission in 2011.

6.2.1.3 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science

and Technology (MEXT)

While almost all the Ministries are involved in the promotion of ESD, I will overview
here the activities of MEXT. My limited working experience prevents me from
describing the activities of the Ministry of Environment or other Ministries, but the
collaboration between the Ministry of Environment and MEXT functions smoothly in
92 W. Iwamoto

general in the field of ESD especially in the school education. Certain ESD
programme prepared by the Ministry of Environment is undertaken at local govern-
mental stage with support of MEXT. On the other hand, the Ministry of Environment
makes good use of the outcome of research “Framework Necessary to Design and
Develop Learning Instruction Processes for Education for Sustainable Development
(ESD)” driven by the National Institute for Educational Policy Research.
As the Secretariat of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO and the
Ministry responsible for education, MEXT takes various measures for promotion of
ESD.
(1) Courses of Study and Basic Plan of the Promotion of Education
The Course of Study is the guideline for the curriculum, and almost every
10 years the revision is undergone. The revised Courses of studies for kinder-
gartens, elementary schools, junior and high schools and special schools in
2008 and 2009 include the perspective for the formation of a sustainable
society. It is to be noted that the introduction of ESD has been facilitated by
the idea of “zest for living” and “Period for integrated studies” hours which
permit the transdisciplinary learning, established in the former revision of the
Courses of studies in 2000.
The Basic Act on Education revised in 2006 requests the Government to
formulate the Basic Plan for the Promotion of Education. The first Plan
established in July 2008 by Cabinet decision mentions ESD as education for
fostering the bearer of the sustainable society and encourages the promotion of
ESD through various ways such as the increase of the UNESCO Associated
Schools. The second Plan established in June 2013 requires promotion of ESD
which echoes with the fostering of key competencies, through measures such as
quantitative and qualitative reinforcement of the UNESCO Associated Schools.
(2) UNESCO Associated Schools
UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPnet) founded in 1953, is a global network of
9,566 educational institutions which adhere to the idea of UNESCO. With
publication of “Proposals regarding Effective Utilization of UNESCO Associ-
ated Schools for Promotion and Dissemination of ESD” by Japanese National
Commission, MEXT has eagerly engaged to promote UNESCO Associated
Schools. As a result the number of the schools, 24 in 2007 dramatically
increased to 647 (as of October 2013). The concrete activities of the school
as are various from environmental education to disaster risk education, world
heritage education etc (Fig. 6.1).
To guarantee the quality of the UNESCO Associated Schools, the Japanese
National Commission for UNESCO issued “The Guidelines for UNESCO
Associated Schools” in September 2012. Taking into account the importance
of the linkage between these schools and the surrounding community, the
Guidelines emphasize the importance of the network through collaboration
with such organizations as local social education institutions and NPOs. The
Guidelines also insists upon the necessity of enhancement and utilization
various types of in-school and out-of school training.
6 Governance and Policy on ESD 93

Fig. 6.1 Transition in the number of the UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPnet)

MEXT annually organizes the Conference of the ASPnet to facilitate the

information exchanges such as sharing of good practices. The Asia-Pacific
Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) provides support to schools who apply
for ASPNet, through management of website and production of relevant edu-
cational materials.
The interuniversity network supporting the UNESCO Associated Schools
Project Network (ASPUnivNet) composed of 17 universities supports the
ASPnet (as of October, 2013).
Concerning the UNESCO Associated School in Japan, we can indicate the
following issues. At first the geographically those schools are not located with
balance. For example, at four prefectures out of forty-seven (Aomori, Nagasaki,
Miyazaki, Oita) there is no UNESCO Associated Schools which we consider the
base of promotion of ESD. On the other hand, we can also observe the case of
certain city board of education where all the elementary schools, junior secondary
schools, special needs schools, whose management is in the city’s competencies,
are the UNESCO Associated Schools such as case of the cities of Tama and Omuta.
According to Japanese National Commission‘s document a total number of the
UNESCO Associated Schools in four cities (Kanazawa, Kesennuma, Omuta,
Tama) represents 23 % of a total number of the schools of the ASPnet in Japan
(JNCU (Japanese National Commission for UNESCO) 2013a).
The other serious issue is a possible misunderstanding of the educational
world that ESD can be treated only by the UNESCO Associated Schools. This
should be solved immediately. We will examine this issue later.
(3) Joint Programme and Assistance to the various stakeholders ‘initiative
The initiatives which involve various stakeholders are undertaken.
MEXT, through Japan-UNESCO Partnership programme, organizes the
Global Citizen’s Conference on DESD with ESD-J which is a big forum of
94 W. Iwamoto

discussion with various actors of ESD, the management of the ASPUnivNet,

and the management of the UNESCO Associated Schools website together with
Asia Pacific Center for UNESCO (ACCU), etc.
On the other hand, through Official Development Assistance Grants for
UNESCO Activities, MEXT helps the UNESCO related activities targeting
ODA countries such as support to the Disaster Risk Prevention education in
Myammer. In this framework, “Save Our Future—ESD-DRR International
Workshop for Future Leaders in Asia” was organized in Miyagi and Tokyo in
February 2013, with participation of the teachers and students from Asia-
Pacific countries.
(4) International activities
MEXT established the Japanese Funds in Trust for ESD with contribution of
200 Million Japanese Yen in 2005 at UNESCO and continues to give the funds
since then. The Funds are used for the collection of the best practices in the field
of the Disaster Risk Reduction, Biodiversity and Climate change.
MEXT organized the International Workshop on ESD on 1 December 2012
and participates or sends the experts to the international meetings on ESD.
MEXT officials regularly attend the UNESCO General Conference and Exec-
utive Board. On the other hand, MEXT encourages the teacher exchanges with
the Republic of Korea in the field of ESD. Similar programmes are undertaken
respectively with the United States of America and China.
As a recent initiative, MEXT established in 2012 the SEAMEO-Japan ESD
Award in collaboration with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Orga-
nization (SEAMEO). With partnership of UNESCO Bangkok Office, the Award
is given to three schools implementing the best practices on ESD in the region.

6.2.2 ESD Policy at Local Level

ESD Policy is conducted at local level is driven by the Department of the Environ-
ment or that of Regional promotion at the prefectural Governor or Mayor office or
by the Board of Education which enjoys certain autonomy. Normally the policy
inspired by MEXT is conducted by the Board and the UNESCO related issue
belongs to the competency of the Board.
One problematic issue can be raised here.
At first, the Board of Education is in general attentive to the voice of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Bureau of MEXT while the Secretariat of the Japanese
National Commission for UNESCO seldom has relationships with the Board of
Education until now. It leads sometimes to the quasi-absence of interest in ESD or
UNESCO related issues especially at the level of the Board of Education at Prefecture.
The Information document of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO
indicates that out of 45 prefectural Basic Plans of the Promotion of Education, only
13 refers to the idea such as ESD, sustainable development or sustainability (JNCU
(Japanese National Commission for UNESCO) 2013b).
6 Governance and Policy on ESD 95

6.2.3 ESD by Other Stakeholders

6.2.3.1 United Nations University

With support from the Government of Japan, the United Nations University
launched the Program on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD Program)
at the Institute of Advanced Studies in 2003. Strengthening the contributions to
ESD through Regional Centers of Expertise (RCEs) on ESD is one of the program’s
pillars. The purpose of RCEs is to build platforms where ESD stakeholders can
share information and experiences and seek partnerships at the local level. As of
October 2013, 117 RCEs have been established worldwide. In Japan, six RCEs in
Greater Sendai, Okayama, Yokohama, Kitakyushu, Chubu, and Hyogo-Kobe are
functioning to promote ESD activities in their respective regions. As for higher
education institutions, the United Nations University decided to build a network of
universities committed to ESD in the Asia-Pacific region, and it officially launched
the Promotion of Sustainability in Postgraduate Education and Research Network
(ProSPER.Net) in June 2008. The activities undertaken in this network include the
development of ESD curriculums for administrative officials and business schools
through cooperation among Asian universities.

6.2.3.2 Japan Council on the UN Decade of Education

for Sustainable Development (ESD-J)

Founded in June 2003, the Japan Council on the UN Decade of Education for
Sustainable Development (ESD-J) is a networking organization dedicated to pro-
moting ESD in Japan and overseas through partnerships. ESD-J has formed a
network of 100 organizations including NGOs/NPOs, educational institutions,
enterprises, and other groups active in such fields as environmental education,
development education, human rights education, and youth development and is
currently engaged in such efforts as policy proposals, training, and information
dissemination, and international networking. ESD-J plays an important role both at
the central level with their policy proposals, and at local level with implementation
of concrete projects.

6.2.3.3 Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)

Since its establishment in 1971, ACCU has been implementing various regional
cooperative programs in the fields of culture, education, and personnel exchange in
close collaboration with the countries of Asia and the Pacific. In response to the
start of the UNDESD, ACCU has promoted the DESD by reviewing its past projects
from the perspective of ESD and conveying the principles of ESD to governments,
NGOs, universities, and other partner organizations in Japan and abroad through
96 W. Iwamoto

trainings and projects. It also collects and provides the information on ASP net and
implements the ESD related projects such as RICE project with Asian countries
with support of the UNESCO-Japanese Funds in Trust.

6.2.3.4 National Federation of UNESCO Association

in JAPAN (NFUAJ)

Established in 1947, NFUAJ carried out various activities aiming at the interna-
tional peace and the common welfare following the philosophy of the UNESCO
Constitution. In the field of ESD, NFUAJ in collaboration with Tokyo Mitsubishi
UFJ Bank, provides financial support for ASPNet schools’ ESD activities. They
organize the ESD International Exchange Programme through which ASP high
school students are sent for study tour in Europe. In 2013 NFUAJ launched the
programme for promotion activities of UNESCO Associated School ESD volun-
teers. Around 200 UNESCO Clubs are under NFUAJ and they can be locomotives
of promotion of ESD at community level if the staffing structure is reinforced at
each club.

6.3 UNESCO World Conference on ESD in 2014

The proposal of hosting the End of Decade conference in Japan was already
launched at the Bonn Conference in 2009 and the Resolution 64/163 adopted in
the 64th session at UN General Assembly in 2010 took note of this.
The UNESCO World Conference on ESD will be held in Aichi-Nagoya and
Okayama. Using the motto “Learning Today for a Sustainable Future”, the
UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development will
mark the end of the Decade. The World Conference (10–12 November) and the
Stakeholder Meetings (4–8 November) are organized by UNESCO and the Gov-
ernment of Japan. The objectives of the Conference are (1) Celebrating a Decade of
Action, (2) Reorienting Education to Build a Better Future for All, (3) Accelerating
Action for Sustainable Development and (4) Setting the Agenda for ESD beyond
2014. The stakeholders meeting shows also the nature of ESD driven by several
actors. THE ASP net Conference, Youth Conference and the Global RCE Confer-
ence will provide their outcomes for Aichi-Nagoya Conference the basis of discus-
sions. From viewpoint of the participation of various actors, the Side events, related
events will be ideal occasions.
As the outcome document of the World Conference, the Declaration which
indicates the participants and UN Agencies’ conviction for further promotion of
ESD and the high-profile launch of the Global Action Programme on ESD are
expected.
Here we need to understand in detail the content of the Global Action
Programme which was adopted as follow-up mechanism of DESD at the 192nd
6 Governance and Policy on ESD 97

session of Executive Board and at 37th session of the General Conference of

UNESCO in 2013. Its goal is, according to the document presented at the General
Conference is “to generate and scale-up all levels and areas of education and
learning in order to accelerate progress towards sustainable development”. It has
five priority action areas such as policy support, whole-institution approaches,
educators, youth, and local communities. The Global Action Programme is
expected to be launched and a roadmap for its implementation will be presented
at the UNESCO World Conference on ESD.

6.4 Conclusion

The year 2014 marks the end of the UN Decade of ESD, and we expect the further
development of ESD in the future. We will examine here what are the challenges
from viewpoint of the governance on ESD in Japan and in the world.

6.4.1 National Challenges

As we discussed above, ESD is well located in the policy orientation level such as
the positioning in the Basic Plan of Education or the Courses of Study. However, at
local level, the energy of the Board of Education for ESD varies so much that we
meet a certain number of local officials who do not realize the importance of ESD in
school programme.
In School educational system, ESD has been promoted especially through
UNESCO Associated Schools. However, it is not realistic that all Japanese schools
become ASP net. Now the efforts should be made to spread ESD to all schools.
Since ESD covers various stakeholders, this will need the assistance of the board of
education, UNESCO Clubs, University, NGOs and companies. The effort to link
the community with school is made since 2007 in the form of “community school”
which recognize the people of the community as members of the administration
council of school. The content of education and the management requires the
cooperation of the community. In case of ESD, the linkage with the external people
to the effective learning seems more substantial. The regional networks based upon
the consortium of the ESD-related organs should be conceived. Thus, ESD pro-
moted by point until now is spread as sphere. Once the local network linked
nationwide, it can cover all Japan. The national budget 2014 approves this idea
and allocates some 40 Million yen to MEXT for the implementation of the
programme which consists of the formation of the consortium of ESD and the
coordinator hired for this effect. Through this consortium of ESD, it is expected to
even increase the regional educational power (Fig. 6.2).
98 W. Iwamoto

Fig. 6.2 Promotion of ESD

It is to be notes that the networking does not mean who is the responsible or the
holder of the authority. The new governance style denying the hierarchy rather
makes difficult the identification of the responsibility. The attention should be paid
to this point.

6.4.2 Global Challenge

As we saw above the Global Action Programme will focus on five priority action
areas; Policy support, Whole-institutional approaches, Educators, Youth, Local
communities. The problem is to know how to mobilize the stakeholders’ efforts
for these areas in a visible manner. We should also pay attention to the fact that
there is no more International Implementation Scheme. There will be neither
Action Plan in Japanese case. The focal point for promotion of ESD will be needed
and UNESCO should also encourage the unified efforts for promotion of ESD.
Unfortunately the Global Action Programme will not be sufficient.
On the other hand, the discussions on the post Millennium Development Goals
has been held world-widely. While it is premature to judge what kind of goals are
definitive, it is evident that the education-related goal should be set in the post
Millennium Development Goals. It is needless to say how important to discuss in
which way ESD should be considered in this context.
Concerning Education for All, the world education movement of which UNESCO
is the lead agency, the target year is also fixed 2015. If there is agreement to fix the
global educational agenda, how to link ESD with ESD is also an important issue.
6 Governance and Policy on ESD 99

6.4.3 ESD—Global and/or Local—as Postscript

We consider that ESD prepares the citizens to the global challenges like disaster,
climate change and biodiversity. The skills and abilities obtained through ESD are
linked with non-cognitive skills or key competencies such as critical thinking,
problem solving skills etc. which are important wherever the learners live. On
other hand the ideal of ESD will lead to the international understanding. More and
more the importance of the global citizenship education is emphasized. (United
Nations 2012) In Japan the connotation is a little different from these arguments,
but the human resource development in the globalized society is one of the biggest
challenges of our country.
We can call this dimension Global aspect of ESD.
On the other hand, as we saw clearly in this Chapter, ESD is connected with the
local issue. The educational power of the area is so important and we expect the
learners are conscious of the local challenges. Therefore the governance at regional
level has been emphasized in this Chapter. This dimension can be called Local
aspect of ESD.
It would be dangerous if we stick too much to this kind of dichotomy since in a
real world global and local are so connected. We say “think globally act locally”,
but it is also important to “think locally act globally”. The problem is to know how
to conceive the system of fostering the people who can act always on these two
dimensions and how to construct the system of the governance. This will need
another chapter.

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Chapter 7
View on Education for Disaster
and Recovery: Example of R.C.E.
Greater Sendai

Takaaki Koganezawa

Abstract This chapter aims to reveal the issues surrounding Education for Risk
Reduction and Education for Recovery conducted in RCE Greater Sendai region.
RCE Greater Sendai is a regional network of organisations that promotes ESD
and was recognised as one of the first RCE in 2005 by United Nations University.
RCE Greater Sendai currently links four cities (Sendai, Kesennuma, Osaki and
Shiroishi/Shichigashuku), their local government, universities, other educational
institutions, local industries and citizens and NGOs. The Great East Earthquake that
his Eastern Japan in March 2011 affected Sendai city and Kesennuma city in
particular among RCE Greater Sendai. The chapter hence focuses on these two
regions and analyses on the issues of Education for Risk Reduction and the contents
of Education for Recovery from this point forward. For the issues of Education for
Risk Reduction in Sendai city three points are raised in this chapter; Tsunami on
coastal region, land slide in inland suburbs caused by post-war residential devel-
opment and “stranded commuters”. For the contents of Education for Recovery,
recovery of coastal forest and homestead woodland are suggested. Examples of
Kesennuma city is limited to the mechanism of industry recovery as part of the
contents of Education for Recovery, since numerous case studies conducted in
Kesennuma city have already been explored in other chapters of the book.

Keyword Ecosystem service • Education for recovery • Education for risk reduc-
tion • Education for sustainable development • Industrial relations

T. Koganezawa (*)
Centre for Disaster Education and Recovery Assistance, Miyagi University of Education,
149 Aramaki-aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0845, Japan
e-mail: [email protected]

R. Shaw and Y. Oikawa (eds.), Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster 101
Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices,
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55090-7_7, © Springer Japan 2014
102 T. Koganezawa

7.1 Introduction

Greater Sendai RCE is a network of four different cities linked with universities and
related institutions. For this, there are further networks that exist within each region.
Due to such unique nature, each organisations and institutions that play part of RCE
Greater Sendai are able to mobilise themselves quite flexibly and independently.
The way in which each regions and institutions approach Education for Risk
Reduction and Education for Recovery post disaster are no exception and the
approach can differ significantly. It allows for the organisation to take into its
region’s geographical condition and implement the best possible practice.
Education for risk reduction that arouse post Great East Earthquake tend to focus
on the measurement on evacuation. It stresses on the importance of setting and
recognising the evacuation paths on a regular basis, conducting evacuation drill,
practising post disaster life at evacuation centre and storing the various items
required at the evacuation centre. Needless to say, one of the purposes of the
education for risk reduction is to evacuate safely and above mentioned points are
all valid and crucial. It is important to keep in mind however, that the evacuation
method varies greatly depending on the type of disaster and each regions’ geo-
graphical conditions. With the Great East Earthquake, the main threat to people’s
lives was the Tsunami, not the earthquake itself. Because the size and the speed of
Tsunami differ depending on the landscape conditions and the shape of ocean bed,
it is important to recognise that the evacuation method differ in each region.
Comparing Kesennuma city and Sendai-city for example, Kesennuma city has ria
shoreline which is deeply indented while Sendai city has shoaling beach and the
coast line is a flat terrain. Ria shoreline accentuated the height of Tsunami in
Kesennuma and it reached above 7–20 m in some parts, it was critical to evacuate
to the nearby mountains and/or hills with higher elevation. In Sendai on the other
hand, Tsunami reached only about to 6 m in height due to its famous shoaling
beach. This flatness however, meant that it provided no hills or mountains to
evacuate; people had to evacuate for a longer distance until they reached to the
elevated road and highways which were 4 km away from the coastline. Alterna-
tively, those who evacuated to the roof top of the primary schools nearby survived.
Such evacuation paths alone demonstrate the difference of regional conditions.
Education for risk reduction is, in other words, to learn both natural and social
regional conditions. In order to understand the safe evacuate method, one needs to
know and understand the area well in all aspect of regional society, economy,
structures of environment and its relationship with one another.
Similarly, Education for recovery requires education program based on regional
condition. First point is redevelopment based on the regional environment and
landscape. Taking Sendai plain for an example, there are several redevelopment
plans for damaged coastal area and the agenda in the area is whether the attempts
should be made to regenerate severely damaged coastal forest and homestead
woodland (Igune). It was maintained and managed in the area for over 300 years
and has been a part of Sendai landscape. There are certain amounts of challenges
7 View on Education for Disaster and Recovery: Example of R.C.E. Greater Sendai 103

involved in including traditional risk reduction tools such as coastal forest and
Igune into the new land utilisation plan. It may still be worthwhile considering
regenerating them as study material for education for recovery, even if it is difficult
to recover destroyed coastal forest in full, so that it can act in its traditional purpose
of protecting the surrounding environment but also to embrace historical and
traditional Sendai landscape.
For this Tsunami, Umitsu outlines the details of damages caused by Tsunami in
Sendai plain (Umitsu 2011; The association of Japanese Geographers 2011).
Tsunami in Sendai plain reached up to 6 m and caused enormous damage due to
its undertow and spilling waves. Since 1650s Sendai plain coastal line had been
afforested with black pine (Kikuchi 2013). Furthermore, residential settlement that
were built following the development of new field, were surrounded by homestead
woodland (Igune) which functioned as disaster reduction tool (Koganzawa 2001).
Even when Tsunami struck the area this time, such coastal forest and homestead
woodland minimised the damage (Koganezawa and Umikawa 2013; Tokyo Uni-
versity GCOE Program 2012). Currently, the Sendai city is considering building the
coastal levee as part of recovery and redevelopment plan, but it will be important to
incorporate eco service system risk minimisation land use such as coastal forest and
homestead woodland (Duraiappah 2012; Koganezawa 2012).
Second point on the education for rebuilding is to learn and research the region
thoroughly in order to rebuild the regional industry. Taking Kesennuma city for an
example, it was a fishery city and employment for the area was maintained by
fishery industry. Since the disaster however, volume of landing have drastically
reduced in all deep-sea, inshore and coastal fishery. This is not just because of the
damage on fishing ships and instruments but due to the collapse of fishery related
industry, especially refrigeration systems. Many of the refrigerators in the area have
been destroyed by Tsunami and reduced its capacity, affecting the volume of
landing and production of fish-related industry. For rebuilding, it is critical for
local citizens to have shared recognition of the current situation and needs, and have
a clear vision on redevelopment.
In Kesennuma region, fishing port and marine product related facilities were
damaged; for example, Tsunami reached 20 m high due to its ria shoreline, fuel
tanks for fishing boats were destroyed by Tsunami and caught fire. Cleaning up
debris and recovery of residential facilities are obviously important task, but it is
also critical to recover and redevelop fishery and marine product industry in order to
redevelop the regional economy of Kesennuma region. Kesennuma fishing industry
had one of the most volume of landing in Tohoku region where bonito and saury
were one of the main fishes caught in the area along with shark from which shark’s
fin, Kesennuma local speciality, was produced. Kesennuma was also renowned for
its refrigeration storage facilities and processed fish products and this whole
industry support the regional economy of Kesennuma (Oiwaka 1985; Kumagai
1994; Narisawa 2005). Fish market resumed its operation 6 months after the
disaster, but the volume of landing decreased dramatically. Furthermore,
re-establishment of processed fish products were delayed due to the damage
refrigeration facility received (Fishery Unit of Kesennuma City 2012). Several
104 T. Koganezawa

researches are currently conducted to study the extent of damage in fishery industry
and to determine the direction with which redevelopment work should be
conducted (Takano 2012; Seki 2012; Hamada 2013). Fishery industry requires a
strong link within the industry itself to work effectively, so it will be necessary to
prioritise recovery and re-establishing work with a good understanding of the
structure of industry relations (Slow Food Kesennuma 2008).
The aim of this chapter is to provide detailed analysis on the issues addressed
above and to raise further challenges that effective learning program development
may face. The ultimate purpose of the education for risk reduction and recovery is
for children to have hope for their lives and future. In order to achieve this, it is
critical to analyse one’s residential area and summarise the unsustainable issues in
the area before considering the learning program to create the sustainable regional
society.

7.2 RCE Greater Sendai

Greater Sendai RCE was established in 2005 through the liaison of local commu-
nities and organizations. It consists of Miyagi University of Education (MUE)
linking the activities conducted at Sendai CBD, Kesennuma, Ôsaki/Tajiri and
Shiroishi/Shichigasyuku region. Sendai city has long been aware of environmental
issues and, for example, initiated the movement even back in 1980s to reduce the
dust pollution by replacing studded winter tire with studless. In Kesennuma city,
environmental education for primary school was established where stakeholders
such as the local museum, university and overseas school worked closely with local
primary schools to develop awareness on environmental issues and sustainable
development. In the Osaki/Tajiri area, environmental education was promoted to
utilise the local aqua life and farmland which utilised a method focusing on
sustainability. These experimental programs in different cities were conducted in
collaboration with and supported by the Miyagi University of Education (MUE).
Greater Sendai RCE was born using these regional and university networks.
One of the unique characteristics of Greater Sendai RCE is that each region has
its own regional network of stakeholders (school, private corporation, NGO, local
city council, museum etc.) that aim to build human resources to realise the sustain-
able development of each area, while each region further collaborates and networks
with other regions of Greater Sendai. In other words, Greater Sendai RCE has two
layers of network and missions; one within each region’s ESD activities and the
other in collaboration with Greater Sendai RCE as a whole. To put this into
perspective, Sendai region has an agenda of environmental education and education
learning activities as an urban area, while Kesennuma looks at practice of education
for sustainable development. Osaki region looks at sustainable farming and
Shiroishi/Shichigashuku area works on sustainable forest conservation. For Greater
Sendai, the agenda is to learn from each region’s activities and characteristics and
7 View on Education for Disaster and Recovery: Example of R.C.E. Greater Sendai 105

to promote education for sustainable development and sustainable environmental

conservation of forest, farmland and ocean in the region as a whole.
The other unique characteristics of Greater Sendai RCE is that the university acts
as linking agency to bring each region together, so that critical activities such as
information sharing and capacity building in different areas of Greater Sendai can
be achieved uniformly while respecting each region. Greater Sendai RCE sets three
rules in running the RCE project; firstly, each region is to set a goal of their own to
conduct activities for sustainable future suited to each region and characteristics.
Secondly, all regions are to share their experiences and learn from each other, and
thirdly Greater Sendai RCE to set a common goal and work together to achieve
sustainable living in Greater Sendai as a whole.

7.3 Sendai Region: Education for Disaster and Recovery

7.3.1 Tsunami and Earthquake Damage in Sendai City

Figure 7.1 is a valuable figure where Tsunami is seen running up Arahama region of
Sendai city and was captured by Sendai-city emergency helicopter service. Coastal
line can be seen on the top right corner, where Tsunami is overcoming the black
pine coastal forest. Igune (homestead woodland that is planted surrounding the
residential houses) can also be seen in the centre slightly to the right and the head of

Fig. 7.1 Tsunami in Arahama area in Sendai city

106 T. Koganezawa

Fig. 7.2 Children and residents evacuated on the roof, Arahama Elementary School, Sendai

Tsunami is running up the agricultural waterway. The shape of Tsunami and the
way it approaches land on the photo, it is clear that Tsunami is not entering parallel
to the land. This is because coastal forest and Igune along with other buildings act as
obstacle which changes the speed and force of Tsunami. The big waves in the centre
of the Fig. 7.1 came past the bare land, hence retaining its force. Furthermore, most
of the coastal line in Sendai plain is now used as rice paddy with limited residential
area and Tsunami run through dried paddy while retaining its speed. Fallen black
pines which was once a part of coastal forest can be seen on the bottom left and
what’s left of Igune in the centre which was surrounding the house. In this region,
sand dune developed parallel to the coastal line and there were three big sand dunes
between the beach and the East Road. Small settlement formed on top of this sand
dune, which is a few meters above the ground, then Igune was formed around this
settlement and residential area, leaving the area with black pine coastal forest and
three Igune. These manmade forests could not stand the force of Tsunami but it
played an important role in protecting houses from collapsing entirely and in
keeping debris in the area rather than spreading them everywhere. With this
Tsunami, the most damage was in residential areas that were in 3–4 km from the
coastal area and people were forced to evacuate towards west, further away from
the sea. Roads to the west were congested with vehicles and many were left with no
choice but to abandon their car to flee to the East Road. Many of those who failed to
reach the East Road lost their lives. Figure 7.2 shows Arahama primary school on
the 11th March and the school is engulfed in Tsunami. Students and local residents
evacuated to the 2nd floor of the school and water reached as high as the 1st floor,
7 View on Education for Disaster and Recovery: Example of R.C.E. Greater Sendai 107

up to 6 m high. Land in this region was flat and all other safe evacuation place was
far from this residential area, making Arahama school the highest building and the
only place to evacuate.

7.3.2 Agenda for Education for Risk Reduction in Sendai

The first and foremost agenda for coastal region is to construct a building within
residential area that can act as an evacuation place for local community. Sendai city
is now in the process of planning the construction of evacuation building and
signing the agreement with private companies to use their business buildings as
evacuation centres in case of emergency. Based on the lesson learnt from the Great
East Earthquake, we can summarise the agenda for creating materials for education
for risk reduction into three points. First is on the changes on land use of coastal
area. Second is to find out the cause of damages residential area in inland experi-
enced from the earthquake and finally the issue of temporary shelter and people
unable to go back home after disaster in Sendai city. We will now look at each
agenda more in details.
First agenda is in regards to the changes on land use of the coastal area. Sendai
city received relatively small damage from Tsunami compared to the others, and
this is because Sendai CBD was formed far from the coastal line and no further
development was made even in recent years. Ishinomaki-city, along with
Kesennuma city on the other hand, was one of the worst-hit because the city and
residential area were developed centring on the Port, allowing Tsunami to hit
directly. Sendai city centre developed around Hirose River, far from the ocean,
but maintained the connection with ocean through the route from Shiogama to
Sadayamahori (canal), further towards Nanakita River and Umeda River. This route
connected Sendai to the Ishinomaki port. Coastal forest that was destroyed by this
Tsunami was planted after 1640 in order to conserve the route from city centre to
Sadayamahori (Kikuchi 2013). Many lives were lost at 1611 Sanriku earthquake
and Tsunami (occurred on 28 October in 1611) and it destroyed much of the area
which was going through new rice paddy development, bringing the area back to
wilderness. Construction of Ofune Iribori (Sadayamahori, Channel) began after this
to provide goods distribution and water drainage paths in order to develop new rice
paddy efficiently and afforesting black pine coastal forest was a part of this
development plan. Since then, people began to create residential area on the sand
dune mentioned earlier and further built Igune to protect residential buildings from
north-westerly winter wind and maintained agricultural land (Koganzawa 2001).
Figure 7.3 left and right shows the google earth aerial shot of the area before and
after the quake (Google 2011). Coastal forest of more than 100 m wide can be seen
from the beach line except for Arahama residential area and Yuriage port (can be
seen in lower part of the figure). Due to the lack of forest, Tsunami entered from
Arahama and Yuriage with powerful force while coastal forest and Igune managed
to weaken the force of Tsunami in other areas (Koganezawa and Umikawa 2013).
108 T. Koganezawa

Fig. 7.3 Left: Land use in Sendai Plain before disaster. Right: Land use in Sendai Plain after
disaster

Residential area expanded after the world war two but it did not expand beyond the
East Road and the land between the East Road and coastal line remained agricul-
tural land. This land use of not developing the coastal line minimised the damage by
Tsunami in Sendai, though lack of Arahama coastal forest resulted in a regrettable
outcome. It is our first agenda as to how to utilise this coastal forest and Igune
ecosystem service that is a combined result of natural environment and historical
background of human land use (Nishiootachime 2012).
The second issue is Sendai city’s residential issue and the damage it had from the
quake. As has been mentioned, development of Sendai city did not go towards
the coast. This is because self sufficiency rate of rice was below 100 % when
Sendai’s residential development begun in 1960 and securing the food source was
a bigger agenda at the time. Instead of developing the rice paddy that sat along the
coastal line, residential development moved towards the hills which were used to
plant trees for firewood and charcoal, sourcing sustainable energy in pre world war
Sendai. The need of firewood and charcoal declined due to the energy revolution
after 1955, so that residential developers saw them as an opportunity to expand
residential areas. They developed the areas by flattening the hills, filling the valley
and created an artificial flat residential areas. Such unnatural land use was the
cause of land slide and total or partial collapse of the houses by the earthquake
(Mori 2012). According to the research by Associate Professor Mori at Tohoku
University, houses that sat on what used to be a valley filled with soil experienced the
7 View on Education for Disaster and Recovery: Example of R.C.E. Greater Sendai 109

most severe damage, especially the one that sat on the edge of the original land and
the filled earth land. The same principle was behind the cause of damaged apartment
blocks that were built on previously a paddy field. This suggests that the damage
from earthquake often depends on the process of development. It is critical for the
affect of earthquake and Tsunami to be researched and documented so that educa-
tional material can be created from the experience.
The third issue is about those citizens who were unable to return home from
Sendai city centre after the earthquake due to public transport system interruption.
The term “stranded commuters” was coined for those people and became social
phenomenon after the quake. In Sendai, those ‘stranded commuters’ evacuated to
schools near the stations. Tsutsujigaoka Primary school located 10 min from Sendai
station was swamped by 3,000 of such people and they were required to play a
different role from other schools where the service was provided predominantly for
local residents. Possibility of some sort of incident occurring from mass movement
of people needs to be managed well and it is another agenda the quake has raised.
This will be an important and interesting topic as part of education for risk reduction.

7.3.3 Redevelopment Learning Materials With Attention

to Ecosystem Service

Sendai plain’s coastal area development is under progress with classification of

land use; residential, agricultural, parkland and nature conservation area. Taking
the experience of Tsunami from the disaster, building of evacuation space on higher
ground and evacuation paths to the East Road is on the way too. With such land use
classification, not only is it important to have an idea of residential area to be far
from Tsunami danger zone but to incorporate the function of coastal forest and
Igune, which assisted in risk reduction of agricultural and residential land in this
region, as discussed previously.
The coastal forest and Igune play an important role on risk reduction: not only do
they reduce the speed and the height of Tsunami but it also prevented from debris
spreading across (Koganezawa and Umikawa 2013). Many houses were destroyed
with this earthquake but the quake also produced both undertow and spilling waves
which worsened the debris to spread, except for where coastal forest and Igune
stood. Evidently, Igune in Sendai plain mainly serve the purpose of windbreak so
that many are open to the ocean. When encountered by repetitive Tsunami how-
ever, it displayed its full ability by keeping the debris in the area. It is commendable
that the black pine coastal forest and Igune, which was created more than 300 years
ago based on the Tsunami experience in Edo period, still managed to exercise their
function to full potential. This teaches the ability of nature, when combined with
human knowledge and foresight can be so powerful. Incorporating the role of
coastal forest and Igune into the education for risk reduction learning material
would also be important for people in Sendai because of its historical significance.
110 T. Koganezawa

With this Tsunami, Igune (mostly consisted of Japanese cedar) in Sendai plain
have died because it was washed by salty sea water. Those dead cedar trees have
been removed and the sight of Igune Sendai plain is now lost. We very much hope
that coastal trees as well as Igune to be recovered as part of the redevelopment of
Sendai plain. Igune style forestation plan (where redeveloped residential buildings
are surrounded by variety of trees) is underway at Iwanuma city, after the report
from Tokyo University (Tokyo University GCOE Program 2012). Even if the
complete restoration of Igune is difficult, the idea and knowledge should be
passed on.
Our lives have so much issue on unsustainability, let alone redevelopment from
the quake but much bigger environmental issues such as global warming due to the
increase of CO2. The great east earthquake presented itself and its consequences as
the most urgent unsustainable issue to the East Japan region. Kesennuma region
now has restoring of the industry as their big task while Sendai plain has environ-
mental restoration and restoring and redevelopment of the land use. In order to
materialise environmental restoration and redevelopment, it is important to include
topics like experience from the past disaster and the role of coastal forest and Igune
but it is also essential to include the view of eco service system in the environmental
education and food education.
United Nations University issued a report on analysis about environmental
conservation function of Japanese Satoyama and Satoumi (mountains and oceans).
This report, based on the valuation report of Satoyama and Saoumi, analyses on
richness in nature provided by Satoyama and Satoumi and people’s way of living in
six different regions of Japan (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokushinetsu, Kanto, West
Japan, West Japan Satoumi). The report takes richness in nature, which people
have long been utilising, as eco system service and summarises the environmental
issues arising from inefficient use of such service. Eco system service function can
be categorised into four; one is the basis of ecosystem which is the product of
physical cycle in nature that ensures the diversity. Second is the function as
supplier, for example food, timber, firewood and medicinal plants. Third is an
adjustment function which controls the small climate adjustment through forestry
ecosystem, water source recharge and disaster risk reduction. The fourth is a
cultural service such as landscape conservation and human cultural activity con-
servation. Each of these services complements each other so that the entire service
function would degrade if one of the services is to decrease in its use. For example,
Igune forest in Sendai plain provided firewood, fertiliser and windbreaker function.
However, none of these functions were required when the windbreak building was
constructed, chemical fertiliser replaced organic ones and firewood was replaced by
electric gas system. When Igune is destroyed because it no longer provide any
service human needs, maintenance function of eco service system degrades, and as
a result the damage from natural disaster such as Tsunami gets amplified. It is
important to keep in mind that there are much unexpected consequences when the
eco system service that nature provides is neglected.
7 View on Education for Disaster and Recovery: Example of R.C.E. Greater Sendai 111

7.4 Kesennuma Region: Tsunami at Ria Shoreline

and Education for Risk Reduction

7.4.1 Damage by Tsunami in Kesennuma Region

Ria Coastal line in Kesennuma region was struck by Tsunami of 7–20 m high.
Kesennuma city itself received catastrophic damage by Tsunami that entered from
Kesennuma Bay in Minami Kesennuma area, Sakana-machi and Shishiori area. In
particular, Minami Kesennuma that is located between Kesennuma Bay and Okawa
River was damaged severely and fish market and seafood processing facility with
refrigerator and freezer system which was the major hub for fishery industry in this
region was destroyed.
Figure 7.4 shows the Kesennuma Bay in the centre and Okawa on the left.
Figure 7.5 shows the post-Tsunami photograph of Shishiori area; Kesennuma Bay
is on the right and Shishiori River runs from left to right. In Shishiori area, seafood
processing facility also sat near the coastline and residential area that used to be rice
paddy sat behind them. Tsunami entered from Kesennuma Bay towards Shishiori
area and damaged the entire area. It went further up in Shishiori River and hit the
ground level of Shishiori primary school. Petroleum tank sat on Kesennuma Bay
floated with water, drifted towards Shishiori area and caught fire, burning most of
the area. A 200 tonne fishing ship used for saury still sit on the land as a reminder of
the disaster after being washed ashore by Tsunami.

Fig. 7.4 Damage by disaster (Tsunami and fire) in ShiShiori district in Kesennuma (Source:
A. Sugawara)
112 T. Koganezawa

Fig. 7.5 Damage by disaster (Tsunami) in Minami Kesennuma district in Kesennuma (Source:
A. Sugawara)

Figures 7.6 and 7.7 show the land use research conducted in 2012; blue circle
suggests areas that people still live in remainder of buildings, whereas red circle
suggests areas no one lives even though some building manage to stand still.
Inside the red circle is the researched area. In Minami Kesennuma that can be seen
in Fig. 7.5 a few reinforced concrete building survived but mostly not inhabited.
High-rise building such as this saved many people’s lives during Tsunami but it is
now largely abandoned and most debris has since been removed, leaving not
many buildings in this area by the time research was conducted. The area is
designated fishery processing factory collection area however due to the earth-
quake the ground dropped and the area faces many issues such as rebuilding the
land to level, removal of sewage system, re-building of coastal levee before
redevelopment can even begin. Figures 7.4 and 7.6 show Sakana-machi and
Shishiori region. Sakana-machi was directly hit by Tsunami and ground level
submerged under the water, yet a few buildings were recoverable after some
repair. On the other hand, Shishiori was not only affected by Tsunami but
outbreak of fire from petroleum leakage turned most buildings into debris. At
the time of the field research, there were scarcely any buildings left on the flat land
and those that remained were not in a liveable condition.
In Kesennuma region, range of hills was sitting near the coast so many survived
by climbing up the hills or evacuating on higher levels of business buildings and
schools. Tsunami ran up along the rivers such as Okawa River, Shishiori River
and Omose River with such high speed so that the damage was spread to the areas
further away from the coastal area which was the unique characteristic of this region.
7 View on Education for Disaster and Recovery: Example of R.C.E. Greater Sendai 113

Fig. 7.6 Land use after disaster in Shishiori, Sakana-machi. Blue point Building with person,
Red point Building with nobody, Red line means research area

After the field research in Kesennuma region on the damage and handling we can
summarise the role and the function of schools in Kesennuma region into three
points; first, schools need to be located on safe area and the evacuation paths needs to
be checked on regular basis. Second, learning activity on regional history, environ-
ment and society need to be conducted regularly and thirdly the collaboration and
communication between local community and schools needs to be well maintained.

7.4.2 Redevelopment of Local Industry and Related Industry

Main industry in Kesennuma city is fishery and fish-related product industry

including processed fish products. Redevelopment of Kesennuma city is therefore
heavily dependent on the speed with which fishery industry can be rebuilt and
overcoming the issues fishery industry has experienced. In order to make it clear, it
114 T. Koganezawa

Fig. 7.7 Land use after disaster in Minami Kesennuma. Blue point: Building with person,
Red point: Building with nobody, Red line means research area

is first important to analyse the mechanism of local industry and the relationship of
many different industries.
The Table 7.1 shows the comparison of the quantity of fishes caught in 2010 and
2011. With Deep sea fishery, they were able to catch only 7 % of the previous year
for tuna and 35 % for swordfish. Likewise with inshore and coastal fishery, Bonito
caught was 36 % of the previous year, blue shark 16 % and sardine was down to
only 1 %. With tuna, this is because freezing and refrigeration system is not set up in
Kesennuma yet so it is diverted to other market. Bonito, which Kesennuma is
renowned for, even with this big drop in numbers still managed to retain top fishing
quantity in Japan. The drop in quantity was due to the lack of facilities that support
fish market such as refrigeration and ice making. Blue shark’s drop was due to the
7 View on Education for Disaster and Recovery: Example of R.C.E. Greater Sendai 115

Table 7.1 Comparison between pre and post disaster fishing quantity
Comparison from
Fish Year (Ton) previous year
Deep Sea Fishery Tuna 2010 231,463
2011 16,813 7%
Swordfish 2010 29,995,341
2011 10,649,442 35 %
Inshore Fishery Bonito 2010 409,640,654
2011 148,633,043 36 %
Blue shark 2010 78,766,775
2011 12,816,680 16 %
Coastal Fishery Sardine 2010 6,287,924
2011 95,187 1%
Deep Sea fishery: 2 ships were destroyed completely and fishes are landed in Shizuoka and Tokyo
Inshore fishery: 2 ships were destroyed completely, bonito is still landed in Kesennuma as it can be
sold raw
Coastal fishery: most fishing boats were destroyed, number reduced vastly as fixed fishing net is
not recovered

delay in the set up of the office which processes shark meat, and sardine was due to
the delay in fixed fishing net recovery. As we have seen, the recovery rate of
Kensen-numa fishery is about 30 % based on the quantity of fish caught and the
cause is the delay in other facilities that support fishery industry. It is critical to
improve the recovery speed of these offices or fishery industry will not be able
to even recover to the point where it was at, which is the minimum starting point for
redevelopment of this region.
Figure 7.8 shows the relationship between fishing industry in Kesennuma city.
We can divide the fishery industry into a few different category; that are fishing
(fishing ground), fishing port, fish market, processing factory and consumer. Within
actual fishing itself, there are deep sea fishery which is conducted far from the land,
a mid-range inshore fishery, coastal fishery and aqua farming and each fishing deals
with different type of species and different harvesting time. In Kesennuma, coastal
and aqua farming industries were damaged severely by the 2011 quake and
Tsunami. With deep sea and inshore fishery, distribution line was damaged more
than equipment or ships itself. Kesennuma is renowned for its coastal fishing and its
use of fixed fishing net. Small fixed fishing net for saury’s bait has been restored but
bigger net that produces richness in variety of species are yet to be restored. With
fishing port, not only does it have a function of having the fish collected and set
them but it also has a role of fishing boat to stop over for refuel and refill some
materials and consumer goods. While the port has recovered with its service
function of providing consumable goods but is yet to recover on refuelling part.
As the port restore its service the number of fishing boats stopping by are
increasing, but more effort is required in restoring refuelling, ice making, boat
repairing service and distribution service. For distribution service, facilities for
refrigeration are of vital importance; landed fish needs to be frozen immediately
116 T. Koganezawa

Iron Ship
Ship
build
FRP Alminium ship

Place of Port Fishery Processing Cosumer

Fishery Market Factory Area

Refriger Another
Pelagic Equipment ation Area

refrigerators
Tuna

Freezers/
fisherie Facilities

Tuna Ice
Bonito Process Domestic
middle ing area
Pacific
Factory
saury
Sword fish Selling
Retail
coast Super
Many
Market
kind
Whole sale
Aqua Another area
culture Sea Squirt Fishery
Market Restaurant
Oyster
Seaweed

Fig. 7.8 Inter Linkage of fishery industry in Kesennuma

and kept frozen. All these facilities were destroyed by tsunami, and only 20 % of
facilities have recovered since. Kesennuma’s fishing industry will not be rebuilt
unless this is recovered. Fish product processing factories, similarly, is intertwined
with other services and industry and it requires mutual restoring and redevelopment
with other stakeholders. For example, for the shark fin processing industry to be
established, shark meat, residual and meal processing factory needs to be restored.
Kesennuma is a hub for fishery industry and distribution of fish in the region, but it
is also a centre of consuming fish products. Fresh seafood caught and landed in
Kesennuma and processed products are distributed among local retailers and
restaurants and energising the tourism industry.
As we have seen, Kesennuma city’s fishing industry requires restoring and
redevelopment from all aspects of the industry. An analysis of industry relation is
most effective in realising which part of the industry requires the utmost attention
and this analysis reveals the delay in restoration of processing industry. This is
mainly due to the lack of rapid refrigeration system for pre-processed fish and
freezer for storing the raw material (these two combined will be hereafter called
‘large refrigeration system’). Larger fish processing companies often own these
7 View on Education for Disaster and Recovery: Example of R.C.E. Greater Sendai 117

large refrigeration system within their company and those that was undamaged by
the disaster and who secured a new system have already begun their operation
although their facilities are not sufficient. Smaller companies used to share larger
refrigeration system but those shared facilities are not yet restored and remains as
their challenge. This is further complicated by the fact that the land for processing
facilities requires to be raised and sewer system needs reinstalling.

7.4.3 Learning Material from Regional Related Industry

In order to redevelop Kesennuma city’s fishery industry, it is important to recognise

the relationship each sector plays and how it builds one fishery sector. Such
recognition needs to be shared among local residents so that the industry redevel-
opment direction gets arranged. Needless to say, it is important for the promotion of
regional economy that each sector that drive regional economy to redevelop
individually. In order to increase the speed of redevelopment however, it is essential
to consider which sector should be focused with a good understanding of regional
economy’s industrial relation characteristics. To bring the awareness, the agenda is
creating learning material of industrial relationship and materials to understand the
mechanism of the regional economic society including the industrial relationship.
Network of industrial relationship is summarised in Fig. 7.8. Understanding the
fishery industry as a whole and connecting the each sector; fishing spots, landing
place, traded at fish market, whole seller, freezing the landed fish, storage at
processing industry, and industry such as retailer and restaurant business that sells
fish and fish products. This is further intertwined with ice making industry, ship-
building business for both building new ships as well as repairing and refuelling oil
and supply service, all of which are critical in fishing industry and market trans-
actions. It is important to understand the complexity and structural mechanism of
the industry; deterioration of one industry can affect others as there is not mere
collection of different kind of industry but are related and have influence on each
other. Analysing this relationship and pinpointing on what industry plays a critical
part at this particular moment in time is critical. We aim to introduce this industry
relationship into social science in year 5 and geography subject in year 7–8.
Second learning material to understand regional economic society is related on
the connection between the industry, employment conditions, people’s life and
population movement. With Kesennuma, the city is connected with Karakuwa,
Motoyoshi and even some parts of Rikuzen Takada city with people commuting
for work and school and shopping. This will possibly further extend to Tome
and Ishinomaki city with Sanriku highway upgrade. As we looked at, primary
industry such as farming and fisher, secondary industry (fish processing, shipbuild-
ing business, refrigeration) and service based tertiary industry such as retail
and restaurant business are all intertwined and constitute the industry relation.
Since the quake however, this relationship is not operating well where it connects
between the industry well, produces economic circulation and to further develop.
118 T. Koganezawa

When operation of one of the sectors halt, then related industry’s function
automatically gets weaken. For example, with the refrigeration function reduced,
other port would take up on the landing role lowering the volume of landing in the
region. With the delay in port function’s recovery, it further loses its competitive-
ness with other ports. Obviously such industry produces employment but with the
delay of recovery, all those labour would then be lost to other business offices,
industry and region, worsening the unemployment rate in Kesennuma region. What
makes matters worse for fishing industry, some experienced labour of fishing
industry are, at least temporarily, lost to rebuilding of the city post disaster. Labour
market of Kesennuma city (an opportunity to work in local region) becomes
narrower and people from Kesennuma, commuters from Rikuzen Takada and
younger generation move away to other region. As a result, vicious cycle begins
from loss of population, loss of consumer and buying power and weakened local
economy. It is therefore essential to have an understanding that re-development of
the industry and related industry is the key to avoid the situation like this.

7.5 Conclusion

In this Chapter, some draft policies are suggested on education for risk reduction
and redevelopment based on some research results. The common idea for both type
of education is to have regional learning as their foundation. With risk reduction
education, check on evacuation paths, creating hazard map, evacuation drill and
post-disaster simulation drill are all important factors, and it is also important to do
regional learning through textbook and holistic leaning in day to day basis. On site
learning on regional learning on environment and industry through collaboration
with local community is also an important aspect of risk reduction education.
Education for recovery is about learning on creating the future and about
capacity building on one’s ability to design the future regional society even when
disaster like the Great East earthquake strikes. Future is obviously built on the past
and present; it is therefore critical to develop learning capacity with an ability to
analyse the past and present accurately. Some program and knowledge built from
the practice of education for sustainable development through UNESCO school
will be very useful in its practicality.

Acknowledgement I would like to thank Kesennuma city and Sendai city for providing much
advice and data and their cooperation in conducting the research. Fish industry mentioned has been
reported at Tohoku Geographical Association Autumn 2012 session. I would also like to thank
Nihon Seimei Zaidan for funding part of the research mentioned in this chapter. I would like to
extend my appreciation to students from Human Geography Research Department of Miyagi
University of Education, Mr Gen Shoji from Graduate school of Tohoku University, and Ms
Fumiko Saito from Graduate School of Miyagi University of Education who cooperated with the
research that formed the base of this chapter.
7 View on Education for Disaster and Recovery: Example of R.C.E. Greater Sendai 119

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Chapter 8
Exchange and Sharing of Experiences
of ESD-DRR: An International Workshop
for Asian Youth

Tomoko Shibao

Abstract In response to the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on 11 March

2011, UNESCO ASPnet youths in Asia were organized in international solidarity,
first with message exchange and second in an international workshop. The interna-
tional workshop was designed and implemented with DRR education in synergy
with ESD. This chapter introduces how such workshop provided a learning expe-
rience for students and teachers to broaden the scope of DRR education. HOPE
framework was used to analyze the students comments to see the ESD elements as
they felt by them. The chapter concludes with recommendation to utilize interna-
tional ESD activities to foster local ESD-DRR in for youth as global citizen.

Keywords Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) • Education for Sustainable Develop-

ment (ESD) • Global citizen • UNESCO ASPnet • Youth

8.1 Introduction

The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015, which urged to “promote the
integration of disaster risk reduction as an intrinsic element of the United Nations
Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014) was adopted in
Kobe, Japan in January 2005 (ISDR 2005).” The United Nations Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) was launched less than two months
later in the same year in United Nations Headquarters in New York and “disaster

The author is responsible for the choice and presentation of the facts contained in this article and the
opinions expressed therein, which are not nesessarily those of ACCU and do not commit ACCU.
T. Shibao (*)
Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO, Japan Publishers Building,
6 Fukuromachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8484, Japan
e-mail: [email protected]

R. Shaw and Y. Oikawa (eds.), Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster 121
Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices,
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55090-7_8, © Springer Japan 2014
122 T. Shibao

prevention and mitigation” was listed as one of the fifteen “strategic perspectives”
of ESD (UNESCO 2006).
The massive earthquake and tsunami which devastated the communities on the
Pacific coastal areas of East Japan on 11 March 2011 was one of the most
devastating natural disasters after the adoption of the Hyogo Framework of Action
and the start of DESD. In order to send the message of solidarity to the schools and
communities of the devastated areas of the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami,
students of UNESCO ASPnet schools in countries of Asia were organized by
UNESCO Bangkok and Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)
under the Japan Solidarity Project.
ASPnet is a shortened term for UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network.
The Programme was started by UNESCO in 1953 with 33 pilot schools of twelve
countries. As one the UNESCO’s longest running programmes, now the ASPnet is a
network of more than 9,500 schools in more than 180 countries. In case of Japan,
ASPnet schools have been promoted to implement and enhance ESD through the
policy of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
(MEXT 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) and by the National Implementation Plan
of DESD (Interministerial Meeting on the United Nations Decade of Education for
Sustainable Development 2011).
In response to the call of UNESCO, 135 ASPnet schools in twelve Asian coun-
tries including Japan participated in the Japan Solidarity Project. The main activity
of the Japan Solidarity Project was that students of ASPnet schools to create,
individually or collectively, in variety of styles and formats, messages of solidarity
to the students and communities in the affected areas of the East Japan Earthquake
and Tsunami. It was encouraged that message writing and creation become learning
process including reflection on their own DRR education and experience of disaster.
Therefore, preparing message of solidarity was meant at the same time to be learning
process of remembering the importance of DRR and being prepared.
The Japan Solidarity Project was developed into an international workshop for
which students representatives who had participated in the Japan Solidarity Project
were invited to participate. This international workshop was designed as ESD-DRR
event, where DRR education and ESD is conducted in synergy.
This chapter examines how such international workshop can address issues of
ESD-DRR and can serve as opportunity for the youth to empower themselves in
international solidarity as global citizens.

8.2 Challenge of ESD and DRR Education

DRR is defined as the “concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through
systematic efforts to analyse and manage the causal factors of disasters, including
through reduced exposure to hazards, reduced vulnerability of people and prop-
erty, wise management of land and the environment, and improve preparedness
for adverse events. (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies 2013).”
8 Exchange and Sharing of Experiences of ESD-DRR: An International Workshop. . . 123

In UNESCO (2007) ESD is described as “a most appropriate framework for

natural disaster preparedness because (1) ESD is interdisciplinary and holistic.
Therefore, important consideration is given to the impacts on, and relationship
between, society, the environment, economy and culture; (2) ESD promotes critical
thinking and problem solving that is essential to the empowerment of stakeholder
groups threatened or affected by natural disasters; and (3) ESD seeks to be locally
relevant, acknowledging that languages and cultures say and understand things
differently, and addresses both local as well as global issues.”
There is a clear account on how ESD practices which had been implemented in
the city of Kesennuma, Japan, has been contributing the way schools and commu-
nities handle the critical matters in response to and for reconstruction from the huge
and multi-faceted challenges after the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (Oikawa
2012). According to the experience in Kesennuma, where most of the schools are
ASPnet, it was because ESD had been fostered in teachers and students “critical
thinking, system thinking, holistic thinking, ability of communication, ability for
collecting and analyzing information, and ability of decision making and action,”
all of which are important and indispensable for the disaster situation.

8.2.1 Positioning ESD in Relation to Adjectival Education

UNESCO (2009) argues that ESD has to be synergized with environmental educa-
tion and other adjectival educations such as “peace education, gender education,
inclusive education, multicultural education, human rights education, HIV and
AIDS education, global education, consumer education, holistic education, citizen-
ship education, health education and development education.”
UNESCO (2012), building on the argument on the need to have synergies with
adjectival education in UNESCO (2009) stresses the importance of placing ESD in
relation to adjectival education, especially emerging ones such as climate change
education, consumer education, entrepreneurial education and DRR education.
Adjectival education is considered to be the issue based education which focuses
“only on the issue that is central to its name.” According to Wals (2007) important
international documents in environmental education such as 1975 Belgrade Charter
and 1977 Tbilisi Declaration, though they had many similarities to what ESD
advocates for today, worlds’ status in terms of sustainability has not to say the
least been improved. This illustrates that the importance lies not in the way how a
certain type of education is termed or called but how it is interpreted and practiced.
124 T. Shibao

8.2.2 “Narrow” and “Broad” and “More Inclusive”

Interpretation of DRR Education

UNESCO (2012) introduces examples of the “narrow” interpretation of adjectival

educations and “broad” and “more inclusive” interpretation. An adjectival educa-
tion, when it emphasizes “interconnections with other themes with similar underly-
ing issues and questions” it overwraps with ESD. It highlights six kinds of adjectival
education; “as environmental education, development education, human rights
education, climate change education, consumer education and DRR education.”
For example, environmental education, when viewed in “narrow” interpretation,
is about:
– Local environment
– Traditional biological and geographical emphasis
– Implicit acceptance of Western perspective on the environment
– Developing caring interest in environment and practicing study/research skills
(Teaching about the environment)
In contrast, “broad” and “more inclusive” interpretation of the environmental
education is about:
– Local/national/global/environmental interdependencies
– Exploring relationship between human behaviour and global eco-systems,
– Exploration also of non-Western perspectives on the environment
– Developing concerned awareness, action competence, etc. (Teaching for the
environment)
In terms of DRR education, the following illustration is given to compare the
“narrow” and “broad” and “more inclusive” interpretations:
For “narrow” interpretation of DRR:
– Learning to identify and assess risks
– Disaster preparedness and response
– Risk minimization
For “broad” and “more inclusive” interpretation of DRR:
– Building a community of safety and resilience
– Being able to deal with uncertainty
– Developing and comparing future scenarios
– Vulnerability, equity and empowerment
It is argued that the each adjectival or thematic education, such as “as environ-
mental education, development education, human rights education, climate change
education, consumer education and DRR education” or other adjectival education
such as global citizenship education, health education, biodiversity education, are
interconnected with ESD at the center with its core values. The place of ESD in the
centre of intersection of these six adjectival education is on the condition that ESD
itself is interpreted “broadly” to include all the themes and perspectives that other
related educations present.
8 Exchange and Sharing of Experiences of ESD-DRR: An International Workshop. . . 125

8.2.3 Characteristics and Features of ESD

According to UNESCO (2005) while there is “overall agreement on principles

of sustainability and supporting concept”, “no universal models of ESD exist”
Therefore, the “goals, emphases and processes must (. . .) be locally defined to
meet the local environmental, social and economic conditions in culturally appro-
priate ways.”
The essential characteristics of ESD, though implemented in different ways, are
presented as follows (UNESCO 2005).

– ESD is based on the principles and values that underline sustainable

development;
– ESD deals with the wellbeing of all three realms of sustainability—environ-
ment, society and economy;
– ESD promotes life-long learning;
– ESD is locally relevant and culturally appropriate;
– ESD is based on local needs, perceptions and conditions, but acknowledges
that fulfilling local needs often has international effects and consequences;
– ESD engages formal, non-formal and informal education;
– ESD accommodates the evolving nature of the concept of sustainability:
– ESD addresses content, taking into account context, global issues and local
priorities;
– ESD builds civil capacity for community-based decision-making, social
tolerance, environmental stewardship, adaptable workforce and quality of
life;
– ESD is interdisciplinary. No one discipline can claim ESD for its own, but all
disciplines can contribute to ESD;
– ESD uses a variety of pedagogical techniques that promote participatory
learning and higher-order thinking skills.

Another set of descriptions on the feature of ESD is as below in

UNESCO (2006).

– Interdisciplinary and holistic: learning for sustainable development in the

whole curriculum, not as a separate subject;
– Value-driven: it is critical that the assumed norms—the shared value and
principles underpinning sustainable development—are made explicit so that
that can be examined, debated, tested and applied;
– Critical thinking and problem solving: leading to confidence in addressing the
dilemmas and challenges of sustainable development:
– Multi-method: word, art, drama, debate, experience,. . .different pedagogies
which model the processes. Teaching that is geared simply to passing on
knowledge should be recast into an approach in which teachers and learners
(continued)
126 T. Shibao

(continued)
work together to acquire knowledge and play a role in shaping the environ-
ment of their educational institutions;
– Participatory decision-making: learners participate in decisions on how they
are to learn;
– Applicability: the learning experiences offered are integrated in day to day
personal and professional life;
– Locally relevant: addressing local as well as global issues, and using the
language(s) which learners most commonly use. Concept of sustainable
development must be carefully expressed in other languages—languages
and cultures say things differently, and each language has creative ways of
expressing new concepts.

8.3 Fostering Youth Leadership in Asia

Most parts of Asia are prone to many different kinds of natural disasters, such as
flood, earthquake, tsunami, typhoon/cyclones, landslides, volcanic eruption, etc.
According to UNESCO (2006), “past experience and projects have revealed the
enormously positive effects” of DRR education. Not only the knowledge but skill,
attitude and behavior for DRR have to be obtained ideally by every member of the
community with disaster risk. Nurturing leadership in the young generation is an
important strategy.
“Save Our Future—ESD-DRR International Workshop for Future Leaders in
Asia” organized in February 2013 by ACCU together with UNESCO Bangkok was
developed as a follow-up activity to the Japan Solidarity Project. Its objective were
set as (1) to strengthen bonds for future exchanges among ASPnet schools and build
cooperative relations for mutual leaning of ESD and DRR based on the experience
through solidarity and (2) to provide opportunities to the participants to enhance
their knowledge of ESD, DRR and ASPnet. Implicit objective was to organize an
international workshop in synergy between ESD and DRR education.

8.3.1 Workshop as a Holistic Learning Space

The international workshop was attended by the students from Grade 7 to Grade
12 from eight schools in five countries of Asia. The international workshop was
planned to be what Nakano (2001) describes as a typical workshop, which is
“different from the style of one-way transmission of knowledge as in the case of
traditional lecture but is a space of learning and creation where learners themselves
8 Exchange and Sharing of Experiences of ESD-DRR: An International Workshop. . . 127

Table 8.1 Learning steps of the international workshop

Phase Learning steps
Phase I: Preparing for the 1. Take photo of “favorite things” in your area
Workshop 2. Research your area
3. Introduce our school and area to other participants (using
Facebook and Twitter)
4. Let us put together all the information
These activities area basically to prepare a short presentation to
introduce participants about the school and its surrounding envi-
ronment and its past activities related to DRR
The presentation will include experience of the school and students
in participating the Japan Solidarity Project
Phase II: During the 5. Learn about ESD, DRR and ASPnet
Workshop 6. Learn about the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and visit the
affected area
7. Learn about the DRR activities by UNESCO and the Decade of
ESD (climate change, behavior change, chain reaction)
8. Share your experiences of the natural disasters and DRR activities
9. Learn other participants’ experiences of the natural disasters and
DRR activities
10. Think about the history of the earth and natural disasters
11. Create a teaching/learning materials for DRR education
12. Learn about the mindset as a DRR leader
13. Learn how to use ICT effectively (to produce DST)
14. Discuss and develop the action plan of your school
15. Participate in the reporting session and exchange gathering at
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
(MEXT)
Phase III: After the 16. Present the result of the workshop at your school
workshop 17. Share the workshop achievement, using Facebook, Twitter and
other SNS, Continue communicating with other participants
18. Stay active as a DRR leader

participate, experience, learn and create through mutual interaction and collabora-
tion.” It was planned to be of a “holistic learning experience” where four important
aspects of “Body, Mind, Spirit, and Emotion” were valued and integrated. The way
how a workshop is described in Nakano (2001) is synergetic with ESD.
A series of learning steps was designed leading up to the workshop, during the
workshop itself and to follow it up (Table 8.1) as reported in ACCU (2013).
During the workshop, while most of the time, teachers and coordinators were
basically observing students’ activities while giving advice to them from time
to time, there were two evening workshops specifically for teacher and
coordinators.
128 T. Shibao

8.3.2 Power of Storytelling Using “DST”

One of the most important tangible outputs of the workshop was to create a “story
of learning” with photographs, texts and music complied electronically using
computer, what the international workshop called “digital story telling (DST).”
Each school team comprising four students in a group created a DST work on their
learning through the international workshop.
Starting from discussion on the current behavior in using computers and social
network system (SNS), they discussed positive factors and negative factors of
Information and communication technology (ICT) on the first day of the interna-
tional workshop. The end of the second day the students began to work on their
actual DST of 3 minutes. On the third day the time before moving to Tokyo and
after arriving in Tokyo was spent on the group work to continue to finalize the own
DST. In the morning of the fourth day, the finishing touch was made to the DST
work for the the presentation at MEXT in the afternoon of the same day.
The presentation of DST, attended by outside audience as well Vice Minister of
Education and officials at MEXT, was truly one of the highlights of the interna-
tional workshop. It is because all the works by eight participating school teams were
so strong in conveying the message of their experience and learning. Every student
seemed to be confident and felt a sense of great achievement in their presentation of
DST. Everyone seemed to appreciate others’ work and recognized the power of
collaborative work not only within the school team but as a whole of the workshop
participants.
Interestingly, all the DST work were quite unique in expressing their message
without coordination to avoid overwrapping of the content.
As the DST work is a combination of text, photographs and music, it is hard to
recreate the effectiveness of each DST work. However, the text can convey at least
the key message that each DST work tries to demonstrate. Following are some
examples the text of DST work. Minimum corrections have been made to the
original texts though there are many unnatural English expressions. English was
not a mother tongue for any of the students and some texts were translated from
their mother tongue to English with the help of volunteers who supported the
students during the workshop.

SMA Labshool Cibubur, Indonesia

The Journey
ESD-DRR Intl Workshop for Future Leaders in Asia
Once, it was a peaceful place
Turned into ruins
Because of Earthquake & Tsunami
We feel the same feeling
We support you..
Only time heals..
(continued)
8 Exchange and Sharing of Experiences of ESD-DRR: An International Workshop. . . 129

(continued)
May you rest in peace
Brand new day
Sharing knowledge
On ESD-DRR
Friendship and networking
Peace Harmony
With Love
Dream Believe
With passion
With sincerity
With togetherness
With spirit
With solidarity
Let’s collaborate
Those days are gone
But our memories STAY!
In our heart, we’re 1.
We’re all Future LEADERS
Together, we can DRIVE CHANGE!!!

Lopez National Comprehensive High School, Philippines

...
Five countries,
One goal
Striving for a better future
...
Earth has been existing for extremely long period of time. . .
4.6 billion years of history!
Ever since, natural disasters have been occurring in this planet
To address these problems, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is
formed.
Education for Sustainable Development is the development through education
that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs
ESD is for PEACE. . .
ESD is for HUMANITY. . .
ESD is for UNITY. . .
ESD is for CONNECTION. . .
ESD is for HOPE. . .
ESD is for HARMONONY. . .
ESD is a matter of CHOICE. . .
(continued)
130 T. Shibao

(continued)
INNOVATE, CREATE and SUSTSTAIN real life education for future
generation.
Through ESD, the future generation will build a network of LEADERS.
To address these problems, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is
formed.
...
IGNITE THE CHANGE!

Udomdarunee School, Thailand

What we have learned?
Tsunami effects loss of assets
International exchange
Exchange culture
Exchange experience
Academic knowledge
Seismic Wave demonstration
What is ESD?
Sustainable Development¼Meet human need+Preserve the nature
Chain reaction
All for one and one for all, united we stand divided we fall
No matter good or bad behavior, it always affects yourself and everyone. . .
It’s CHAIN REACTION
Bad behavior
Good behavior
Our promise
Ride motorcycle too much –>Ride bicycle instead
Spends a lot of time on computer –>Use computer less
Leave the light on all night –>Turn the light off
Leave the door open while the air-con is on –>Close the door

Kesennuma City Matsuiwa Junior High School, Japan

Always living with the sea
Rich and peaceful nature
Port with a lot of energy
The best catch of bonitos in Japan
Our beautiful port, Kesennuma
Festival, filled with excitement
Heart-warming (relations) with the local people
Ties, through welfare studies
(continued)
8 Exchange and Sharing of Experiences of ESD-DRR: An International Workshop. . . 131

(continued)
We thought these days were going on forever
2011/3/11
PM3:46
Why?
Only we have to bear such a tragedy. . .
Only that time, we took part in the ACCU (international workshop)
We’ve heard stories from different countries
We’ve learned that everyone has experienced a lot of natural disasters.
Not only us that had a hard time
Everyone had a hard time
So we can try to (stand up)
People see our effort
Extend their helping hands
then. . .
That gives us the power to keep our effort
And that the way we keep going
That what we have realized in the workshop
We felt various things from activities
Nice smile
Everybody is active
Communication makes me happy
Music is very wonderful
We should think about disaster risk reduction more
So, let’s share our experience with everyone
We want to tell students what we have learned
We want to start our communication with foreign schools
We want to make chance to talk with foreigners
I want to know a lot of foreign (cultures)
We feel make interested in DRR
I want to go to the foreign country and know the present conditions

Fukushima Prefecture Adachi High School

We are together
2011.3.11
Almost 2 years since the day
We participated (in) the workshop
We knew also the world
there is harsh reality
We are not the only (ones) who are in difficulty
(continued)
132 T. Shibao

(continued)
However. . .
They are still smiling
Why didn’t we escape from Fukushima. . .
The reason why we stay in Fukushima is that
Because we love our hometown
Because we want to achieve a miracle through reconstruction
Because we believe that the adults protect our life
We will try our best to do anything we can do
Never give up because we are the light of recovery
Let’s walk as we look up
Let’s take each other’s hand, to support each other
Thank you everyone for your love

8.3.3 ESD Features of the International Workshop

Through examining the text of DST work, as well as by written comments by

students and teachers, certain features of the international workshop conducted in
synergy of ESD and DRR education can be highlighted.

8.3.3.1 Multi-Method

The workshop combined various modes and style of learning. The work was done
by individual or as a group. The group work either conducted in a school team or in
an international team. There are various activities such as visit to affected area of
the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, presentation of DRR activities and disaster
experiences by each school team, lecture at a university, demonstration of chain
reaction using each other’s body, discussing and feeling the length of the history of
the earth and life, producing a simple DRR education tool, taking photographs,
writing text, selecting or composing music, editing with computers, and small
games and ice break. Experiencing the coldness of snow, observing the winter
stars, playing the music and singing, even coping with the day-to-day rules and
regulations of the facility imagining the life at the evacuation centre, and travelling
together, etc. became part of the learning through the workshop. All through the
process, accompanying teachers and coordinators are friendly and occasional
advisors and co-learners with the students.
8 Exchange and Sharing of Experiences of ESD-DRR: An International Workshop. . . 133

8.3.3.2 Holistic

From the preparatory phase to the international workshop, responsibility for sus-
tainability, sense of solidarity and mutual understanding was the thread to weave
the various activities of the international workshop together. Feeling, emotion,
logical, etc. all thinking, working on craftwork to create a DRR education tool,
laughing together, etc. all contributed to the holistic features of the international
workshop.

8.3.3.3 Applicability

Learning during the international workshop was felt to be applicable to everyday

life. It leads to the future direction of the participating students as to be more
interested and active in DRR. They feel responsible for DRR but also for many
other aspects of sustainability such as peace, humanity, unity, connection, hope,
harmony and choice.

8.3.3.4 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

One of the features to be demonstrated by ESD is critical thinking and problem

solving. This feature seems to be most evident in the DST work by school teams
from the affected areas of the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and of the
nuclear power plant accidents and subsequent radiation problems. They overcame
the compartment of feeling of suffer and self-grief and regret. They realized that the
sorrow caused by disasters is shared by so many others in different countries over
period of times. They became more confident in their roles to help others including
sharing their own experiences.

8.3.3.5 Broadening the Scope of DRR Education

Each school had been implementing their DRR education in different ways but the
international workshop seemed to have further inspired to take more action by
school, by students, and together with community.
Activities of DRR education before participating the workshop by each school
included:
– in corporation of disaster experience into certain subject teaching, i.e. social
studies, English, science,
– first aid, emergency drill
– donation, charity and fund-raising
– international study tour to the affected area in Sri Lanka of the 2004 Indian
Ocean Tsunami
134 T. Shibao

– creating and sending messages to the affected areas including through Japan
Solidarity Project
Simply put, these activities do not seem to go beyond the “narrow” interpretation
of DRR education. However, according to the written commitment by each of
the school team, the perception of DRR seemed to have widened including such
plan as;
– school and community will work together
– stronger link to the external stakeholders
– setting up ESD-DRR club, establishing a youth group of ESD-DRR youth
leaders
– movement with community to reduce waste
DST and other works by students during the international workshop attest that
their learning was not limited to the immediate knowledge on DRR but extends to
other aspects which are important in ESD. What the students thought their learning
outcome at the workshop included such points as own behavioral change and
positive influence on others, working together with community, cleaning up the
international solidarity in making change, youth as change agents, respect for the
earth, environment and oneself, narrowing the gap between the haves and have-
nots, and peace.
Although the international workshop seemed to have broaden the scope of DRR
education, content leading to such issues as “being able to deal with uncertainty,”
“developing and comparing future scenarios,” and “vulnerability, equity and
empowerment” which UNESCO (2012) characterises as “broad” and “more inclu-
sive” DRR education could not directly be dealt with.

8.3.3.6 Teachers as Co-Learners

All through the process of the workshop, teachers’ role as co-learners is quite
obvious. It is reflected in some written comments by teachers such as below:
– I was very impressed by everyone’s smile and the very active and self-motivated
attitude of students. I would like to reflect what we have learned in the workshop
to my classes.
– I found that a power to live for the future was generated in communicating with
the students. I really appreciate everyone for giving me such a moving experi-
ence. I will keep the effort to support the students who are working hard to share
their ideas with people all over the world.
– Through this workshop, I feel that my students’ mind became more future-
oriented, and I think that we can work on a new project together in rebuilding
our community.
– ESD is very crucial issue we need to share with others. Elaborating DRR in ESD
needs to be applied soon.
8 Exchange and Sharing of Experiences of ESD-DRR: An International Workshop. . . 135

– I learned essentials of ESD-DRR. Proactively, I want to plan for a local pilot

workshop, strengthen ASPnet members in our region and take the lead for
ESD-DRR activities in m locality.
– Seeing that a lot could be learned from sharing experiences with disaster
response and management from other countries, this gave me the idea that I
can also organize a similar workshop.
In terms of learning for the teachers, having separate activities for the teachers
for certain time were found to be effective. Teachers could have their own space as
learners, not caretakers, and learning only among adults in two separate workshops
during the evening, when students were involved in DST related activities. One
workshop was provided by Kesennuma Board of Education on DRR Education
through ESD Framework and the other by a local NGO on the educational
programme using facilitation.

8.3.4 HOPE Framework for Analysis on the International

Workshop in ESD Point of View

HOPE stands for Holistic, Ownership-based, Participatory/in Partnership, and

Empowering based on the context and with the assumption that education and
learning seeking for sustainable future for all will bring upon a sense of hope for the
participants in such learning.
It was first developed as ESD evaluation method in tune with the principle of
ESD (Nagata 2009) and later developed into a ESD Framework, adding elements
through the discussion, field visits and sharing by ESD practitioners, policymakers
and researchers mainly from the Asia and the Pacific (Shibao 2012). In addition to
the usage for planning, monitoring and valuating ESD practice at the field level,
there is an example of using the framework to analyze current climate change
education in Kiribati (Vaioleti and Morrison 2012).
In an effort to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the international
workshop as ESD learning opportunity, students’ comments were categorized
according to the elements for each of the HOPE aspects (Guevara 2012)
(Table 8.2).
It seems that Holistic aspect, Ownership-based aspect and Empowering aspect
were felt quite strong by students, which corresponds to the generally felt atmo-
sphere at the international workshop. In terms of participation, though everyone
participated very actively it was not reflected on the students’ comments. It is true,
also, that although the programme was designed to invite full participation of the
students, they were not invited to participate in designing the programme nor
consulted on what they wanted to learn. The programme was designed and
implemented in partnership with various stakeholders such as UNESCO, ASPnet,
Miyagi University of Education, Kesennuma Board of Education and other boards
of education, supporting cooperation etc. to name a few, but it was not something
136 T. Shibao

Table 8.2 HOPE framework analysis

Aspects of
HOPE Elements and related students’ comments
H Elements of Holistic
Holistic – more integrated approach to addressing current issues and problems
– complexity and inter-relatedness of issues
– drawing from different disciplinary knowledge and perspectives
– 3H (head, hands, heart)
– intergenerational learning
Related Students’ Comments (From Workshop Reports)
• I wish to see the world without pollution and less disaster risk
• I learned the importance of not only thinking but also taking actions
• This workshop really inspires me and totally moved not only my feet but also
my mind and heart to do something which can encourage other people to be a
part of the change
• I learned about solidarity, friendship, and also learned that though we are from
different countries, we are but one. It is very heart touching
• I learned to respect the earth, environment and myself
• Natural disasters in a way mean that the earth is still active, but these days I’ve
come to think that some of them may be caused by us humans
• I hope that 10 years from now our society be the one of mutual cooperation
with others so that we can concur together any disaster in the future
• Music is the world’s common language, isn’t it! Be a person of eco-friendly
action
• I realized that our positive approach is more effective than any perfect
presentation in order to share what we are thinking
• I hope that, in 10 years’ time, the world will establish the society where there is
no war or conflict and no gap between rich and poor any longer, as well as the
society where people can value each other’s dignity
• When I go to college, I will participate in volunteer activities more positively
and would like to take a part in making comfortable society in which people
are stronger and more cooperative
• I learned the importance to find the truth, as well as the importance to take
action after learning the truth during this workshop
O Elements of Ownership-based
Ownership- – the need for individual, communities and institutions to be able to decide and
based therefore have ownership and responsibility for what they want to learn
– the need to acknowledge ownership of indigenous and traditional knowledge
Related Students’ Comments (From Workshop Reports)
• I decided to change my bad habits, and invite all of my friends to do so
• When I arrived at Tokyo Youth Hostel, I felt sad because the workshop is
almost over, but I felt happy to gain more knowledge and have new friends
during the workshop. I believe that we all can drive a change together for a
better place!
• I came to know the importance of sharing and appreciating other people’s
opinion and idea at the presentation
• I think that more opportunities such as this workshop would promote the
public to have more interest in disaster prevention
(continued)
8 Exchange and Sharing of Experiences of ESD-DRR: An International Workshop. . . 137

Table 8.2 (continued)

Aspects of
HOPE Elements and related students’ comments
P Elements of Participatory
Participatory – acknowledgement of the role that individuals, communities and institutions
play in deciding and shaping what needs to be learned, what is valuable
knowledge and how it will be learned
– use of participatory approaches
– decision-making about how resources are to be allocated
Related Students’ Comments (From Workshop Reports)
–
In Partnership Elements of in Partnership
– recognition that it is not possible for single individuals and institutions to
conduct teaching and learning that would contribute to achieving the vision of
a sustainable future for all
– resource-sharing, in terms of time, human resources and knowledge,
– shared goals and values and mutual respect
– Partnership not static but are evolving in response to context
Related Students’ Comments (From Workshop Reports)
–
E Elements of Empowering
Empowering – skills to plan, respond and mitigate disasters;
– skills to develop alternative sustainable livelihoods;
– skills to work with others, learn with others and live in peace with others
Related Students’ Comments (From Workshop Reports)
• We love and want to protect the world
• I decided to change for the better and share all the knowledge I’ve gained here
• I learned how to present my own opinions clearly
• I learned that language difference could not be a barrier
• I’d like to know more about the world and exchange a lot of information in the
communication with people all over the world

which left strong impression on students. If HOPE analysis is made using other
information than the students’ written comments it, would have illustrated the
strength in Partnership aspect.
In terms of the holistic feature of the international workshop, the choice of the
place, as well as the programme itself, was felt crucial. Visit and on-site lecture at
the affected area left the strong impression. Vast natural surroundings of snow and
forest of Zao-Shizen-no-ie (Zao Nature House) was felt effective for opening up the
mind, feeling and spirit of the participants to contributed to the holistic aspects.
Occasional interaction with elementary school students who were at the Zao Nature
House for their skiing lessons, especially for the students from overseas, must have
138 T. Shibao

some contribution to the raising the self-esteem because of the high interest from
these younger children to the participating students and resulting active interaction
beyond language barrier.

8.4 Discussion

ESD has been seeking the way how education and learning is to take place in
accordance with different contexts in pursuit of sustainable development for all of
present and in the future, requiring “a more systemic and reflexive way of thinking
and acting with the realisation that our world is one of continuous change and ever-
present uncertainty (Wals 2007).” In realization of “continuous change and ever-
present uncertainty” there is one thing which can be said to be certain; natural
hazards will continue to occur.
This aspect of DRR education is the strength in that the danger can be obvious
and tangible to those in the locality of high disaster risk so that the motivation to
participate in DRR learning is expected strong.
However, according to a journalist who has been observing DRR education in
Japan over two decades, in his conversation to the author of this chapter, notes that
DRR education which just to tell learners to prepare for the possible danger would
not sustain itself. DRR education, if based on “narrow” interpretation become
routine both teachers and students even though there is seemingly a significant
reason to learn.
ESD with its core values, characteristics and features can make a difference and
make learning opportunity more meaningful, relevant ant joyful. As ESD deals with
complexity, uncertainly, and issues without simple cut answers, traditional educa-
tion model of teachers as transmitter of stored knowledge would not work in ESD.
Instead, teacher’s role as learning facilitators and co-learners are gaining much
attention – which was exactly the case during the international workshop. It does
not undermine the importance of knowledge, however. Having and updating
knowledge is all the more important. DRR education in ESD makes the knowledge
acquisition and generation more holistic, ownership based and participatory. The
international workshop was an example of DRR education in synergy with ESD.
Any international workshop is conducted outside of regular classroom as a
special event. How to link the school and classroom activities is a challenge. Another
challenge is to reflect the learning during the international workshop in the class-
room or school activities. With only a small number of students and teachers
participating, the impact could be very limiting. However, with peer learning from
students to students and with teacher to teachers, the learning outcome of the
international workshop will be shared and utilized in formal and informal ways.
The most significant aspects of the international workshop were on one part
difference because of the international participation and on the other hand com-
monness because of the shared concern on DRR.
8 Exchange and Sharing of Experiences of ESD-DRR: An International Workshop. . . 139

In order to illustrate this point, a written comment of one volunteer, who helped
the last part of preparation of the international workshop and attended the reporting
session including the presentation of DST at MEXT, is useful. He had just retired
from almost 40 years of teaching job as headmaster of a public high school.

“Looking at the students who did not want to leave the conference room at the
Ministry after the reporting session is over, I was convinced the whole interna-
tional workshop was concluded successfully. I credit the success to those
meticulously prepared for it. I feel that this was a very meaningful workshop
for all the students from four countries abroad but all the more so for the
16 students from Japan (. . ...). I think more high school students need experience
such as this workshop where all the students have a common issue that they all
work together to find solutions for. I hope this kind of international workshop
will continue to develop like-minded students in (four) countries, and other
countries, to create space for them through such common experience.”

“Given the very nature of the current world, we have all become global citizens,”
not assuming a “deficit model that makes a judgment about who is or isn’t a global
citizen (Guevara 2013).” The international workshop provided planned lectures and
activities, but equally or more importantly the learning seems to have taken place
among students by learning from each other and through working together. In what
Guevara calls “learning through global citizenship,” “learning as relational is
essentially about local-to-local relationships, but such a leaning relationship is
embedded within learning and understanding of the global contexts (not just
about each other).” The students learning from each others’ experience regarding
experience of disaster at the beginning, through working together ESD-DRR their
learning was transformed into global concerns as environmental protection and
peace together with sense of empowerment.
This aspect was not clearly articulated in designing and implementing the
international workshop. Interaction among participants were expected for them to
“have fun” but not clearly recognized as an important and integral part of the
learning process.
Though limited in several days international workshop duration, significance of
students’ learning from each other going beyond the immediate DRR concern or
going deeper understanding of DRR should not be overlooked.
Such international workshop opportunities can be more systematically posi-
tioned in ESD-DRR efforts in different countries in linking schools and community
across the national boarders. Interaction and exchange using the internet and other
means without physically bringing the students together could be another approach
to realize the kind of relational learning.
These are the perspectives that ESD has provided in the context of DRR
education in an international workshop.
140 T. Shibao

References

Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (2013) Save our future: ESD-DRR international
workshop for future leaders in Asia (Sendai & Zao, Miyagi pref. and Tokyo, Japan, 5–8
February 2013). Workshop Report, Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU),
Tokyo http://ws.aspnet-japan-solidarity.asia/en/
Guevara JR (2012) A tapestry of HOPE: weaving stories and strengthening EFA-ESD links and
synergies. In: Guevara JR, Nagata Y, Shibao T (eds) Tales of Hope III. Asia-Pacific Cultural
Centre for UNESCO (ACCU), Tokyo, pp 181–188
Guevara JR (2013) Conclusion; Learning through global citizenship. In: Wierenga A, Guevara JR
(eds) Education for global citizenship: a youth-led approach to learning through partnerships.
Melbourne University Press, Victoria
Interministerial Meeting on the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Develop-
ment, Japan (2011) Revised national implementation plan of DESD. Interministerial Meeting
on the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, Tokyo
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2013) Public awareness and
public education for disaster risk reduction: key messages. The International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva
ISDR (United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction) (2005) Hyogo framework for
action 2005–2015: building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. United
Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), Geneva
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT) (2009, 2010,
2011, 2012, 2013) Yunesuko sukuuru to ESD (ASPnet Schools and ESD). MEXT(Japanese
National Commission for UNESCO), Tokyo
Nagata Y (2009) Introduction: ESD means spinning the threads of Hope. In: Nagata Y (ed) Tales
of Hope II: innovative grassroots approaches to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
in Asia and the Pacific. Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU), Tokyo, pp vi–ix
Nakano T (2001) Waakushoppu: Atarashii Manabi to Souzou no Ba (Workshop: Space for new
way of learning and creation). Iwanami Shoten, Tokyo
Oikawa Y (2012) Education for sustainable development and its implication to recovery process in
Kesennuma. In: Shaw R, Takeuchi Y (eds) East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Research
Publishing, Singapore, pp 165–186
Shibao T (2012) Introduction: Our journeys of Hope. In: Guevara JR, Nagata Y, Shibao T (eds)
Tales of Hope III: EFA-ESD linkages and synergies. Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for
UNESCO (ACCU), Tokyo, pp iv–xv
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) (2005) United
Nations Decade of Education for sustainable development (2005–2014): International imple-
mentation scheme. UNESCO, Paris
UNESCO (2006) Framework for the UNDESD International implementation scheme. UNESCO,
Paris
UNESCO (2007) Natural disaster preparedness and education for sustainable development.
UNESCO, Bangkok
UNESCO (2009) Review of contexts and structures for education for sustainable development
2009: learning for a sustainable world. UNESCO, Paris
UNESCO (2012) Shaping the education of tomorrow: 2012 full-length report on the UN decade of
education for sustainable development DESD monitoring & evaluation. UNESCO, Paris
Vaioleti TM, Morrison S (2012) Pacific perspective: climate change the last wave: radical H.O.P.E
in a future of uncertainty. In: Guevara JR, Nagata Y, Shibao T (eds) Tales of Hope III:
EFA-ESD linkages and synergies. Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO, Tokyo,
pp 132–146
Wals AEJ (2007) Learning in a changing world and changing in a learning world: reflexively
fumbling towards sustainability. South Afr J Environ Educ 24:35–45
Chapter 9
ESD and Education for Disaster Risk
Reduction (DRR) at Schools: Changes
in DRR Education After Great
East Japan Earthquake

Katsunori Suzuki

Abstract Analysis of DRR Education guidelines and manuals revealed that

Japanese DRR education has several unique characteristics. Firstly, prefectural
boards of education have been taking initiatives in promoting DRR education in
line with the guidance by MEXT. There are significant differences of DRR educa-
tion in different regions in the country. Since Kanto, Tokai regions as well as
Kansai region have significant risks of future earthquakes, schools in these regions
are quite active in DRR education. On the other hand, schools facing Japan Sea side
are generally less active since many of them recognize fewer risks of natural
disasters. DRR education covers different topics in different regions and in different
schools. Some covers broader topics, while others only conduct earthquake drills.
After Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995, DRR education has been gradually
expanding to cover broader topics and becoming more systematic. Great East
Japan Earthquake has accelerated such trend. Since the ability required for DRR
education can be developed through ESD, linkages between DRR education and
ESD should be further strengthened. Further development of DRR education can be
achieved through promotion of ESD.

Keywords Disaster prevention education • Disaster risk reduction (DRR) educa-

tion • Education for sustainable development • Prefectural board of education

K. Suzuki (*)
Environment Preservation Center, Kanazawa University,
Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
e-mail: [email protected]

R. Shaw and Y. Oikawa (eds.), Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster 141
Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices,
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55090-7_9, © Springer Japan 2014
142 K. Suzuki

9.1 Overview of Japanese ESD and Education for Disaster

Risk Reduction at Schools

9.1.1 Education for Sustainable Development

and Education for Disaster Risk Reduction

Education for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR Education) is one of the important
topics of education for sustainable development (ESD). As mentioned in Chap. 2,
the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan
(MEXT) (as well as the Secretariat of the Japanese National Commission for
UNESCO), in 2008, decided to promote ESD at formal education especially
through the best use of UNESCO Associated School Project (ASP). Since then,
the number of ASP schools has significantly increased from 24 in April 2008 to
705 in April 2013. However, DRR education has not been quite actively promoted
in ASP schools compared with other topics. MEXT (Japanese National Commis-
sion for UNESCO 2012) and Kanazawa University (Kanazawa University 2012)
conducted questionnaire surveys on ESD activities at ASP schools in 2012 sepa-
rately. The number of schools that provided the answer are 309 in the MEXT survey
and 101 in the Kanazawa university survey. Although the objectives and many
survey items were different, major topics of ESD activities were questioned in both
surveys. The results are shown in Table 9.1. Although the results are not identical,
similar trends can be observed. In both surveys, environment, international under-
standing, traditional culture are adopted in many schools. In both surveys, DRR
obtained less than 20 %. The Kanazawa University survey revealed that DRR is
adopted in all types of schools (elementary, junior high and senior high schools)
similarly.

Table 9.1 Topics adopted at UNESCO ASP schools (% of total schools)

MEXT survey Kanazawa University survey
Understanding on UN system 6 1
International understanding 51 43
Environment 68 79
Pease/human rights 35 24
Disaster risk reduction 19 16
World heritage 22 15
Climate change 7 3
Biodiversity 16 22
Energy 27 16
Food 32 47
Traditional culture 41 60
Others including social welfare 21 17
9 ESD and Education for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at Schools. . . 143

The survey results do not necessarily mean that DRR education is not popular in
Japan. Rather, DRR education seems to be quite popular in Japan, since Japan has
many earthquakes and MEXT and many prefectural board of education have been
taking initiatives and guidance to promote DRR education. It may be interpreted
that because so many schools have been carrying out DRR education even before
schools knew ESD, they may not consider that DRR education is a part of ESD.
For instance, the 2010 survey by Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education (Hyogo
Prefectural Board of Education 2010) revealed that 89 % of schools surveyed
(answers from 1,376 schools) included DRR education in their schools’ educational
goals and 92 % of schools carried out DRR education in this prefecture.

9.1.2 Characteristics of Japanese DRR Education

Japanese DRR education has several unique characteristics. They include:

(1) Since Japan suffers from many natural disasters, many schools have been
traditionally carrying out DRR education. It is interesting to know that in
addition to MEXT, prefectural boards of education have been taking initiatives,
in many cases, rather than municipal board of education. It can be assumed that
DRR education is so important in Japan, schools not only in big cities but all
schools in their jurisdictions are encouraged to carry out DRR education to
protect human life and safety.
(2) There are significant differences of DRR education in different regions in the
country. Since Kanto, Tokai and Kansai regions have significant risks of future
earthquakes, schools in these regions are quite active in DRR education.
As mentioned before, schools in Hyogo Prefecture are enthusiastic in DRR
education since they experienced extremely severe earthquake in 1995. On the
other hand, schools facing Japan Sea side are generally less enthusiastic since
many of them recognize less risks of natural disasters.
(3) DRR education, traditionally called as Disaster Prevention Education (DPE) in
Japan, covers different topics in different regions and in different schools. Some
covers broader topics such as daily disaster preparedness, strengthening of
schools building to prepare for earthquakes, earthquakes and other disaster
drills, consideration on resilient society etc. In Tohoku region, recovery and
reconstruction of society is also the important topic of DRR education. Some
others only conduct earthquake drills.
(4) Types of disasters vary in different regions but many types of disasters,
such as earthquakes, tsunami, volcano eruptions, floods, typhoons etc. have
been covered in DRR education, depending on specific needs in respective
regions.
144 K. Suzuki

9.2 Historical Development of DRR Education

9.2.1 DRR Education After Hansin-Awaji Earthquake

Since Japan faces much bigger disaster risks than other countries, disaster prevention
education (DPE) has been carried out for many years at schools. MEXT issued a first
reference material for DPE/DRR education in 1988. At that time main focus of DRR
education was earthquake and other disaster drills.
After Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995, the concept of DRR education
was significantly expanded. More comprehensive learning on activities, such as
self-help to protect their own lives, mutual cooperation to support with each other at
disasters, were integrated into DRR education. Challenge Plan for Disaster Preven-
tion Education (http://www.bosai-study.net/top.html, available only in Japanese)
was developed to support implementation of good DRR education and disseminate
good practices at schools and other organizations.
After Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, Kobe-Gakuin University (Kobe-Gakuin
University 2010) developed classification of various DRR education activities
into the following categories:
– Drills and field exercises
• Disaster drills
• Training of fire extinction
• Training to use AED
• Exercise at emergency shelters etc.
– Use of existing programs and DRR education materials such as DVDs
• Lectures on disasters by experts
• Lectures on actual disaster experiences by victims
• Visit to disaster prevention centers
• Classroom experiments etc.
– Learning through development processes of disaster prevention materials
• Hazard maps
• Disaster prevention newsletters
• Disaster prevention posters, disaster prevention calendars etc.
– Learning through teaching
• Opportunities to send messages to local communities
• Teaching from elder students to junior students
– Collaboration with other topics etc.
• Collaboration with social welfare activities
• Collaboration with local community events
• Collaboration with areas affected by disasters
• International collaboration etc.
9 ESD and Education for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at Schools. . . 145

Taking such classification into account, MEXT promoted comprehensive DRR

education. Such concept was integrated in the revision of the “Guidance for School
Education” in 2008/2009.

9.2.2 Revision of DRR Education Based on Experiences

of Great East Japan Earthquake

MEXT established an “Expert Committee on DRR Education and Disaster Man-

agement based on Great East Japan Earthquake” in July 2011. The Committee
issued the Interim Report (Expert Committee on DRR Education and Disaster
Management based on Great East Japan Earthquake 2011) in September 2011
and the Final Report (Expert Committee on DRR Education and Disaster Manage-
ment based on Great East Japan Earthquake 2012) in July 2012 and recommended
to take further steps for better DRR education and disaster management. The
reports emphasized the importance of self-defense to make adequate judgment
and save their own life by themselves (Jijo). They also stressed the need for mutual
cooperation with others (Kyojo). Major views expressed in the reports include:
For DRR education,
– To ensure sufficient time for DRR education;
– To promote systematic approach for disasters;
– To identify necessary knowledge at each stage—kindergarten, elementary
schools, junior high schools, senior high schools respectively;
– To more seriously learn from experiences of previous disasters;
– To strengthen quake-resistant structure of school buildings;
– To have better knowledge on earthquake early warning systems; and
– To train response actions for Tsunami
For disaster management
– To promote training of teachers and other staff at schools
– To encourage good daily communication with parents and local residents
– To develop disaster prevention manual in consultation with relevant
stakeholders.
Considering views and comments of these reports, MEXT issued the “Guide-
lines to Develop Disaster Prevention Manual at Schools (MEXT 2012)” in March
2012. Table of contents are shown as follows:
Chapter 1: About the Manual
Chapter 2: Important points in preparing disaster prevention manual at school
Chapter 3: Stages of disaster prevention and key to develop a manual
Chapter 4: Important points for kindergartens and special support education schools
Chapter 5: Reference materials
146 K. Suzuki

The Guidelines give suggestions on how to improve disaster prevention manuals

at respective schools. By law, each school is requested to develop its own disaster
prevention manual.
Objectives of the manual are (i) to establish organizational framework to prepare
for disasters with clear identification of responsibilities of individual teachers and
other staff at the school; and (ii) to establish framework to respond to disasters at
community level, raise awareness on disasters and increase disaster preparedness.
The Guidelines indicated three stage activities to be considered at schools:
(1) Risk management at daily life
– Set up of institutional framework
– Safety check activities
– Disaster drill and
– Training of teachers and other staff at schools
(2) Risk management when disasters occur
– Initial responses
– Response for secondary disasters such as tsunami, fire etc.
(3) Risk management after disasters
– Conformation of students’ safety
– Cooperation for shelter management activities
– Mental care etc.
Based on the Guidelines, disaster prevention manuals at schools have been
reviewed and revised/improved. In many prefectures, prefectural board of educa-
tion took the lead. It is worthwhile to note that all the latest revisions of DRR
manuals mainly focused on earthquake and tsunami because of Great East Japan
Earthquake.

9.3 Case Studies of DRR Education

Initiatives of boards of education vary from prefecture to prefecture. Some unique

case studies are introduced in this Section.

9.3.1 Reference Material for Disaster Prevention Education

at Schools: Case of Kanagawa

Considering serious disaster risks at Kanagawa Prefecture, the Kanagawa Prefec-

tural Board of Education developed “Reference Materials for Disaster Prevention
Education at Schools (Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education 2012)” in 2005,
and revised them in 2010. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Reference
9 ESD and Education for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at Schools. . . 147

Materials were further revised and strengthened, based on the experiences and
lessons learned from Great East Japan Earthquake.
Chapter 1: How to use this document
Chapter 2: Objectives of, thrusts and opportunities of DRR education
Chapter 3: DRR education to be learned in respective subjects
Chapter 4: Case examples
Chapter 5: Teaching materials
Chapter 6: Sample worksheets
Chapter 7: Guiding materials on Tsunami
Chapter 8: Reference materials
One of the unique characteristics of the Reference Materials is that they specif-
ically identify knowledge and attitudes to be learned in different subjects at
different grades and show easy-to-understand case materials and practical
worksheets.
Objectives of DRR education:
1. To be able to take actions with quick and adequate judgment to secure
their safety, recognizing risks and dangers at disasters and preparing for such
disasters;
2. To be able to take actions to contribute to the safety of others, other groups and
communities at the time of disasters and theirafter;
3. To be able to understand information and knowledge on local environment,
disasters and disaster prevention activities, including knowledge on mechanisms
on how disasters happen.
Abilities to obtain at different levels on DRR education
– Lower Grades (1–2 Grades) of elementary schools
To be able to follow instructions by teachers, parents etc.
– Middle Grades (3–4 Grades) of elementary schools
To understand various risks at disasters, take actions to secure their safety with
their own judgment.
– High Grades (5–6 Grades) of elementary schools
To understand various risks at disasters, take actions to secure their safety with
their own judgment and help others for their safety.
– Junior high schools
To deepen understanding on disasters on the top of DRR education at elementary
schools, obtain practical skills useful at disasters, and understand the importance
of volunteer activities
– Senior high schools
To obtain attitudes to secure not only their own safety but safety of friends,
family and other local people, skills such as emergency treatment, actively
participate in various disaster prevention activities and volunteer activities
148 K. Suzuki

Subjects/activities to learn DRR education

– Lower Grades (1–2 Grades) of elementary schools
Life environment studies, ethics, classroom activities, school events etc.. . .
– Middle Grades (3–4 Grades) of elementary schools
Social studies, classroom activities, school events etc.
– High Grades (5–6 Grades) of elementary schools
Social studies, science, physical education, ethics, classroom activities, school
events etc.
– Junior high schools
Social studies, science, health and physical education, ethics, classroom activi-
ties, student committee activities, school events etc.
– Senior high schools
Civics, science, health and physical education, home economics, classroom
activities, school events etc.
In addition, the document contains specific examples for each subject in each
grade, sample teaching materials and worksheets. This is one of the most detailed
and specific materials for DRR education.

9.3.2 School Manual on Protection Against Earthquake:

Case of Chiba

Chiba Prefectural Board of Education is another quite active case for DRR
education. It prepared a “Report on the Lessons learned from Great East Japan
Earthquake (Chiba Prefectural Board of Education 2011)” in November 2011.
Since Chiba Prefecture suffered from serious damages from Great East Japan
Earthquake, it developed a very detailed report describing how schools and students
suffer from serious damages by the earthquake, tsunami, fire and other secondary
disasters. The report also describes how shelters were opened at individual schools,
what were major problems in shelter and other activities, how support was provided
to suffered students etc. This report will provide good, concrete basis to review
lessons learned from Great East Japan Earthquake.
In addition, Chiba Prefectural Board of Education issued the “School Manual on
Protection against Earthquake (Chiba Prefectural Board of Education 2012)” in
March 2012.
Chapter 1: Preparation at schools
Chapter 2: Response actions at Disasters
Chapter 3: Actions for reopening school activities
Chapter 4: Possible response for extremely large disasters
Chapter 5: Reference for DRR education
9 ESD and Education for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at Schools. . . 149

Fig. 9.1 DRR education at schools: Elementary Schools

Fig. 9.2 DRR education at schools: Junior High Schools

Fig. 9.3 DRR education at schools: Senior High Schools

Compared with the Reference Material by Kanagawa, this Manual focused on

the actions to be taken at and after disasters happen. It contains much less infor-
mation on school curricula to prepare for disasters. It can be considered that Chiba
suffered from serious, direct damages by the Earthquake, the Manual focused on the
practical information on how to respond to disasters.
Starting from October 2011, Chiba Prefectural Board of Education has been
carrying out the survey on DRR education at schools in every fiscal year
(Chiba Prefectural Board of Education 2011, 2013, 2014).
The survey revealed that Chiba’s DRR education has been mainly focusing on
practical response actions at and after disaster occurrence and pay less attention for
basic knowledge, for instance, on the mechanism on earthquake occurrence. It is
interesting to know that in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 and 2012 surveys, there were no
survey items on DRR education in school educational curricula but in FY 2013
survey items on DEE education were included. The results show that all the schools
that responded have DRR education in their School Safety Programs
From Fig. 9.1 it can be noticed that that at elementary schools, DRR education
was included mostly in classroom activities (84.8 %) and school events (79.4 %)
and less in subjects (44.4 %), ethics (34.8 %) and period of integrated studies
(38.1 %). These features are similar in junior high schools and senior high schools
in Chizba (Figs. 9.2 and 9.3).
150 K. Suzuki

For Figs. 9.1, 9.2, and 9.3: 1: Subjects, 2: Ethics, 3: Period of integrated studies,
4: School events, 5: Student committee activities etc., 6: Classroom activities, and
7: Others

9.3.3 Basic DRR Education Policy and School Manual

on Disaster Prevention for Earthquake:
Case of Shizuoka

Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education issued two basic documents on DRR

education: Basic DRR Education Policy (Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education
2013) in February 2013 and School Manual on Disaster Prevention for Earthquake
(Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education 2012) in March 2012. School Manual on
Disaster Prevention for Earthquake mainly deals with response actions for disasters
and activities thereafter, similar to Chiba’s School Manual on Protection against
Earthquake.
Chapter 1: Daily activities to prepare for disasters
Chapter 2: Response to Tokai Earthquake
Chapter 3: Response for Extremely Large Earthquake
Chapter 4: Response of schools at risk of Tsunami
Chapter 5: Reopening of school activities
Chapter 6: Response to nuclear accidents
It should be noted that this Manual covers accidents of nuclear power plants.
While MEXT’s “Guidelines to Develop Disaster Prevention Manual at Schools”
covers nuclear accidents, many DRR education manuals do not cover nuclear
accidents, mainly because the nuclear issues are politically sensitive in Japan.
Since Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant is located in Shizuoka Prefecture and may
have relatively high risk, Shizuoka’s Manual may have to cover nuclear accidents,
different from many other manuals.
Basic DRR Education Policy is also unique in Shizuoka.
DRR education as lifelong learning
Chapter 1: Present status and challenges of disasters in Shizuoka
Chapter 2: Goals of DRR education
Chapter 3: Promotion of volunteer activities
School education
Chapter 1: Basic concept of DRR education at schools
Chapter 2: Institutional arrangements for DRR education
Chapter 3: DRR education at different educational stages
References
9 ESD and Education for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at Schools. . . 151

It covers not only school education but also lifelong education. It identified five
stages—kindergarten, elementary school, junior high school, senior high school
and university students/adults. Another important characteristic of this Manual is
that it covers not only earthquakes and tsunami but also various other types of
disasters such as volcano eruptions, flood, landslides, large scale fires etc. Similar to
Kanagawa’s Reference Material, the Manual specifies abilities to be obtained at
different stages of education. While the document is not as detailed as Kanagawa’s
Reference Material on DRR education in respective subjects/activities, it may be
considered to be even more comprehensive because it covers longer stages includ-
ing lifelong learning, and not limited to earthquakes and tsunami.
Shizuoka also carried out a survey on DRR education at schools. According to
the survey, 40 % of schools included DRR education in subjects, 33 % in period of
integrated studies and 96 % in school events. Overall trends seem to be similar to
Chiba’s results.

9.3.4 Guidelines for Disaster Prevention and Disaster

Prevention Education at Schools in Mie Prefecture:
Case of Mie

Mie Prefectural Board of Education issued the “Guidelines for Disaster Prevention and
Disaster Prevention Education at Schools in Mie Prefecture” in December 2011,
slightly earlier than many other prefectures (Mie Prefectural Board of Education 2011).
Chapter 1: About the guidelines
Chapter 2: Previous activities for DRR education at schools
Chapter 3: Problems of present DRR education and guidelines for future improvement
Chapter 4: Thrusts of future DRR at schools
Chapter 5: Record of discussions
The Guidelines mainly address disaster prevention at schools rather than DRR
education, but have some components of DRR education. Mie Prefecture places
importance on disaster prevention and has been actively promoting model school
projects with practical exercises such as disaster drills.

9.3.5 Guidelines for School Safety: Ishikawa’s Approach

Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education issued revised Guidelines for School

Safety in August 2011 (Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education 2011). The
Guidelines contains three major components of school safety, one of which is
safety from disasters (DRR education). Chapter 4 of the Guidelines addresses
DRR education as follows:
Section 1: Education for safety from disasters
Section 2: Safety management for disasters
Section 3: Evaluation of safety from disasters
152 K. Suzuki

Ishikawa Prefecture, facing Japan sea, does not have specific guidelines/manuals
for disaster prevention/DRR education. The Guidelines cover various types of
disasters including large scale fire, earthquake and tsunami, typhoons and flood,
thunder, landslides and nuclear safety. Although it is mentioned that the Guidelines
took into account the lessons learned from Great East Japan Earthquake, descrip-
tions on DRR education for earthquake are very short and simple, compared with
other guidelines and manuals mentioned above. It seems that Ishikawa has less
awareness on risks of disasters, especially earthquakes and tsunamis, although
Ishikawa suffered from Noto Peninsula Earthquake in 2007. Some municipalities
and schools are, therefore, aware of risks of earthquakes and took actions to help
municipalities and schools in Tohoku regions, but Ishikawa people in general feel
less risks and pay much less attention to DRR education. Similar trends are also
observed in other prefectures in Hokuriku - Toyama and Fukui.

9.4 Way Forward

Japanese DRR education has several unique characteristics. They include:

– Prefectural boards of education have been taking initiatives in promoting DRR
education, in line with the guidance by MEXT.
– There are significant differences of DRR education in different regions in the
country. Since Kanto, Tokai regions as well as Kansai region have significant
risks of future earthquakes; schools in these regions are quite active in DRR
education. On the other hand, schools facing Japan Sea side are generally less
active since many of them recognize fewer risks of natural disasters.
– DRR education covers different topics in different regions and in different
schools. Some covers broader topics, while others only conduct earthquake
drills.
– Types of disasters vary in different regions but many types of disasters, such as
earthquakes, tsunami, volcano eruptions, floods, typhoons etc. have been cov-
ered in DRR education, depending on specific needs in respective regions.
After Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, DRR education has been gradually expanding
to cover broader topics and becoming more systematic. Great East Japan Earth-
quake has accelerated such trend and demonstrated the need to develop ability to
make quick and adequate judgment to save our own lives from disasters. Develop-
ment of such ability can be achieved through ESD.
Some prefectures such as Kanagawa and Shizuoka have comprehensive DRR
education schemes, while some others still remain traditional disaster drill activi-
ties. Effort to establish more comprehensive and systematic DRR education should
be accelerated, in close collaboration with ESD activites.
9 ESD and Education for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at Schools. . . 153

References

Chiba Prefectural Board of Education (2011) Report on lessons learned from Great East Japan
Earthquakes
Chiba Prefectural Board of Education (2012) School Manual on Protection against Earthquake
Chiba Prefectural Board of Education (2011, 2013, 2014) Reports on Survey of DRR Education in
Chiba Prefecture (October 2011, January 2013, January 2014)
Expert Committee on DRR Education and Disaster Management based on Great East Japan
Earthquake (2011) Interim report of the expert committee on DRR education and disaster
management based on Great East Japan Earthquake
Expert Committee on DRR Education and Disaster Management based on Great East Japan
Earthquake (2012) Final report of the expert committee on DRR education and disaster
management based on Great East Japan Earthquake
Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education (2010) Survey on education for disaster prevention in
Hyogo Prefecture in Fiscal Year 2009
Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education (2011) Guidelines for School Safety
Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education (2012) Reference materials for disaster prevention
education at schools
Kanazawa University (2012) Report on Survey for Selected Japanese UNESCO ASP activities
Kobe-Gakuin University (2010) Report on classification of disaster prevention education in Japan
MEXT (2012) Guidelines to develop disaster prevention manual at schools
Mie Prefectural Board of Education (2011) Guidelines for disaster prevention and disaster
prevention education at schools in Mie Prefecture
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT) (Japanese
National Commission for UNESCO) (2012) Survey of ESD activities in Japanese UNESCO
ASP schools
Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education (2012) Manual on earthquakes disaster prevention at
schools
Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education (2013) Basic policy on disaster prevention education of
Sizuoka Prefecture
Chapter 10
City Level Response: Linking ESD
and DRR in Kesennuma

Yukihiko Oikawa

Abstract This chapter traces the responses of educational sectors such as schools
and Board of Education (BOE) in Kesennuma City on the recovery process after the
East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (EJET), linking Education for Sustainable
Development (ESD) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Firstly, the chapter
analyzes the ESD background of Kesennuma City and the damaged situations of
the city and schools in Kesennuma City after EJET immediately. It also analyzes
the responses of schools and Kesennuma City Board of Education (BOE) in order to
reopen schools and to recover the school education in Kesennuma City. And then, it
also analyzes the framework and the method for improvement of DRR education
based on experiences and lessons from EJET and ESD by introducing the research
of BOE and some case studies of schools in Kesennuma City. Lastly, the chapter
analyzes the perspectives for Recovery Education in Kesennuma City, which
should be made best use of ESD concept. ESD establishes the linkages and
collaborations between schools and communities as well as among diverse actors
inside and outside of the community. These networks function to emergency
situations after disasters such as Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR). And ESD and DRR education have the synergy with each
other focused on abilities and attitudes to be fostered as well as curriculum
development. ESD emphasize integrated study and interdisciplinary approach to
make the curriculum, on the other hand, the concept of ESD and one of Recovery
Education have the same way of doing. Therefore, ESD is a crucial concept and
method in order to promote and to improve DRR education effectively at schools
and in communities.

Y. Oikawa (*)
SEEDS Asia and Miyagi University of Education,
[Former Kesennuma City Board of Education], Kesennuma, Japan
e-mail: [email protected]

R. Shaw and Y. Oikawa (eds.), Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster 155
Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices,
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55090-7_10, © Springer Japan 2014
156 Y. Oikawa

Keywords City level response • Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) education • East
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami • Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
• Recovery education • Synergy

10.1 ESD Based in the Local Communities

of Kesennuma City

In order to concur with the international trend of sustainable development,

Kesennuma City has been implementing activities aimed at building a sustain-
able regional society through community and school education. Kesennuma
City is located in the northeast part of Miyagi Prefecture at the southern gateway
to the Rikuchu-Kaigan National Park, a town with a beautiful rias coastline
whose main industries are fishery and tourism. Based on the principle of sus-
tainable social development, the city has been the home of “Mori wa Umi no
Koibito (the Forest is the Ocean’s Sweetheart)” movement for more than
20 years, was the first city in Japan to declare itself a “Slow Food City”, and as
a fishing industry base has declared itself an “International Cultural Fisheries
Industry City”, and has promoted activities with the characteristics of environ-
mental education, making use of the city’s rich natural environment that includes
“forests”, “rivers”, and the “ocean”, as well as food education and international
education.
With regard to school education, in 2002 Kesennuma established an ongoing
systematic program, centered on Omose Elementary School, which is based in the
local community and makes use of the materials provided by the city’s rich natural
environment and collaborating with schools abroad such as US Schools. These
activities have expanded into international joint environmental studies with a
school in the United States on a “Waterfront Environment” theme, which combines
local and global perspectives and is conducted as a Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund
program (Fig. 10.1).
Not only has this program become the base for Kesennuma City’s current
ESD activities, but it has also played a leading role in promoting subsequent ESD
in Japan as a pioneer of ESD activities in Japanese school education. Furthermore,
junior high schools in Kesennuma and prefectural high schools also began
joining the program in 2004, and in addition to expanding activities involving
collaboration between elementary, junior high, and high schools while strength-
ening collaboration with the local community, specialist organizations, and
overseas institutions, the program has also spread to other schools in the region.
10 City Level Response: Linking ESD and DRR in Kesennuma 157

Fig. 10.1 ESD Leanings of Omose Elementary School Joint with US Schools [Source: Mobius 2009]

In recognition of these widespread ESD activities, in June 2002 Kesennuma City

was designated by the United Nations University as a model for the Greater
Sendai area, which has been designated as a Regional Center of Expertise
(RCE) for implementation of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sus-
tainable Development (DESD), involving the city in the promotion of ESD on a
global scale (Table 10.1) (United Nation University-Institute of Advanced Studies
(UNU-IAS) 2005).
Furthermore, in order to enhance the quality of ESD in school education, in 2008
membership in UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet) was pro-
moted under the leadership of the Kesennuma City Board of Education, and a total
of 35 Kesennuma schools - kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools,
and high schools - joined ASPnet (currently 34 Kesennuma schools in ASPnet as
one school was absorbed due to the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake)
(Oikawa 2011).
Through Kesennuma’s measures to promote ESD, various schools within the
city utilize RCE and the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (UNESCO
ASPnet) and are aiming to nurture in students a love for the region and a rich
international sensibility by reevaluating the merits and problems of the region in
which they live from an international perspective while remaining based in the local
community (Oikawa 2009).
 158

Table 10.1 Constituent of Kesennuma ESD/RCE Promotion Committee (28 organizations). Members of Kesennuma ESD/RCE Promotion Committee
(28 organizations)
Specialized
knowledge Local government (Public Local industry and press
Institutes Sector) organizations NPO and volunteer Educational organizations
Miyagi University Miyagi Prefectural Kesennuma Kesennuma Office of Tohoku Kesennuma UNESCO Omose Elementary School
of Education Civil Engineering Office Electric Power Co., Inc. Association Hashikami Elementary School
Kesennuma City Environmental and Health Kesennuma Chamber of “Slow Food” Kesennuma Shishiori Elementary School
Library Division, Kesennuma City Commerce Association Nakai Elementary School
Rias Ark Museum Planning and Policy Division, Sanriku-Shinpo Newspaper Kesennuma Nature School Omose Junior High School
of Art Kesennuma City Kahoku-Shinpo News paper “I Love Oshima” Shishiori Junior High School
Miyagi Architect Kesennuma City Board of Oshima Experience Station Kesennuma High School
Association Education Kesennuma Butterfly Association Kesennuma West High School
“Forest as Sweetheart of Ocean”
Research Group for Teaching
Materials in Region
Y. Oikawa
10 City Level Response: Linking ESD and DRR in Kesennuma 159

10.2 City Level Response in East Japan

Earthquake and Tsunami

10.2.1 Damages in Kesennuma City Caused by East

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

At 14:46 on Friday March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake of magnitude 9.0, which
epicenter was offing of the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, struck East Japan, mainly
Tohoku area. The intense quake of the maximum seismic intensity 7 in Miyagi
Prefecture continued for 5 min or more. And approximately 30 min later, an
unforeseen huge tsunami struck along Japan’s Pacific coastline from Hokkaido
area to Shikoku Area, mainly Tohoku and Kanto area. The tsunami was up to about
40 m of height maximally in Iwate Prefecture. The awful earthquake and tsunami
caused the terrible disaster which gave very serious damages to many cities in
Tohoku and Kanto area, especially in Pacific coastline. It is called “East Japan
Earthquake and Tsunami” and it was also said “The disaster which occurs once per
millennium”. (Fig. 10.2 left).
This unprecedented earthquake and tsunami caused immense damage to
Kesennuma City. Coastal areas in particular were devastated when the tsunami
struck. Moreover, Kesennuma City also sustained damages after the tsunami from
widespread fires centered on coastal areas due to oil tanks and propane gas swept
away by the tsunami catching fire. The Shishiori area in particular experienced huge
fires that virtually razed the central town area to the ground. Despite the efforts of
the rescuers who rushed to Kesennuma with tens of fire trucks from Tokyo Fire
Department to help put out these fires, it took over a month to completely bring the
fires under control (Fig. 10.2 right). The human damage caused by the Great East
Japan Earthquake was 1,040 deaths due to the earthquake (as of February 28, 2013)
and 105 deaths related to the earthquake disaster (as of January 31, 2013). Although
2 years have passed since the disaster, some 240 people remain missing, and there
are still dark shadows over the hearts of survivors and the path to recovery. In terms

Fig. 10.2 Left: Boat flowing up to the city by Tsunami, Right: Fire burning out City after Tsunami
160 Y. Oikawa

Table 10.2 State of damage in Kesennuma caused by East Japan earthquake and tsunami
(as of February 28, 2013)
Local Number of victims Overall
government Type of damage (Damaged properties) percentage (%)
Kesennuma Deaths due to the disaster *1 1,040 (8) 1.4
City (of which victim is unidentified)
Deaths related to the disaster *2 105 0.1
Missing persons*3 240 0.3
Deaths + missing persons *4 1,385 1.9
Damaged offices*5 3,314 80.7
Affected business Owners *6 25,236 83.5
*1–4: Police reports *5 Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications estimates *6 Calculated
from the 2009 Economic Census for Business Frame (Tabulation by Enumeration District)

of material losses, a total of 15,751 homes were destroyed, affecting some 9,500
households, with Kesennuma residents suffering immeasurable proprietary losses
(Table 10.2).
With regard to the city’s economic and industrial damage, of the total of 4,102
business offices in Kesennuma, 3,314 (80.7 %) were damaged in the disaster,
causing 25,236 workers to lose their jobs—83.5 % of the total of 30,232 workers
employed by businesses in Kesennuma (Table 10.2). This economic crisis has
persisted for a long period of time, affecting the subsequent employment situation.
Following the earthquake disaster, the ratio of available jobs to job seekers in 2011
was 0.19 in April and 0.17 in May—less than 0.2 for two consecutive months. More
than 1 year after the disaster, this ratio had not recovered as far a 1.0 as the
employment situation stagnated long-term.
As a result, the Kesennuma’s population of 74,247 at the end of February 2011
(before the earthquake) fell by nearly 5,000 to less than 70,000 (69,494) in
July 2012.

10.2.2 Schools’ Crisis Response to East Japan

Earthquake and Tsunami

The massive earthquake of 9.0 magnitudes on the Richter scale hit Kesennuma City
at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2011 and continued for about 5 min. The quake was so
intense that students and teachers at schools couldn’t keep standing. About 30 min
later, a huge tsunami, which happens once per millennium, attacked the coastline of
Kesennuma City. Consequently, schools and residents in Kesennuma City were
seriously damaged. Furthermore, lifelines, communication networks and means of
transportation all over the city were decimated in just a few minutes. Almost all the
schools in the coastal city of Kesennuma were left alone and unaided like “a solitary
island located on land”. Immediately, under these circumstances, schools in
10 City Level Response: Linking ESD and DRR in Kesennuma 161

Fig. 10.3 Schools hit by Tsunami, Left: Kesennuma Koyo High School, Right: Shishiori Ele-
mentary School

Kesennuma were charged with the urgent and immensely important responsibility
of “how best to protect children’s lives”.
The huge tsunami reached three elementary schools, one junior high school, one
high school, and one kindergarten in Kesennuma. Kesennuma Municipal Minami-
Kesennuma Elementary School, Shishiori Elementary School, and Oya Kindergar-
ten, as well as Miyagi Prefectural Kesennuma-Koyo High School, all sustained
devastating damages in the tsunami, especially Minami-Kesennuma Elementary
School and Kesennuma Koyo High School, which could not be restored (Fig. 10.3).
In addition, Kesennuma Municipal Hashikami Elementary School and Karakuwa
Kindergarten sustained serious earthquake damage, making use of all or part of the
school buildings impossible. Furthermore, 18 elementary, junior high, and high
schools located in coastal areas were used as evacuation centers for many evacuees
after the tsunami and were run by teachers, city employees, and local residents.
Another five elementary and junior high schools were used as bases for Self-
Defense Force, police, and fire crews, and four elementary schools provided their
gymnasiums as temporary morgues (Oikawa 2013a).
In the past, Kesennuma City had compiled school disaster-preparedness manuals
and carried out evacuation drills for various disaster scenarios in preparation for
earthquakes or tsunamis predicted for the near future. However, the immense scale
of this earthquake disaster was truly “unprecedented”, far exceeding predictions
and manual guidelines. Moreover, because the scale and nature of damage differed
greatly depending on schools’ geographical conditions and regional situations,
responding to the disaster was extremely difficult. In addition, due to the break in
telecommunications, schools were unable to receive instructions from the Board of
Education or contact other schools, and so were forced to make choices and
decisions independently without any information. At each school, teachers came
together to pool and using all their knowledge and courage to carry-out evacuations
and escapes in the nick of time. Thanks to their quick-thinking efforts, no children
in Kesennuma who were at school that day lost their lives (Kesennuma City Board
of Education (BOE) et al. 2013).
162 Y. Oikawa

Sadly, however, more than ten children who were absent from school that day, or
who had left school early or gone home before the tsunami hit did lose their lives.
Learning from this painfully tragic experience, the board of education and schools
have been charged with the responsibility of improving and formulating disaster-
preparedness education and evacuation manuals so that such children can be
protected in the future.

10.2.3 City Level Response for Schools’ Reopening

After the Disaster

Immediately following the earthquake disaster, virtually all schools were packed
with many evacuees, and many teachers and school staff ran the evacuation centers
with the help of local residents.
There were also teachers who, despite having been affected by the disaster
themselves and without means of telecommunications or transportation, went
around evacuation centers and school districts gathering and conveying informa-
tion, checking on the safety and damage status of students and notifying them of
temporary school closings and graduation ceremonies and other events. With many
schools provided not only their gymnasiums but also classrooms to evacuees, and
many other schools providing bases for Self-Defense Force teams and fire crews as
well as morgues, problems also piled up.
However, under the catchphrase “Reopening schools amidst disaster”, the
Kesennuma City Board of Education and schools strove to resolve these problems
one-by-one with the aim of reopening the schools, despite numerous restrictions and
insufficient infrastructure. In consultation with evacuees, the minimum classrooms
necessary for resuming classes were secured, school busses were provided for students
in evacuation centers outside their school district, a full school lunch system was
reestablished as quickly as possible, and other measures were implemented one after
the other. Finally, sustained by the support and encourage of people around the country
and the world, all elementary and junior high schools in Kesennuma were able to
begin the new school year together on Thursday April 21, 2011, making Kesennuma
the first city in the disaster zone where all elementary and junior high schools reopened
together. In this way, even amidst this unprecedented disaster, Kesennuma City’s
teachers and school staff worked together to fulfill their mission, pouring all their
energy into “protecting children’s lives” as well as “for the evacuation of local
residents” and “the resurrection of schools and education” (Oikawa 2013a).
In the same way, students also put into practice their disaster-preparedness
education and ESD learning experiences in the evacuation centers and at school.
Students helped prepare meals outdoors, cleared away rubble, cleaned toilets at a
time when there was no running water supply, cared for elderly evacuees,
performed musical concerts at evacuation centers, and otherwise poured their
energy into doing everything they could to contribute to the recovery of the local
community (Fig. 10.4)
10 City Level Response: Linking ESD and DRR in Kesennuma 163

Fig. 10.4 Shelter in the gym of Hasikami Junior High School after East Japan Earthquake and
Tsunami

10.3 Linking of ESD and DRR

As stated in Japan’s Basic Plan for the Promotion of Education, ESD is an important
educational principal that converges with the principles of the New Basic Act on
Education and aims to nurture “Zest for Living” in children as well as cultivate
leaders of the future. In the Great East Japan Earthquake, it can be said that ESD
most certainly played a role also in educational reconstruction after the earthquake
disaster, such as emergency management and the reopening of schools. The rela-
tionship between ESD and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Disaster Risk
Reduction (DRR) or Disaster-Preparedness can be considered from the following
three perspectives;
1. The first is the question of how ESD actually functions in DRM and DRR at the
time a disaster occurs.
2. The second is the synergy between ESD (an educational orientation) and DRR
education.
3. The third is the strength for students to overcome and recover from disasters that
is enabled by the flexibility and resilience fostered by ESD.

10.3.1 Convergence of Climate Change Education

and DRR Education

UNESCO is now stating key action themes for the second half of the DESD (2010–
2015) as “UNESCO Strategy for The Second Half of The United Nations Decade
Of Education for Sustainable Development”.
164 Y. Oikawa

Fig. 10.5 Category

of climate change
and disaster relation

In the 2nd half of the DESD, UNESCO will support Member States and other
stakeholders in addressing global sustainable development challenges through
ESD, by focusing on the following three priorities (UNESCO 2010):
• Climate Change
• Biodiversity
• Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness
In this context, those three themes are getting key issues to promote ESD in the
world including Japan at present.
With regarding to DRR education, especially, “Climate Change” and “Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR) and Preparedness” are very crucial issues. So far
uncountable people around the world have suffered massive disaster caused or
affected by climate changes such as Global Warming. For example, just during last
10 years, Hurricane Katrina attacked southern part of USA in August, 2005, and
Cyclone Nargis gave huge damages to South East Asia in April, 2008 and Typhoon
Yolanda (Haiyan) hit Philippines in November, 2013 recently. Disasters should be
categorized 4 types, according to “Climate Change Impact” and “Damage Speed”
of disasters (Fig. 10.5).
Therefore, thinking about DRR education, it will be needed to integrate climate
change education and disaster risk reduction (DRR) education, as well as both
perspectives of them in order to build its framework and to develop its programs,
and also to implement them. Climate Change Education and DRR Education can be
jointed by key word of “Disaster”, so that, with linking Climate Change Education
and DRR Education, it should be fostered abilities and altitudes of knowledge,
skills of response and preparedness to students and people in “DRR education”
(Shaw et al. 2011).
By the convergence of Climate Change Education and DRR Education thorough
integrated and infusion approaches, the object and contents of DRR education can
be categorized as follows.
10 City Level Response: Linking ESD and DRR in Kesennuma 165

Table 10.3 Learning steps for DRR education

1st step 2nd step 3rd step 4th step
Mechanism Recovery and
of climate change Impact to Response and reconstruction from
Step and disaster society and life preparedness disaster
Ability Knowledge and Recognition of Response and pre- Creativity and col-
awareness for influence and paredness for laboration for
mechanism relation mitigation recovery
Content Understanding Recognizing how Learning response Learning process,
mechanism of climate change and preparedness perspective and
climate change and disaster for disaster risk contribution to
and disaster, sci- influence soci- reduction, and creative recovery
entifically ety and live implementing and
and critically hood reconstruction

1. Learning of Climate Change, such as Global Warming, Acid Rain, Ozone Hall,
Desertification etc. thorough Climate Change Education
2. Learning of Disaster Impact such as Typhoon, Tornado, Flood, Heavy Rain,
Landslide, etc. through Disaster Risk Management
3. Learning of Risk Reduction such as Evacuation, Setting up Shelter, Disaster
Map, DRR Manual, Making DRR Organization, etc. through DRR Education
4. Learning of Recovery and Reconstruction of Infrastructure, live hood, Educa-
tion, Economy, Community etc. through Recovery Education
In addition, this integrated and infusion approach between Climate Change
Education and DRR Education also makes the learning steps and process of DRR
education very clear and systematic (Table 10.3).
Step 1: Understanding Mechanism of climate change and disaster, scientifically and
critically to foster Knowledge & Awareness
Step 2: Recognizing how climate change and disaster influence society and live
hood to foster Recognition of Influence & Relation with disaster
Step 3: Learning response and preparedness for disaster risk reduction, and
implementing to foster skill of Response & Preparedness for Mitigation
Step 4: Learning the process, perspective and contribution to creative recovery and
reconstruction to foster the imagination and creativity for recovery

10.3.2 The Role of ESD in Disaster Risk Management

(DRM) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

When considering disaster-preparedness frameworks, there are said to be three

levels of disaster-preparedness: Self-Help, Mutual-Help, and Public- Help. How-
ever, in the case of the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, although Self-Help and
166 Y. Oikawa

Mutual-Help functioned to a certain degree, these alone could not be sustained over
a long period of time. However, due to the immense scale of the disaster, it took
time for Public-Help assistance to be provided, and in fact never reaching some
areas. NPOs and NGOs played a new role of filling the time gap in such areas,
providing a new form of support through networks comprising a diversity of actors.
The Kesennuma City Board of Education refers to such assistance as “N-Help”.
ESD nurtures critical thinking and systematic thinking, as well as communica-
tion skills, information collecting and analyzing skills, and the ability to make
decisions and take action. These skills are all essential in crisis situations at the time
of disasters, and in the Great East Japan Earthquake, schools faced and overcame
difficulties by fully utilizing these skills. In fact, students also made use of their past
learning experiences and poured effort into doing everything they could to contrib-
ute to the region’s recovery.
Furthermore, ESD is being promoted through collaboration and cooperation
with the local community, other regions, and related organizations. Following the
earthquake disaster, these ESD ties also functioned effectively in each local com-
munity in terms of evacuation actions and evacuation center operation. Under these
circumstances, rooted in and having promoted ESD in cooperation with their local
communities, Kesennuma schools were able to play a leadership role as DRR and
evacuation base in this crisis situation while working in cooperation with local
residents (Mikami and Oikawa 2012).

10.3.3 Synergy Between ESD and DRR Education

in Kesennuma City

Kesennuma City Board of Education (BOE) has teacher’s researching group over
40 years. The members are selected from elementary and junior high schools in
Kesennuma City. They have been researching DRR education on the job training
after the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, conducted by supervisors of
Kesennuma BOE.
In FY 2012, they developed “DRR education Sheets (Bousai-Gakushu-Sheets)”
for promoting DRR education at each school in Kesennuma effectively. In order to
create “Disaster Education Sheets”, firstly they considered the synergy between
DRR and ESD, and they categorized and indicated “Abilities and Attitudes” which
should be fostered to children in DRR education from ESD perspectives. There are
seven kinds of perspectives for abilities and attitudes such as “Critical Thinking”,
“Imaginations and Planning for future”, “Systematic thinking”, “Communication”,
“Collaboration”, “Linkage and Connection”, and “Participation” (Table 10.4)
(National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER) 2012).
“Disaster Education Sheets” describe Grade, Subject or Field, Time period in
which DRR education should be done, and Estimated Process or Activities of DRR
Education as Lesson Plans. The sheets also include the Points or Suggestions of
10 City Level Response: Linking ESD and DRR in Kesennuma 167

Table 10.4 Synergy of Abilities and Attitudes between ESD and DRR Education
Perspectives Ability/attitude of DRR from ESD perspectives
Ability to think critically Ability to think about the way of dealing with natural disasters and
compare and review other’s opinions and information
Ability to determine a better solution regarding disaster prevention
actively and expansively
Ability to predict and to plan Ability to think what they can do for the future and for the
the future community and to plan with a sense of purpose by considering
the past disaster as a precept
Ability to think versatility Ability to have an idea regarding disaster prevention from various
and systemically points of view of oneself, community and society
Ability to communicate Ability to share opinions with each other regarding disaster pre-
vention and to find better solution
Ability to listen to other’s opinions in case of emergency
Ability to collaborate with Try to act with consideration to elderly and handicapped people in
others case of disaster
Try to help and encourage others in a difficult situation in a post-
disaster
Attitude of respect for a Try to appreciate connections between people, oneself and com-
connection munity through DRR education
Try to understand that disaster prevention requires cooperation and
collaboration by the whole community
Attitudes of positive Try to participate in the practices of DRR in the community such
participation evacuation drills positively with the awareness of DRR
Try to take actions for enhancing DRR awareness of others

Improvement and Step up the activities of DRR. The sheets also mention steps and
cycle of DRR education curriculum and empathies the linkage and collaboration
with families and community (Fig. 10.6) (Kesennuma Teacher Researching
Team 2013a).
Teacher’s researching group developed over 60 sheets and made “DRR Educa-
tion Matrix”. They set these various sheets in school curriculum depend on devel-
oping stage of students and subjects or fields. According to “Disaster Education
Sheets” and “DRR Education Matrix”, teachers at each school and grade are able to
promote systematic and effective DRR education collaborating with community
(Fig. 10.7) (Kesennuma Teacher Researching Team 2013b).

10.3.4 Case Study of DRR Education at Schools

in Kesennuma City

Based on the experience and lesson of East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, each
school and board of education in Kesennuma City tried to improve their Education
for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and recovery by making the best use of concepts
and practices of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
168 Y. Oikawa

Fig. 10.6 Disaster education sheets by teacher researching team of Kesennuma BOE (2013)
 10
City Level Response: Linking ESD and DRR in Kesennuma

Fig. 10.7 Disaster education matrix by teacher researching team of Kesennuma BOE (2013)
169
170 Y. Oikawa

Here, two such cases are discussed from different junior high schools in the area
that were devastated by the tsunami: Hashikami Junior High and Koharagi Junior
High School. And also, it should be analyzed that teacher researching group
(Kyoiku-Kennkyu-in) at Kesennuma City Board of Education proposed new
method of DRR education from ESD perspectives based on experiences and lessons
of East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
Case 1: DRR Education of Hashikami Junior High School with Commu-
nity. Hashikami Junior High School has been promoting three DRR education
cycles known as “Self-help, Mutual-help and Public-help” for 8 years. With the
experience gained from the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, they surveyed
information and reexamined their previous DRR education guidelines.
Firstly, it is important to learn the correct information concerning natural
disasters and to gain the proper skills to protect lives while at the same time,
acquiring the firm decision making skills needed even in such unexpected situa-
tions. Secondly, it is also important to prepare for disasters at the community level
and in each home. Thirdly, it is important to establish systems and lessons in order
to pass on those experiences to future generations. As a result, with the “Self-help”
lessons taught every year, students will work through effective DRR education
lessons with the perspective of knowing, preparing and acting (Oikawa 2013b).
Hashikami Junior High School in FY 2012 focuses on Self-help and Mutual-help
by working on DRR education with their local community in order to know, prepare
and act against future calamities. They have been conducting DRR activities
such as evacuation drills and hands-on activities for disaster preparation at each
grade level.
In FY 2012, the school also started conducting small and primary evacuation
drills with each community association, organized exercises to set up emergency
centers (Fig. 10.8 Left). And they created a detailed disaster prevention map in the
school district of Hashikami Junior High School.
In June, they conducted evacuation drills on the school yard with residents that
live in temporary housing. The route for this exercise made participants follow a
step-by-step procedure that saw them escape to higher ground behind the school—
Hashikami Junior High School is at an elevation of 31.5 m. However, in case
students and residents of the area believe that they are still in great danger, another
evacuation drill was organized in order to bring everyone to even higher ground.
They also conducted small scale evacuation drills to help foster the ability for
immediate decision making in case another earthquake hits the area.
In September, hands-on activities included visits by first graders to the Tsunami
Museum in Karakuwa District where they learned about earthquakes and tsunamis.
They also learnt about natural threats and the history of previous tsunami disasters.
The second graders went further in their education and took first aid and lifesaving
courses while third graders conducted educational activities of DRR for elementary
school students. The third graders also worked to enhance children’s awareness of
the DRR system by using coloring picture-stories and playing cards for the ele-
mentary school’s early and middle grade students (Fig. 10.8 Right).
10 City Level Response: Linking ESD and DRR in Kesennuma 171

Fig. 10.8 Left: Students taking lifesaving course (Hashikami Junior High School 2012) Right:
Presentation on DRR education with picture cards to elementary school students (2012)

Case 2: Altitude Display Project of Koharagi JHS. After the East Japan Earth-
quake and Tsunami, the major DRR project that students and staff at Koharagi
Junior High School worked on was their “Altitude Display Project.” Students and
staff at the school worked with their local community to install color coded altitude
signs on telephone poles throughout the school district. Each sign indicates the
approximate elevation above sea level from that point.
There are three major aims of this project. Firstly, through installing the signs
above sea level on telephone poles, students as well as the local population will
develop an awareness of altitude for disaster response management and guide
young children’s evacuation route in case of another tsunami. The second is to
strengthen the links with the local community, and the third is to remember the
lessons learnt from the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (Oikawa 2013b).

1. Activities of Altitude Display Project

Through the project, students found and marked on a map the 228 telephone poles
in their school district. What to display and how to mount them were also investi-
gated. The entire school worked together to develop their signs. After developing
their ideas, the school principal and the local leader met with Tohoku Electric
Power Company and Kesennuma City’s Division of Emergency Management to
submit their request for a construction permit which was officially accepted.
From there, the students then constructed the signs with some assistance by
the university who donated equipment and financial support. The signs were
cleverly color coded in order not to confuse small children and the elderly.
Students used five colors: red, orange, light green, dark green and blue. Based on
what happened during the tsunami, they considered the height of 30 m or more as
a safe evacuation point from a tsunami. As a result, all the city’s residents would
know to evacuate to the green sign at least if and when another tsunami
approaches (Fig. 10.9 right)
Along with local people, they divided into five groups, and each group tackled
35 telephone poles to display altitudes in November, 2012. Actually, it didn’t
quite proceed as expected since students felt unfamiliar at first. However,
residents gave demonstrations to students, and students were able to set the
signs up safely and they completed the entire installation (Fig. 10.9 left).
172 Y. Oikawa

Fig. 10.9 Left: Making color coded altitude signs (Koharagi Junior High School 2012). Right:
Installing the altitude signs (Koharagi Junior High School 2012)

2. Effects, Dissemination of Altitude Display Project

Students’ articles about the project appeared in some local newspapers in
November, 2012. They also went to nursery schools and elementary schools in
the Koharagi area to teach children about their project and how to use the signs
to recognize the appropriate altitude. They also taught evacuation methods to
small children. First of all, during massive earthquakes with long periods of
shaking, it is important for children to protect themselves from moving or falling
objects.
When the shaking has subsided, it is important to evacuate to places at least
30 m above sea level which are indicated by green or blue signs.

10.4 ESD Towards Post-Disaster Recovery

and Reconstruction

ESD will undoubtedly be an important concept in the process of post-disaster

recovery and reconstruction in the future with respect to the following five
perspectives (Oikawa 2012a, b).

10.4.1 Education Fostering Crisis-Response Skills

in Cooperation with the Local Community

As described above, it is often said that a cycle of “Self-Help”, “Mutual-Help”, and

“Public-Help” is important in disaster-preparedness education, but due to the
immense scale of the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami—referred to as a “once
per millennium” event—“Public-Help” did not function sufficiently immediately
after the disaster, making “Self-Help” the primary means of assistance—that is
to say, people’s lives were dependent on their own decision-making ability and
10 City Level Response: Linking ESD and DRR in Kesennuma 173

crisis-management skills. Furthermore, there were many communities and evacu-

ation centers where “Mutual-Help” was provided by neighborhood associations and
volunteers during evacuations and at evacuation centers.
However, it is also true that some precious lives were lost due to assumptions
such as “Normalcy Bias”, “Majority Synching Bias”, and “Altruistic Behavior”
within these processes. It can be said that improving and expanding DRR education
in cooperation with the local community by utilizing the lessons learned from these
experiences is an urgent issue.

10.4.2 Education Aiming for Coexistence with Nature

In the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Kesennuma City was subjected to the
astounding powers of nature in the form of an earthquake and tsunami, sustaining
enormous damage. However, as a city surrounded by bountiful nature that devel-
oped through the blessings of the sea, Kesennuma is naturally orientated towards
urban planning emphasizing coexistence with nature, as expressed by the city’s
reconstruction plan catchphrase “Living with the Ocean”.
Having served as the cornerstone of Kesennuma’s pioneering environmental
education and food education, ESD is expected to play an important role in
realizing this goal in the future as well.

10.4.3 Education that Passes Hometown Spirit

Down to the Next Generation

The earthquake disaster had an enormous impact not only environmentally and
economically, but also culturally. Due to the human and material damage as well as
the destruction of communities, the continued existence of traditional performing
arts and other culture is under threat. In working towards reconstruction, it is
essential that efforts are made to revive local traditions and culture, ESD is
promoted as an introduction to regional heritage education, and pride in and
affection for the local area be cultivated.

10.4.4 Sharing Learning Across Regional

and National Borders

Immediately after the earthquake disaster, Kesennuma received assistance from a

great number of sources, making people more aware than ever before of the ties
between themselves and their community and other regions and countries around
the world.
174 Y. Oikawa

In the future, too, we must take a broad perspective, valuing and respecting our
ties with the world. To enable this, we intend to nurture in students communication
skills and international perspectives by creating opportunities for sharing learning
experiences across regional and national borders.

10.4.5 Education for Building the Future

When pursing reconstruction education, it is important to nurture in children—

especially future leaders in reconstruction—the ability to design a future for
themselves and the region. To this end, Kesennuma City has held essay and drawing
contests as well as workshops in which children are asked to imagine and design the
future. In addition, to enable children to have hopes and dreams for the future even
under the difficult circumstances of the disaster zone, effort is being poured into
educational activities aimed at strengthening children’s “unbreakable spirit” and
“supple mind”—in other words, their “resilience”. For example, schools holds
workshops and lectures to which artists and sportspeople at the forefront of their
fields, astronauts, and outstanding people are invited as guest speakers; children are
sent to summer camps and on study abroad programs; and other activities aimed at
nurturing children’s aspirations are implemented proactively.

10.5 Conclusions

Kesennuma City has been promoting ESD since 2002 by collaborating with various
sectors and institutes in the community and abroad. Almost all the schools in
Kesennuma City have been acknowledged by UNESCO as an Associated School
(ASPnet) for moving ahead with ESD programs in formal education. Although the
City had been hugely damaged by this terrible disaster, the schools did not lose any
students at school, and also outside of school, they had the lowest number of victims
in total during this calamity. The ESD abilities concerning disaster risk manage-
ment worked to save lives (Kesennuma City Board of Education (BOE) 2013).
The concept of ESD is a critical, systematic and holistic way of thinking that
incorporates the ability of communication, collecting and analyzing information,
and decision making and action; in other words, fostering abilities for problem
solving, imagination and creativity to overcome the difficulties for the future.
Moreover, after the disaster, most Kesennuma schools are aiming to foster these
abilities and capabilities through ESD beyond the many difficulties caused by the
disaster of the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
On the other hand, ESD is able to establish links with communities which were
very effective in managing evacuation and shelters. It also helped to progress
partnerships with domestic and international institutions so that Kesennuma City
and schools could make the best use of the support from other regions and countries.
10 City Level Response: Linking ESD and DRR in Kesennuma 175

These concepts and links were very useful and effective in the recovery process.
In this context, ESD surely functions as a key concept of DRR and also as the
concept towards recovery from the disaster (Oikawa 2012a, b).
Following the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, those areas where there are
good ties between schools and their communities had high potential for successful
evacuation, evacuation center operation, and reconstruction. Accordingly, cultivat-
ing good relationships between schools and communities by promoting ESD is
extremely important for post-disaster recovery.
Furthermore, global networks with overseas institutions and organizations also
provide tremendous power and strength for reconstruction. Following the earth-
quake disaster, Kesennuma City received tremendous support and encouragement
from numerous schools, local governments, and organizations throughout the world
with which it had forged deep ties through such organizations as UNESCO, the
United Nations University, and the Japan Fulbright Fund, and also gained oppor-
tunities for recovery education. Furthermore, in future it will be hoped to pursue
recovery education with a view to also nurturing the next generation leaders of
reconstruction utilizing programs concerned with ESD such as OECD Tohoku
School, UNESCO International Workshop and other programs. In this way, from
the perspectives of both educational approaches and network-building, ESD is
regarded as providing an undoubtedly important function as a major principle and
means for promoting DRR education and carrying out reconstruction. In future,
Kesennuma intend to continue to stride towards recovery and reconstruction by
creating and establishing rich learning with the participation and collaboration
among diverse actors through ESD.

References

Kesennuma City Board of Education (2009) Mobius for sustainability. In: Oikawa Y
(ed) Kesennuma City Board of Education, Miyagi University Education. Japan National
Commission for UNESCO (MEXT), Kesennuma, http://rce.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/panf/Mobius_
e04.pdf. Accessed 12 Jan 2014
Kesennuma City Board of Education (BOE) (2013a) Toward the education of future leaders in
restoration and creation following disaster. Kesennuma City Board of Education, Kesennuma
Kesennuma City Board of Education (BOE) (2013b) To advance forwards after the disaster.
In: Association of Principals of Kesennuma Municipal Schools (ed). Kesennuma City Board
of Education, Miyagi University of Education
Kesennuma Teacher Researching Team (2013a) Disaster education sheets. In: Oikawa Y, Kikuta
(eds). Kesennuma City Board of Education, Kyoto University, SEEDS Asia
Kesennuma Teacher Researching Team (2013b) Report of research. In: Oikawa Y, Kikuta H (eds).
Kesennuma City Board of Education (BOE), Kyoto University, SEEDS Asia
Mikami K, Oikawa Y (2012) The goal and method of environmental education – linkage of school
and community. In: The Japanese Society of Environmental Education (ed) Environmental
education. Kyoiku Shuppan, Tokyo, pp 144–160
National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER) (2012) Final report of research for
education for sustainable development in school. National Institute for Educational Policy
Research (NIER) (ed). NIER, Tokyo
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Oikawa Y (2011) The promotion and practice of ESD in school Education. Environmental
Research Quarterly. Tokyo, 2011/No. 163, pp 68–78
Oikawa Y (2012a) Education for sustainable development and its implication to recovery process
in Kesennuma. In: Shaw R, Takeuchi Y (eds) East Japan earthquake and tsunami. Research
Publishing, Singapore, pp 165–186
Oikawa Y (2012b) Education recovery based on education for sustainable development. In:
National Institute for Educational Policy Research (ed) Educational recovery from East
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Yukaido, Tokyo, pp 175–179
Oikawa Y (2013a) Institutional response in education sector in Kesennuma City”. In: Shaw R
(ed) Disaster recovery: used or misused development opportunity. Springer, Japan, pp 89–113
Oikawa Y (2013b) Surviving disaster is lesson learnt in Kesennuma. In: SangSaeng. No. 36 Spring
2013, Asian Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding under the auspices of
UNESCO (APCEIU), Korea, pp 22–25
Shaw R, Shiwaku K, Takeuchi Y (2011) Disaster Education (Community Environment and
Disaster Risk Magagement). Emerald Group Publishing, UK
UNESCO (2010) UNESCO strategy for the second half of the United Nations Decade of Educa-
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of Expertise United Nation University-Institute of advanced studies, Yokohama
Chapter 11
Towards the Establishment
of Sustainable Campus

Takayuki Nakamura, Masayuki Fujisawa, and Rajib Shaw

Abstract Campus sustainability concept research is not that old. As per operation
is concerned, it is for last 10–15 years, where the US and European universities
have taken lead in the campus sustainability initiatives. In Japan, the initiative
started after G8 summit of Hokkaido, which led infra/facility based approach. This
gradually changed to softer aspects with involvement of students, faculty members
and incorporation in curriculum. A network called CAS NET Japan was established
recently to facilitate the process in the country, and to establish connection with
abroad. A case study from Kyoto University is presented to highly campus sustain-
ability initiative. Finally, the GET (Governance-Education-Technology) frame-
work is presented to highlight the holistic approach of campus sustainability.

Keywords Campus sustainability • CAS NET Japan • Eco-campus • Hard and soft
measures • Sustainability literacy

11.1 Background

A worldwide acknowledged notion of “Sustainable Development” was introduced

as a main idea in the final report named “Our Common Future” which was
published in 1987 by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Devel-
opment (UNCED). The notion was explained as an idea describing the develop-
ment, which satisfies the needs of both present generation and future generation.

T. Nakamura (*)
Fukushima National College of Technology, Fukushima, Japan
e-mail: [email protected]
M. Fujisawa
Facility Department, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
R. Shaw
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

R. Shaw and Y. Oikawa (eds.), Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster 177
Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Reduction: Methods, Approaches and Practices,
DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55090-7_11, © Springer Japan 2014
178 T. Nakamura et al.

In short, “Environment” and “Development” don’t compete each other but can
coexist, therefore it is needed to develop the notion adequately under the concept of
environmental preservation. After this report, the notion of “Sustainable” is under-
stood to fulfill the necessity of not only present generation but also future genera-
tion. Furthermore, the notion was succeeded to the Earth Summit, which was held
in 1992 and the World Summit on Sustainable development (WSSD), which was
held in 2002.
Followed by this movement, the resolution of “Education for Sustainable Devel-
opment (ESD)” was submitted to the 57th General Assembly of the United Nations
by Japanese government. The resolution stood on the viewpoint that human
resource, especially education was critical in order to promote and realize sustain-
able development at all levels. The resolution was successfully and unanimously
adopted. All countries are implementing their detailed action plans for ESD during
the decade from 2005 to 2014 based on the resolution. In Japan, a committee
consisting of related ministries and agencies of Japanese government was
established in March 2006 for the sake of implementing the action plans on ESD.
It is expected to realize sustainable society that each government should implement
steadily concrete policies based on each country’s action plan on ESD and each
nation ought to receive the benefit of high quality education and learn the values,
actions and lifestyles which are needed for the sustainable future and the reform of
society.
Environmental education at post-secondary levels throughout the world has
come to be predicated on, at least in part, the greening of campuses where the
courses are taught (Fisher 2003). Green practices provide legitimacy to environ-
mental education programs. A number of resources are available to assist staff and
students in getting sustainability initiatives off the ground. One in particular holds
special promise, from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Although directed largely towards the business community, the ISO 14000 series of
environmental standards may be very useful to campuses when initiating an
environmental review, or contemplating the adoption of an Environmental Man-
agement Systems (EMS). The standards provide methodological assistance to
organizations, including academic institutions, which seek to establish a workable
EMS. Use of the ISO standards has the added benefit of bringing the business world
into the campus classroom, which may provide a useful counterpoint for environ-
mental education. A case study is included which describes the experience of a
New Zealand tertiary college using ISO 14001 in its first environmental review.
Campus sustainability concept research is not that old. As per operation is
concerned, it is for last 10–15 years, where the US and European universities
have taken lead in the campus sustainability initiatives. A study conducted by
Shriberg (2002) establishes the importance of non-environmental internal condi-
tions for campus sustainability—particularly image/reputation, decision making
structures and political orientation—in providing a context for success or failure
of sustainability initiatives. This dissertation establishes that multiple, diverse
stakeholders (especially faculty and students)—with the support of top leader-
ship—are most likely to be successful in creating conducive conditions when
11 Towards the Establishment of Sustainable Campus 179

they promote sustainability in terms of institutional strategic positioning

(to institutional leaders) and an ethical/moral obligation and opportunity (to other
stakeholders). More generally, this research supports the assertion that the type of
stakeholders involved in sustainability advocacy as well as the approach that
change agents use in promoting sustainability can significantly impact results.
This study establishes many legitimate barriers to campus sustainability, but
emphasizes the importance of institutional priorities, interpersonal relationships
and cross-boundary communication as particularly problematic.
In contrast, in another study, Savelyeva and McKenna (2011) described a Global
Seminar (GS) curricula model by exploring its on-the-ground participatory prac-
tices in America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The GS model provides a
broader notion of teaching and learning for sustainability that incorporates greening
and education for sustainability into curricula. This participatory model proves the
emerging shift towards a new paradigm of teaching and learning for sustainability
in academia. Koester et al. (2006) described greening of campus approach, which
bridges academic content, administrative policies, and facilities management prac-
tices. It enables a campus-wide unfolding of education for sustainability. Tracking
the history, evaluating the progress, modifying the approach and continually
refocusing the effort are presented as essential to a whole-systems approach.
In a survey, Beringer et al. (2008) described that the majority of higher education
institutions in Atlantic Canada are engaged in sustainable development work, most
notably in the area of curriculum. Sustainability research and scholarship is spread
amongst faculty and students; many institutions have inter- or multi-disciplinary
research structures to address sustainability questions across campus and in collab-
oration with community partners. Much unrealized potential remains within phys-
ical operations, faculty/staff development and rewards, and student opportunities.
Curtin Environment Awareness Team (CEAT) is a group of volunteers at Curtin
University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia, who work together to
promote awareness, activities and information dissemination related to sustainable
use of the university campus (Carol 2006). In 2003 an attempt was made to
integrate a CEAT concern relating to a declining habitat for bird and animal life
around a campus lake, with an undergraduate problem-based design project in the
School of Architecture. After the students’ work was completed, CEAT reviewed
the projects and selected three schemes for possible inclusion in the program of
capital works for the campus. CEAT members and students were surveyed after the
design project was completed. The survey results indicated that CEAT members
considered that student involvement enhanced the quality, scope and likely imple-
mentation of the project. The student survey results indicated that this project raised
their awareness of the complexity of addressing sustainable use of the campus and
identified the potential influence of architect designed projects on the natural
environment. However, in spite of formal acknowledgement of the value of the
project by the Vice Chancellor of the university, there was no indication that the
university plans to move from the current ad hoc approach towards sustainability
either in the management of the campus or in the core teaching programs.
180 T. Nakamura et al.

11.2 Sapporo Sustainability Declaration

Regarding the activities on campus sustainability, the declaration named “Sapporo

Sustainability Declaration” which was adopted at G8 University Summit held in
Sapporo in July 2008 contributed to the initiation of the movement. G8 University
Summit took place in line with the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in 2008. The
responsibility of university and the concrete measures to realize campus sustain-
ability were discussed at this university summit. The following statements in the
declaration are remarkable.
– University should take on the role to propel sustainability in the society.
– University should conduct social model-experiments by utilizing its campus to
realize sustainability and have close relationship with various stakeholders in the
society.
University owns its campus as a place where university is able to experiment its
sustainability by utilizing its state-of-the-art knowledge and technology. Therefore,
the action plan of university for sustainable campus, green campus or global
warming can contribute to the creation of social model for seeking sustainability.
It is indispensable in terms of educating students who will be responsible for
sustainability of the society in the future that university is acknowledged a social
experimental place for sustainability. In other words, university campus is able to
be utilized as an ideal teaching material in line with as an experimental place. In
that sense, university has capacity to contribute to the creation of the society for
future generation.
Around the time of this declaration, American and European major universities
began to establish organization, which implements their campus sustainability. In
addition, the worldwide networking on campus sustainability is being accelerated.
For example, The American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commit-
ment (ACUPCC) was published in 2006 in the United States. Taking the opportu-
nity, the attitude of university for sustainability completely changed and many
universities are making lots of efforts in order to accelerate campus sustainability
at their campuses.
On the other hand, in Japan, few universities started the activities on campus
sustainability. In addition, there was no establishment of Japanese network on
campus sustainability. Under such a circumstance, the Great East Japan Earthquake
occurred in March 2011 and it raised a question whether Japan is truly sustainable
or not. Furthermore, taking the opportunity of the large increase of electricity fee,
not only the energy issue but also the evolution of our lifestyle is being discussed. In
that sense, now is the time to have to consider seriously if the university is surely
sustainable or not.
Based on the above-mentioned background, Kyoto University decided to give
the priority to campus sustainability, accelerate related activities on campus sus-
tainability and establish its domestic and foreign network from fiscal 2012. Our
definition of sustainable campus is as follows.
11 Towards the Establishment of Sustainable Campus 181

In order to accelerate campus sustainability in Japanese universities and contribute to create

more environmentally sustainable society in Japan, we more promote environmental
activities of the “hard aspects” such as energy saving, CO2 reduction, traffic plan, waste
management, etc., and at the same time, we more carry out the “soft aspects” such as
environmental education, regional cooperation, food issue, effective administration, etc.

This definition might be somehow vague and some people may insist that the
definition should be clearer and more concrete. However, the reason why we don’t
define like that is that we think the activities on campus sustainability ought to be
based on the diversity of the society, culture and economic situation of the com-
munity and the region which the university belongs to.

11.3 Establishment of CAS-Net JAPAN

In March 2014, the Campus Sustainability Network in Japan whose abbreviation is

CAS-Net JAPAN was established. This is the first domestic network on campus
sustainability for higher educational institutions in Japan. Kyoto University takes
the role of the secretariat of CAS-Net JAPAN. This network was established based
on the one-year discussion of several meetings consisting of a hundred of faculty
members, experts, staffs and students in Japan. This network doesn’t intend to lead
the participants to one direction, but intends to exchange the views, opinions and
good practices on campus sustainability into the participants. As the result, this
network leads to accelerate the activities on campus sustainability of Japanese
universities.
The goal of CAS-Net JAPAN is the same as the above-mentioned definition of
sustainable campus of Kyoto University. In addition, the establishment of cooper-
ative relationship with the advanced network of foreign universities is emphasized
in that goal. It is also underlined to create activities on campus sustainability at each
university by utilizing its own characteristics and exchange those activities amongst
the members of CAS-Net JAPAN.
In order to accomplish the goal, CAS-Net JAPAN implements the following
activities.
(1) Information sharing and distribution to promote campus sustainability at Jap-
anese universities
(2) Survey and study about the activities on campus sustainability at foreign
universities
(3) Promoting the cooperation on campus sustainability with inside and outside
institutions
(4) Creating and disseminating the evaluation system on campus sustainability in
Japan
(5) Research on university administrative systems to promote campus
sustainability
(6) Engaging students to create sustainable campuses
182 T. Nakamura et al.

Fig. 11.1 Framework and activities of CAS-Net Japan

(7) Awarding superior activities on campus sustainability

(8) Creation of website and distribution of newsletter
(9) Other necessary matters to achieve the purpose of CAS-Net JAPAN
In addition, the themes to be dealt with at CAS-Net JAPAN are tentatively
identified, as shown in Fig. 11.1.
The first annual conference was held at Kyoto University on March 26, 2014.
The number of the universities and related institutions which join CAS-Net JAPAN
was 24 as of May 1, 2104. The members of the CAS-Net JAPAN Steering
Committee consists of academicians, professional and practitioners from a diverse
background. CAS-Net JAPAN has established four working groups in 2014 and the
topics of these working groups are as shown in Fig. 11.2.

11.4 Activities on Campus Sustainability

at Kyoto University

The energy consumption and CO2 emission of Kyoto University increased by 93 %

in 2006 in comparison with the level in 1990 because of the increase of graduate
students and the upgrade of facilities and experimental devices. As the result, the
carbon dioxide emission of Kyoto University has become the fourth largest place in
Kyoto-city and the cost of energy consumption of Kyoto University has increased
by about 35 million US dollars per year. In addition, the energy saving measures
have been performed in just faculty departments only.
11 Towards the Establishment of Sustainable Campus 183

Fig. 11.2 Working groups of CAS-Net for 2014

Upon reflection of these circumstances, the “Energy Saving Policy of Kyoto

University” was created in April 2007. The policy demands that each faculty
department should reduce energy and greenhouse gas per unit area by 1 % a year,
and submit a report regarding the result of the reduction. The department has to
explain the reasons officially if it is not able to achieve 1 % reduction. Moreover,
the “Tax System for Campus Sustainability of Kyoto University” was created in
January 2008 (Fig. 11.3). Under the scheme of this system, the tax is imposed on
each faculty department based on the usage of electricity, gas and water of the
former year as the following flowchart shows.
The tax is utilized to implement campus sustainability at Kyoto University.
Figure 11.4 shows some examples of the facilities, which were installed into the
university buildings by using this tax system. The result of this tax system is as
follows. Kyoto University was able to reduce 144,241 GJ and 7,346 t-CO2 for
5 years. The reduction energy cost is equivalent to 1.86 million US dollars. In
addition, this tax system has been prolonged for another 3 years.
As above-mentioned, Kyoto University was mainly implementing “hard
aspects” of campus sustainability. However, the implementation was not conducted
under the recognition of holistic approach of campus sustainability including “soft
aspects”. Education and Research at Kyoto University have being conducted under
the recognition of the importance of environmental issues. Yet, it was the reality
that there was no recognition as the themes of campus sustainability and little
contribution to the society and the community. Moreover, food issues which are
familiar with students, faculty members and staffs have not been recognized as one
184 T. Nakamura et al.

Fig. 11.3 Tax system for campus sustainability in Kyoto University

Fig. 11.4 Certain measures implemented in Yoshida Campus of Kyoto University

11 Towards the Establishment of Sustainable Campus 185

Fig. 11.5 Framework of eco-campus to sustainable campus in Kyoto University

of the important items of campus sustainability until now. Based on this situation,
Kyoto University changed the direction by using a slogan named “from Eco
Campus to Sustainable Campus” and the Facilities Department has been making
lots of efforts to explain the difference between Eco Campus and Sustainable
Campus as shown in Fig. 11.5.
In order to investigate the worldwide stream on campus sustainability and to
adapt it to the activities on campus sustainability of Kyoto University, several
officials from the facility department participated in the annual conference of the
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE),
which was held in Los Angeles in October 2012 and made presentation explaining
the activities on campus sustainability of Kyoto University. A series of these types
of visit broaden the knowledge of facility department and also helped to dissemi-
nate Kyoto University’s experiences worldwide.
At the same time, AASHE called for the submission of the international pilot
project on the evaluation of campus sustainability. This international project aimed
to provide an opportunity for worldwide universities to join the Sustainability
Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) and evaluate their activities
on campus sustainability. AASHE aimed to improve the STARS evaluation system
and make it more globally applicable. Kyoto University decided to participate in
this project in December 2012 because Kyoto University expected to evaluate its
present situation on campus sustainability and research its future direction. The
report of Kyoto University was drafted by its faculty members and staffs of
Facilities Department. The final report was submitted to the secretariat of
AASHE in December 2013 after the authorization of the President of Kyoto
University. Kyoto University had the second place of the submission in Japanese
universities after Hokkaido University. The evaluation was categorized as
“Reporter” due to the international pilot project; however the real score was
186 T. Nakamura et al.

Fig. 11.6 Campus sustainability office in Kyoto University

recognized as “Silver”. To continue the initiatives in a systematic manner, an Office

for a Sustainable Campus was established as one of the organizations of Facilities
Department in April 2013 in order to promote campus sustainability at Kyoto
University as shown in Fig. 11.6. The office is recently implementing lots of
activities on campus sustainability at Kyoto University under the cooperation of
faculty members, staffs and students.
In line with this establishment of the office, the survey to the advanced foreign
universities and the networks of campus sustainability has been conducted and the
team participated several overseas conferences to disseminate and gain experi-
ences. Lastly, in line with the first annual meeting of CAS-Net JAPAN, Kyoto
University organized an international symposium in March 2014 for the establish-
ment of sustainable campuses under the theme of the combining “hard” and “soft”
networks to establish sustainable, environmentally-conscious campuses. This inter-
national symposium has become an epoch-making event to initiate and promote
campus sustainability in Japan.

11.5 Way Forward

Campus sustainability concept has evolved recently, mostly started from green
campus or eco-campus or environmental friendly campus. It has two concepts:
the soft aspect, which is more on awareness raising or inclusion of university wide
curriculum of sustainability; and the hard aspects, which is more on the facility
11 Towards the Establishment of Sustainable Campus 187

related issues. In Japan, it is rather recent concept, which took a boost after the G8
Hokkaido summit in 2008. The initiative started mainly with the hard aspects, to
make the university campus energy efficient, water efficient and producing less
amount of garbage and recycling system of garbage etc. Gradually, the concept
evolved to softer aspects of involving students and faculty members. The estab-
lishment of CAS-Net Japan is a classic example of look at the balanced mixture of
soft and hard aspects.
To continue this effort, a GET framework is proposed, which has Governance,
Education and Technology dimensions. Governance part includes: (1) specific
policy on sustainable campus at the university, (2) administrative set-up with proper
staffs, (3) specific budget support and (4) implementable action plans and actions at
different level. Education part needs following measures: (1) general course for all
university students, (2) specific and specialized courses in relevant graduate school,
(3) eco-literacy test made mandatory for all new students, (4) campus sustainability
day/week is observed campus wide, and (5) linking campus to the community.
Technology part includes: (1) development of new technology through innovative
research, (2) encourage innovations in technology, and (3) focus on process tech-
nology on participation and involvement. In summary, developing campus sustain-
ability model needs a process based approach, it needs institutionalization of
efforts, it needs to have learning through network, needs measurable progress,
and need to emphasize campus community linkage.

Acknowledgements This chapter is a product of cooperation among different stakeholders over

years. This is highly acknowledged.

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