Although collaborations between ESD practitioners and multiple sectors in the environmental field have been advanced, activities have not yet involved key stakeholders from fields and sectors relevant to local issues described in Section 2-4. Consequently, members expressed a strong desire to establish a regional base to comprehensively promote ESD in this region. The RCE structure was again introduced in a meeting in January 2014, which sparked efforts towards the establishment of RCE Hokkaido Central. Our short history is as follows:

First Step: Workshops and consensus meetings concerning RCE
EPO Hokkaido, an intermediary organization founded by the Ministry of Environment, conducted hearings to ascertain issues regarding the pursuit of a sustainable society in Hokkaido. These were conducted with the United Nations University, other domestic RCEs and the many stakeholders relevant to ESD in Central Hokkaido.

January 25, 2014
ESD Practitioners Meeting: “Towards the post decade of ESD”
Organized by EPO Hokkaido, NPO Sapporo Freedom School ‘Yu’
Venue: Sato-Suisan hall, Sapporo

April 11, 2014
Consensus meeting regarding establishment of RCE
Participants: Department of Environmental and Symbiotic Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Sciences, Rakuno Gakuen University (hereafter DESSRU), EPO Hokkaido, Hokkaido Environment Foundation

May 12, 2014
RCE information exchanging for steering committee members of EPO Hokkaido
Organized by EPO Hokkaido
Venue: Sapporo city Hall, Sapporo

July 8, 2014
Hearing with UNU-IAS
Held by EPO Hokkaido
Venue: United Nations University, Tokyo

August 26 – 28, 2014
7th Asia-Pacific RCE meeting
Participant: Prof. Kaneko from DESSRU
Venue: Penang Island, Malaysia

September 1 & October 7, 2014
Two consensus building meetings regarding establishment of RCE in Hokkaido
Organized by EPO Hokkaido
Venue: Hokkaido Environment Support Center, Sapporo

October 25, 2014
2014 Sustainability Week of Hokkaido University
5th International ESD Symposium on Strategic ESD in the Next Generation
Organized by EPO Hokkaido; Department of Environmental and Symbiotic Science, DESSRU; GSESHU
Venue: Conference Hall of Hokkaido University, Sapporo

November 4-7, 2014
Poster presentation at the 9th global RCE meeting
Participants: Prof. Kaneko from DESSRU and Ms. Arisaka from EPO Hokkaido
Venue: Okayama, Japan

Second Step: Activities for establishing preparation committee of RCE Hokkaido Central
Eight persons engaged in ESD from DESSRU, GSESHU, EPO Hokkaido and so on organized the following symposiums, information exchange events and consensus building meetings concerning the establishment of RCE Hokkaido Central.

Mid-December, 2014
The eight above-mentioned individuals contacted all municipalities in Central Hokkaido and approximately 1,500 organizations registered in email magazines of EPO Hokkaido to participate in the RCE.

December 24, 2014
Information briefing for establishing RCE Hokkaido Central accredited by United Nations University
Organized by above eight promoters concerning the establishment of RCE Hokkaido Central.
Venue: GSESHU, Sapporo

February 2, 2015
First meeting of preparation committee of RCE Hokkaido Central
Organized by above eight promoters concerning the establishment of RCE Hokkaido Central.
Venue: Hokkaido Environment Support Center, Sapporo

February 9, 2015
Consensus building meeting on ESD ×CSR
Organized by above eight promoters concerning the establishment of RCE Hokkaido Central.
Venue: Hokkaido Environment Support Center, Sapporo

March 5-8, 2015
8th Asia-Pacific RCE meeting
Participant: Prof. Kaneko from DESSRU
Venue: Cebu, the Philippines

March 26, 2015
SDGs seminar and consensus building meeting
Organized by EPO Hokkaido
Planning and cooperation by Environment Partnership Committee and RCE Hokkaido Central promoters.
Venue: Sapporo Kokusai building, Sapporo

Third Step: Activation of preparation committee for RCE Hokkaido Central
The first meeting by the preparation committee of RCE Hokkaido Central was held in February in 2015. Participants agreed to the formal establishment of the preparation committee for RCE Hokkaido Central. This committee comprises diverse stakeholders dealing with varying areas of the environment, community planning, indigenous peoples, international cooperation and exchange, primary industry, and so on. The committee appointed the representative, deputy representative, and administrative section to arrange and submit the application to this RCE.

April 6, 2015
Second preparation meeting of RCE Hokkaido Central
Organized by preparation committee of RCE Hokkaido Central.
Venue: Hokkaido Environment Support Center, Sapporo

June 1, 2015
Third preparation meeting of RCE Hokkaido Central
Organized by preparation committee of RCE Hokkaido Central.
Venue: GSESHU, Sapporo

August 26, 2015
Core members meeting of RCE Hokkaido Central
Organized by preparation committee of RCE Hokkaido Central.
Venue: Hokkaido Environment Support Center, Sapporo

December 14, 2015
Core members meeting of RCE Hokkaido Central
Organized by preparation committee of RCE Hokkaido Central.
Venue: Hokkaido Environment Support Center, Sapporo

☆December 17, 2015 　Acknowledged by UNU-IAS as Hokkaido Central

☆March 16, 2016　The Council of RCE Hokkaido Central has established