The “Nikkei SDGs Festival in NYC” was held from July 11-12, 2022 as a side event of the UN’s High Level Political Forum (HLPF). Hosted by Nikkei Newspaper and Nikkei Business Publications, the two-day event featured experts of various fields from both the United States and Japan. During a discussion session on city initiatives relating to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the Americas represented Yokohama City alongside representatives from New York City and the Brookings Institution.

The session was moderated by Simon Mundy of the Financial Times, lead the discussion on the topic of how cities are relevant and important to the SDGs, and the conversation was kickstarted by comments from Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution, on the role of cities in driving progress on the SDGs. Aissata Camara, Commissioner for Policy and Strategic Initiatives & Chief of Staff for the New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, spoke on various topics, including how New York City is involved with promoting the SDGs and how the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) came about. Mr. Toshikazu Yazawa, Deputy Director of Yokohama City’s Americas Office, introduced Yokohama City’s experience on the importance of VLR utilization and intercity collaboration.

Since its establishment in 2019, the City of Yokohama’s Rep. Office to the Americas has been a member of the SDGs Leadership Cities Network led by the Brookings Institution, has been discussing the promotion of municipally-lead SDGs initiatives with other SDGs-promoting cities around the world. This session (recording available here) serves as a valuable opportunity for private companies to learn more about how cities and regions around the world are facing the SDGs and what actions they are taking.

Yokohama City will continue to progressively promote the SDGs through its public-private partnerships and its local initiatives.

Click here for a recording of this Nikkei SDGs Festival in NYC session, by Nihon Keizai Shimbun (external link):
https://events.nikkei.co.jp/reportvideo/session4_220712/