Interview Series #2
Matsui Ichiro, Mayor of Osaka City:
“Striving to become a leading sustainable city through achieving the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision”
ーーThe Osaka Blue Ocean Vision was shared in the G20 Osaka Summit held in 2019. The aim is to eliminate additional pollution caused by marine plastic waste by 2050. How did the summit help Osaka City make progress in its environmental efforts?
Osaka was the first Japanese city to host a G20 summit. It served as a great opportunity to enhance Osaka’s status as a city as well as attract international attention to its features. At the time, as Governor of Osaka Prefecture, I instructed the staff to make thorough preparations for disseminating Osaka’s food and culture to people from around the world. In addition, as many reporters and VIPs had gathered from all over the world, we made efforts to ensure that the reporters would spread this information internationally.
Given that the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision is a global vision for addressing marine plastic waste, I think the summit was a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase Osaka’s highly advanced, pioneering environmental initiatives to the world.
ーーCould you tell us about any plastic waste-related initiatives that have been led by Osaka City?
Back when I was Governor of Osaka Prefecture, we announced the Osaka Declaration toward Zero Plastic Waste with Mr. Yoshimura, then Mayor of Osaka City, before the G20 summit. Osaka City is currently working on reducing single-use plastic, promoting the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), and preventing littering of plastic waste with the help of citizens and businesses.
Osaka City and Osaka Prefecture formulated an action plan for the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision in March 2021. The plan was jointly formulated by Osaka City and Osaka Prefecture following the adoption of the proposal developed by Osaka City and Osaka Prefecture in the Cabinet Office’s SDGs Future City and Local Government SDGs Model Project in July 2020.
We are working with citizens and businesses here too toward establishing recycling systems such as plastic bottle collection. In addition, we created a video message on plastic waste reduction by the Governor of Osaka Prefecture and Mayor of Osaka City, sharing information both domestically and internationally.
ーーThe G20 Osaka Leaders’ Declaration mentions innovation and reform. How is Osaka City addressing issues such as climate change and marine plastic waste, as well as working toward achieving a virtuous cycle of environment and growth?
Given the global environmental issues acknowledged in the G20 Osaka Summit, I think it is important to implement climate change mitigation measures, promote the transition to an environment-oriented society, and help create a virtuous cycle of environment and growth.
We have to capitalize on the fact that Osaka and Kansai are home to many companies and universities possessing advanced environmental technology. We want to help create an environment that allows such companies and universities to take on challenges, as well as contribute to spreading innovation, among other things. As one of the main concepts of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan is “People’s Living Lab” the event will be a vital opportunity to spread innovation aimed at achieving the SDGs. I hope many people gather to the Expo from all over the world so that we can make progress toward achieving the SDGs.
ーーUNEP-IETC engages in the transfer of technology to developing countries, primarily in the area of waste management, and will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this October. Do you have a message for UNEP-IETC, which is an international organization based in Osaka?
UNEP-IETC has helped pass on the spirit of the International Garden and Greenery Exposition, Osaka, Japan, 1990, whose theme was harmonious coexistence of nature and humankind, and has implemented initiatives to tackle environmental issues faced by developing countries by leveraging Osaka’s knowledge and experience in environmental conservation. As Osaka is aiming to become a leading sustainable city that can contribute to achieving the SDGs, UNEP-IETC is an international organization that plays a vital role in our city.
Plastic pollution (e.g., marine plastic pollution) is a global environmental issue that has gained much attention in recent years. The whole world needs to work together to tackle this issue. As an organization specializing in waste management, I think UNEP-IETC will play a significant part in these efforts.
It was the Osaka City Government that invited UNEP-IETC to the city 30 years ago, and we want to do what we can to support its activities going forward.
