17 December 2024, Kobe City, Japan – The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), in collaboration with the Hyogo Prefectural Government, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), the Hyogo Safety Day Promotion Council and the Graduate School of Disaster Resilience and Governance at the University of Hyogo, hosted the “30th Anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Commemoration Event: SDGs International Forum 2024—New Developments in Disaster Prevention and Reconstruction in the Age of Climate Crisis: From the Perspective of Disaster Waste.” The forum was held at Lasse Hall in Kobe City, with simultaneous Japanese-English interpretation, and was attended by approximately 100 people from Japan and abroad.

At the event, Mr Noriaki Suga, Chief Executive Officer of Hyogo Prefecture’s Environmental Management Department, delivered the opening address. Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, he stated, “At that time, a massive amount of disaster waste, 20 million tons, was generated, and we had to deal with it by trial and error.” He noted that, learning from past challenges, “In 2005, the prefecture, cities, and towns concluded a mutual support agreement for disaster waste disposal and have since been carrying out initiatives, such as tabletop exercises and mock drills.” He also hoped that “through this forum, we will deepen understanding of the disaster waste issue and use it to raise awareness of disaster prevention.”

In the first part of the event, Dr Masahiro Osako, a fellow at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, delivered a keynote speech on the subject of “Disaster Waste Disposal and Sustainability.” In the first half of the lecture, he explained the process and basic policy for disaster waste disposal, using the example of the Noto Peninsula earthquake, emphasising that “sorting at temporary storage sites facilitates recycling and leads to rapid processing.” He also introduced an example of how a wide-area resource recycling system, in which wood waste is transported by sea and recycled at cement plants, played a major role during the disaster. In the second half, he proposed eight initiatives to deal with disaster waste (including processing infrastructure, digital transformation and building people and systems), concluding that “seamless measures that are useful both in peacetime and in times of disaster are necessary for creating sustainable resource circulation, waste processing and a sustainable society that is resilient in the event of a disaster.”

Dr Glenn Fernandez from Rabdan Academy in the United Arab Emirates then presented case studies on capacity building for disaster waste management in the Philippines and Fiji. He highlighted the severe impact of disaster waste, stating, “Huge amounts of disaster waste are generated in a short period of time, causing health hazards, environmental pollution, and delays to recovery and reconstruction efforts.” Citing the case of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, he noted that “disaster waste far exceeded the Philippines’ total annual waste generation.” He also pointed out that little progress has been made in quantifying disaster waste or integrating it into recovery plans in the Philippines. He proposed that “disaster waste management should be included in the country’s waste management framework and long-term plans.” He emphasised the importance of human resource development, including training for local government officials, and the success of establishing the Philippine Association for Disaster Waste Management (PADWM)

In the second part of the panel discussion, diverse perspectives were shared on the theme of “Disaster waste disposal and advance preparation.”

Dr Yoshikazu Otsuka, General Manager of the Environmental Technology Division at Okumura Corporation, introduced the technological developments the private company has been advancing since the Great East Japan Earthquake. These include estimating the type and amount of waste using hyperspectral cameras, developing an optimal treatment system using digital transformation technology and simulating the collection and transportation of fallen ash. He also highlighted how an integrated disaster waste management system enabled efficient waste handling with minimal personnel. He cited “intellectual curiosity,” “conviction and enthusiasm” and “a broad perspective” as the essence of disaster response, stated that the importance of “what you see, what you feel, and how you act” is key, and noted his intention to continue to work on social contributions and technological innovation.

Mr Shinji Takahara, Director of Hyogo Prefecture’s Environmental Improvement Division, reflected on how local government officials struggled to respond to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake when waste disposal systems were underdeveloped. He noted that since then, subsidy systems have been revised, cities and towns have undertaken demolition projects, support agreements have been developed, and tabletop exercises and mock drills have been carried out. Based on their experience providing support following the Noto Peninsula earthquake, he pointed out that the lessons learned regarding toilets and rubble disposal had not been fully utilised. In preparation for a Nankai Trough earthquake, he proposed that “it is necessary to utilise ICT and digital transformation, strengthen treatment facilities and develop human resources,” emphasising that “raising the awareness of each and every prefectural resident will be the foundation for disaster waste management.”

Dr Fernandez shared his experiences in Japan and the Philippines and the challenges of disaster waste management from an international perspective. He highly praised the disaster waste disposal support networks established by local governments in Japan. He reported that a network is being built in the Philippines in cooperation with several universities.

Dr Osako emphasised the need to balance disaster preparedness with building a long-term sustainable society. He stated that all stakeholders, including ordinary citizens, must be responsible and collaborate to attain a resilient society. He emphasised the importance of reviewing disaster experiences, organising lessons learned and using them to build the next society.

Professor Mayumi Sakamoto of the Graduate School of Disaster Resilience and Governance at the University of Hyogo introduced the idea of “phase-free,” which removes the distinction between the “usual” and “what if (in the event of a disaster)” scenarios, stating that “improving what you normally do will lead to preparation for what might happen.” For example, she cited the Imabari Clean Center (Bari Clean Center) in Ehime Prefecture, which functions not only as a waste disposal facility but also as a community hub that can serve as an evacuation centre during disasters. She also emphasised that as the number of people with firsthand experience of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake declines, it is important to apply the lessons to future disaster prevention efforts. Furthermore, she stressed the importance of viewing disaster waste as part of “disaster risk management” and strengthening preemptive measures.

Presentation by Coordinator Professor SakamotoLastly, Dr Linda Anne Stevenson, Acting Director of the APN Secretariat, delivered the closing remarks. She highlighted the lessons from the forum, emphasising that disaster waste is not just a logistical issue but a significant opportunity to promote innovation, collaboration and sustainable development. She noted that all the lectures had highlighted the importance of partnerships and innovation. Furthermore, Dr Stevenson said that at the heart of these efforts are the people and communities directly affected by disasters, and their resilience, needs, and aspirations must remain at the heart of all our actions. She emphasised her commitment to stronger collaboration and stated, “I look forward to moving forward together with you all, with our shared knowledge and vision.”

APN will continue to work with Hyogo Prefecture, related organizations and research institutions to further its efforts to deepen the awareness of Hyogo residents about climate change issues.

For a detailed schedule of the forum, please refer to the programme below: