CONTACTICoE-COHERENCE JAPAN
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Globally promoting Integrated Research on Disaster Risk
JHoP established the 18th IRDR ICoE (International Center of Excellence) in the world in 2021 as a Japanese research center to promote international integrated research on disaster risk in collaboration with overseas organizations under the framework of Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR). IRDR is a decade-long research programme co-sponsored by the International Science Council (ISC) and UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The name ICoE-Coherence is derived from the aim to promote the coherence among the post-2015 international frameworks; the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement.
Official name: IRDR ICoE for Coherence among Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation, and Sustainable Development (IRDR ICoE-Coherence)
Conceptual Diagram of JHoP and ICoE-Coherence
ICoE-Coherence, together with JHoP, is internationally promoting coherence to tackle the three interrelated social challenges: disaster risk reduction (DRR), sustainable development, and climate change, with the aim of comprehensively strengthening resilience in the face of catastrophic disasters that are predicted to strike Japan in the first half of the 21st century.
International Activities
Since its establishment, ICoE-Coherence has focused on promoting science and technology, fostering human resource development to enhance disaster resilience and the integration of science and technology-based disaster risk reduction (DRR) through international cooperation and support from scientific community. These efforts have also included the development and utilization of academic infrastructure.
To further these objectives, the center has organized various forums and workshops. Notably, in July 2022, it co-hosted an Academic Forum on "How to build resilience to overcome upcoming catastrophic disasters which may ruin our country." Additionally, the BOSAIKOKUTAI (National Conference for Promoting Disaster Risk Reduction) session in October 2022 brought together perspectives from academia, local governments, the private sector, and the media to discuss preparation and response strategies for catastrophic disasters.
ICoE-Coherence has played a pivotal role in advancing discussions on the Science Council of Japan’s recommendations on disaster risk reduction. In 2023, the center actively promoted the recommendation titled "Transforming Society to Become Resilient and Sustainable." Building on this, the International Conference on Science and Technology for Sustainability 2023: Transforming Society to Become Resilient and Sustainable Beyond Catastrophic Disasters was held in September 2023. The conference drew 81 in-person participants and 419 online attendees from 12 countries and regions. As a pre-session of the IRDR, the recommendation was shared with the international community during the event, fostering broader engagement and dialogue.
Additionally, ICoE-Coherence convened an International Advisory Board (IAB) meeting in November 2024, inviting experts from diverse fields related to disaster risk reduction—spanning research institutions, universities, private sector entities, UN agencies, and NGOs—from various regions around the world. The meeting fostered interdisciplinary discussions to address global challenges in disaster resilience.
ICoE-Coherence logo
The connection around the letter ”o” represents global "coordination, integration, and harmony" in our activities. Blue represents partnership in SDG Goal No. 17, green represents climate change adaptation, and gray represents disaster risk reduction.