1960s
Manifestations of Pollution

The Kitakyushu region has developed as one of the four major industrial zones in Japan since the establishment of the government-run Yawata Steel Works in 1901, and in the 1990s, with the onset of industry, Japan experienced rapid economic growth. In the 1990s, the country experienced rapid economic growth, but at the same time, the growth of the economy and rapid industrialization brought about a pollution problem that had never been experienced before, causing serious damage.

• With the development of heavy and chemical industries, pollution problems became more serious (pollution from soot and factory effluent).
• Japan's First Smog Alert Issued for Kitakyushu City
• Dokai Bay water quality standards: This survey found that the bay contained 0.6mg1 of dissolved oxygen, 48.4mg/ of COD, and high concentrations of toxic substances such as cyanide and arsenic, and was subsequently called the "Dead Sea" Dokai Bay.

Urban renewal through partnership

The city of Kitakyushu implemented pollution control measures ahead of other municipalities in order to overcome serious pollution.

Citizens on the Rise

The first to speak out against pollution was a citizens' movement of mothers concerned about the health of their children, who under the slogan "We want blue skies", voluntarily surveyed air pollution conditions and actively campaigned for improvements from corporations and the government based on the results.

Results of Pollution Control

As a result of the joint efforts of citizens, businesses, research institutes, and the government to combat pollution, the environment in Kitakyushu has been greatly improved.

Sea and sky revived

1980.
Kitakyushu International Training Association (KITA) established.

KITA was established in 1980, led by local economic organizations, with the aim of transferring the technology and experience that Kitakyushu has cultivated to date to developing countries. Since then, KITA has been implementing international technical cooperation in the fields of environmental conservation and industrial technology by accepting trainees and dispatching experts with the support of more than 200 local companies and government agencies.Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

※Transitioned to Kitakyushu International Technical Cooperation Association in April 2012.

• Acceptance of trainees from overseas: 9,754 trainees from 165 countries (as of March 31, 2020)
• Dispatch of experts overseas: 211 people from 25 countries (as of March 31, 2020)

1990.
Global 500 Award from the United Nations Environment Programme

1992.
Receives UN Local Government Award at Rio Summit

1997.
Kitakyushu Eco-Town Plan approved.

In the 1990s, the development of approximately 2,000 hectares of idle land in the Hibikinada area, which had been developed as an industrial park, was taken into consideration, and the "Kitakyushu Eco-Town Plan" was formulated and approved by the government, taking advantage of the port functions, the managed disposal site, the experience of overcoming pollution, and the accumulated technology of resource-recycling industries. Since then, we have been promoting the "Kitakyushu Eco-Town Project" as a unique regional policy that integrates "industrial promotion" and "environmental conservation" with the aim of building a resource-recycling society.

2000.
Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment" Adopted at UN SCAP Environment Ministers Meeting

2002.
The "Kitakyushu Initiative" is clearly stated in the official document (implementation plan) of the Johannesburg Summit.