Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

What Institute for Global Environmental Strategies does

The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) is a Japanese public interest foundation (公益財団法人) established in 1998 under an initiative of the Japanese Government with support from Kanagawa Prefecture. Headquartered in Hayama, Kanagawa, with additional offices in Tokyo, Kobe, Kitakyushu, Bangkok, and Beijing, IGES operates as a strategic environmental policy research institute and think-tank focused on the Asia-Pacific region. Its work addresses the "triple planetary crisis" of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, structured around three focal areas (Climate Change, Biodiversity, Circular Economy) and five cross-cutting lenses, currently executed through its 9th Integrative Strategic Research Programme (ISRP9) launched in July 2025.

IGES's core offerings are research outputs rather than commercial products: policy recommendations, flagship publications (White Paper series, Asia-Pacific Synergy Report), and a portfolio of databases and online tools including the REDD+ Database, IGES GHG Emissions Database, IGES List of Grid Emission Factors, A6ISR 2025 Global Carbon Market Project Database, the Japan 2050 Low Carbon Navigator pathway simulation tool, and the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) Lab. A distinguishing institutional feature is its hosting of UN-designated technical infrastructure: the IPCC Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Technical Support Unit (TSU) and the IPBES Task Force on Scenarios and Models TSU, as well as operating the Paris Agreement Article 6 Implementation Partnership (A6IP) Center in cooperation with the UNFCCC Secretariat.

Revenue is generated through a non-commercial model consisting of Japanese government grants (Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), multilateral project funding (UN agencies, Asian Development Bank), international research grants, and a tiered membership program with nominal fees. Go-to-market is event- and partnership-driven, anchored by the annual International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific (ISAP) and direct engagement with national and municipal governments, UN agencies, and academic institutions. No products or services are sold commercially; pricing is not publicly disclosed because the organization does not operate on a transactional basis.

Name

Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

Legal name

公益財団法人 地球環境戦略研究機関 (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies)

Website

https://iges.or.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

IGES is a Japanese public interest foundation conducting strategic environmental policy research across Asia-Pacific, hosting IPCC and IPBES technical support units and partnering with UN agencies and governments on climate, biodiversity, and circular economy challenges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Policy Research

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carbon Market & Policy Advisory (Compliance Schemes, ETS Design, Article 6) (EUABADAA), Adaptation & Resilience Planning Platforms (CAPEX Prioritization, Cost–Benefit, NBS) (EUABALAH), Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

Keywords

• Environmental policy research
• Climate change strategy
• Biodiversity conservation
• Circular economy research
• Sustainability advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hayama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Project Funding: IGES operates as a public interest foundation (公益財団法人) established under initiative of the Japanese Government in 1998 with support of Kanagawa Prefecture. The organization receives funding from Japanese government ministries (Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), international organizations (UN agencies, ADB), and other research grants. Revenue supports strategic research activities across climate change, biodiversity, circular economy, and sustainable development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IGES is a strategic environmental policy research institute and think tank that conducts research on climate change, biodiversity, and circular economy across the Asia-Pacific region. The organization delivers policy recommendations, strategic research, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement through co-design, co-production and co-delivery with governments, UN agencies, and research partners. It also maintains a portfolio of public-facing data tools and platforms, including emission factor databases, a low carbon pathway navigator, and a Voluntary Local Review platform for cities.

Product overview

IGES is a strategic environmental research institute, not a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of research-based tools and platforms: the Japan 2050 Low Carbon Navigator (pathway simulation tool), REDD+ Database (project profiles), Voluntary Local Review Lab (VLR platform), GHG Emissions Database, Grid Emission Factors database, and Carbon Markets Now podcast. These are complemented by publications, events (notably ISAP - International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific), and research units covering Climate Change, Biodiversity, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Finance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Japan 2050 Low Carbon Navigator

Quantifiable outcome

• Contributed expert insights to international discussions and UN reports on synergies between climate change mitigation and SDGs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026IGES worked in partnership with UNESCAP, UNEP, and Asian Development Bank to develop the Asia-Pacific Synergy Report. This collaboration supports the translation of regional insights into global and local implementation of sustainability solutions.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Partnership with UNEP for developing the Asia-Pacific Synergy Report and promoting synergistic approaches to the triple planetary crisis and SDGs.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Collaboration with ADB on the Asia-Pacific Synergy Report and regional action programmes for sustainable development.
• Ministry of the Environment, JapancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Established the Technical Support Unit (TSU) for the IPBES Task Force on Scenarios and Models in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.
• International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Renewed Cooperation Agreement to strengthen long-term cooperation on sustainable development areas of mutual interest.
• Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2022Signed MoU to support Japan on meeting the 2030 Agenda and Paris Climate Agreement through mobilizing Japanese capital markets for climate action.
• Circular Regions (Norway)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2022Cooperation agreement to promote circular economy from regional and city perspectives.
• PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (PT SMI), IndonesiamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2019MoU on Academic Partnership to work together on Sustainable Development Goals implementation.
• ASEAN SecretariatcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018IGES contributed to the ASEAN Climate Change Strategic Action Plan (ACCSAP) 2025-2030 and the ASEAN State of Climate Change Report (ASCCR) in 2021.
• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Partnership since 2010 for promoting transfer of environmental technologies from Japan to India. Jointly launched the Japan-India Technology Matchmaking Platform (JITMAP) in 2016.
• International Research Network for Low Carbon Societies (LCS-RNet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIGES operates the LCS-RNet, an international research network focused on low carbon society research and knowledge sharing.
• Low Carbon Asia Research Network (LoCARNet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIGES operates LoCARNet, a regional research network promoting low carbon development in Asia.
• UNFCCC SecretariatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIGES serves as secretariat for the Paris Agreement Article 6 Implementation Partnership (A6IP) Center, working in cooperation with the UNFCCC Secretariat to promote high integrity carbon markets.
• World BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with the World Bank on carbon markets and Article 6 implementation under the A6IP Center.
• Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on scoping project for promoting the Regional-CES concept in Southeast Asia.
• IPCC Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIGES provides technical support to the IPCC TFI through the IPCC TFI Technical Support Unit located at IGES.
• IPBES Task Force on Scenarios and ModelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIGES hosts the Technical Support Unit (TSU) for the IPBES Task Force on Scenarios and Models of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
• IPCCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPCC TFI Technical Support Unit (TSU) is hosted at IGES to provide technical support for greenhouse gas inventories.
• Japanese Center for International Studies in Ecology (IGES-JISE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization working on international studies in ecology.
• Global Environmental Action (GEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization for global environmental action initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): Independent energy and climate research organization focused on market-based decarbonization, clean energy transitions, and climate finance — overlaps with IGES' sustainable finance and Article 6 work and competes for policy-advisory mindshare globally.
• Carbon Market Institute: Australia-based independent peak body for carbon markets and climate finance, with policy advisory and capacity building — overlaps with IGES' A6IP Center mandate on carbon market integrity and policy design in the Indo-Pacific.
• Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI): International organization mobilizing capital for climate action via green bond standards and verification — IGES has a formal MoU with CBI on Japan's 2030 Agenda; overlapping climate finance policy and standard-setting mandate.
• International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT): Independent research organization providing technical analysis to regulators on transportation emissions and clean energy policy — partial overlap with IGES' climate change unit work, particularly on Asia-Pacific decarbonization pathways.

Direct peers

• International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD): Canada-based sustainable development policy research institute known for SDGS, climate policy, and trade-and-environment work. Overlaps with IGES on evidence-based policy research, flagship publications, and engagement with multilateral institutions.
• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI): India-based research institute working on energy, environment, and sustainable development, with which IGES has an active partnership (since 2010) on Japan-India technology transfer — overlapping mission, research model, and Asia-Pacific orientation.
• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): Policy research institute with strong climate, water, and sustainable development portfolios and regional centers globally — comparable to IGES in its mission, multi-disciplinary research staff, and bridging role between science and policy.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global environmental research organization producing policy research, data platforms (CAIT, Climate Watch), and advisory work on climate, forests, water, and cities — directly comparable to IGES in mission, product mix (reports, tools, databases), and policy-advisory model.

Regional players

• International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD): Intergovernmental knowledge and learning center serving the eight Hindu Kush Himalaya countries on environment and sustainable development; IGES has a renewed Cooperation Agreement with ICIMOD, indicating comparable regional research-institute profile.
• Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES): Japanese non-profit conducting policy research and advocacy on climate change, energy, and sustainability — most directly comparable domestic peer given shared geography, language, and Japanese government engagement model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IGES_EN
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IGESjapan
• Facebookfacebook.com/IGESJapan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-global-environmental-strategies-japan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Global Environmental Strategies