This study investigates the potential of Climate Transition Bonds as strategic financial instruments in promoting green transformations within Japan’s carbon-intensive sectors. Through a qualitative case study approach, we assess four prominent bond issuances—Japan Government Bonds, MUFG Bonds, TEPCO Bonds, and SMBC Bonds—focusing on their contributions to emissions reduction, renewable energy expansion, and technological innovation. The analysis reveals that these bonds play a pivotal role in enabling Japan to advance its carbon neutrality goals by financing key decarbonization projects. However, significant challenges persist, including the limited scalability of emerging technologies, disparities in economic benefits across sectors, and governance inefficiencies that may hinder optimal outcomes. The findings underscore the necessity of refining collaborative governance frameworks to enhance transparency, stakeholder inclusivity and regulatory oversight in the deployment of these bonds. This paper contributes to the discourse on sustainable finance by elucidating the policy implications of climate transition bonds, proposing avenues for improved governance, and highlighting the structural adjustments required to align these financial mechanisms with Japan’s long-term sustainability objectives.

This study examines how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks intersect with climate-related disasters and social inequality. While ESG practices are promoted to enhance corporate accountability and resilience, their implications for disaster risk reduction and equity remain underexplored. We conduct a structured literature review across four intersections: ESG–disasters, ESG–inequality, disasters–inequality, and their combined nexus. This systematic review analyzes 269 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2024 using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and bibliometric co-word mapping to identify thematic clusters across ESG, disaster, and inequality research. Findings show that ESG has been widely analyzed in risk disclosure, green finance, and accountability but less in addressing inequality. Disaster–inequality studies highlight vulnerable groups at heightened risk, yet few works integrate all three areas. This review highlights the need for greater integration among ESG, disaster, and inequality frameworks. Ultimately, ESG should be understood not only as a reporting tool but also as a driver of equitable resilience.

The 1.5-degree lifestyles aim to reduce household carbon footprints across six areas (food, housing, mobility, consumer goods, leisure, and services), as identified by IGES, relying on public efforts. This study seeks to understand Japanese university students’ perceptions of 1.5-degree lifestyles, their preferred actions for implementation at the individual, family, and community levels, and the top three enablers and barriers they face. Using a questionnaire based on the KIDA (knowledge, interest, desire, action) framework, which aligns with IGES’s six sectors, data from 244 responses collected via snowball sampling were analyzed. Results reveal low awareness of 1.5-degree lifestyles among Japanese university students, along with a moderate desire to learn more. Gender differences were significant, with females showing higher awareness, desire, and action compared to males. Three common barriers identified include challenges with work–life balance, economic concerns, and gaps between knowledge and action. Recommendations emphasize increasing youth awareness and encouraging action on 1.5-degree lifestyles through early environmental education, youth-focused communication (such as social media), and securing strong political support to help address practical challenges.

To reach the 1.5-degree goal of keeping the global warming within the limit of 1.5-degree of the Paris Agreement, the 1.5-degree lifestyle concept has been proposed. To achieve the goal of reducing carbon emissions, it is difficult to rely solely on the efforts of governments and experts, and it is necessary to rely on the efforts of all of humanity. Changing consumption patterns and lifestyles has become the trend solution to control carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. This study is based on a database and reviewed 24 articles that indicate the concept of 1.5-degree lifestyles. In addition, the study drew 4 perspectives to review the potential and practices of 1.5-degree lifestyles in Japan, which are urban and rural perspective, age perspective (aging/traditional population and generation Z/younger generation), gender perspective, and the role of information and communication technology (ICT) perspective. The study also proposed several reflective recommendations based on the Education Technology Governance framework (ETG framework).