Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations are a shared blueprint for creating a better world. The 17 goals and their associated targets are a call to action, recognizing that all countries must work together in global partnership to improve health and education, reduce inequality, and preserve our oceans and forests.
The SDGs are gaining traction in Japan and many other parts of the world, and more than half of the world’s population currently lives in urban areas, making the power and efforts of local governments and municipalities pivotal for achieving the SDGs.
The City of Yokohama, Japan has been working tirelessly to advance these goals and share its knowledge with the world. Here you will find information on the SDGs and how Yokohama has been adjusting its policy and approach to reduce its carbon emissions, and help accomplish the SDGs in Japan and around the world.
For more information on the SDGs and individual goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Voluntary Local Review:
Tracking the progress of the SDGs in Yokohama, Japan.
SDG Leadership Cities Network:
Vanguard cities for the promotion of SDGs.
Urban Solutions:
Yokohama’s global cooperation for urban solutions
(External link).
Future City & Net Zero Carbon:
More initiatives for the SDGs and net zero carbon.
Standing with Ukraine:
Supporting international peace and justice.
Learn More
Yokohama City Presents Initiatives as an Environmentally Advanced City in Asia at the 5th UN Forum of Mayors
The Director of the European Office attended the Fifth United Nations Forum of Mayors, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 6 to 7, 2025, as a representative of Yokohama Mayor Takeharu...
Taiwan Design Research Institute and Circular Economy-Focused Companies Visit Yokohama to Explore Circular Economy Initiatives
In August 2025, a delegation of about 20 members from the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI), along with companies and startups working on circular economy and circular design, visited Japan to...
Gaining inspiration from Europe for advancing Yokohama’s circular economy
On August 21, the City of Yokohama Europe Representative Office visited the ICLEI European Secretariat in Freiburg to meet with Regional Director Wolfgang Teubner and ICLEI’s Circular Economy team...
Yokohama Mayor Meets UN Secretary-General Guterres at TICAD9 to Deepen Global Cooperation
On Thursday, August 21, Mayor of Yokohama, Japan, Takeharu Yamanaka held talks with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who was visiting Yokohama to attend the 9th Tokyo International...
Sharing Yokohama’s Experience of Waste Reduction: “Towards Zero Waste” with ASEAN Cities
Ryoichiro Orii, Director General of the International Affairs Bureau, represented the City of Yokohama at a City Talk Session titled Towards Zero Waste. He presented how Yokohama has succeeded in...
Yokohama Featured in Global Toolkit on Subnational Diplomacy As Leading Case of City-Led International Engagement
In July 2025, Yokohama was featured in a global strategic toolkit for city, state, and regional governments on engaging internationally. The Toolkit, titled “Global Engagement, Local Benefits: A...