On August 31, 2007, Hyogo-Kobe area became one of "Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE on ESD)" endorsed by United Nations University. The initiative is titled "RCE Hyogo-Kobe."

The objective of RCE Hyogo-Kobe is to promote education, at the local community level, that will contribute to the creation of a sustainable society, with a broad range of issues in perspective, including environment, society, and economy.

Organizations and individuals from many different fields (i.e. various levels of schools in the area; social educational institutions such as museum; civil organizations; local governments; corporations; and media organizations) will participate in RCE Hyogo-Kobe. The aim is to share information and knowledge about ongoing efforts for realizing a sustainable society, create venues for dialogue, and facilitate new collaborations.

Hyogo-Kobe area has an accumulation of experience that will become invaluable in the creation of a sustainable society, including the reforestation of the Rokko Mountain Range; environmental conservation efforts such as the project in Toyooka City, which was initially prompted by the effort to preserve endangered storks; and a wide variety of civil activities which were triggered by the experiences gained from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.

With an eye toward sustainable society, RCE Hyogo-Kobe will place special emphasis on the promotion efforts to expand "social capital," such as communication among people, human networks, and trust. As the region that experienced the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, RCE Hyogo-Kobe will endeavor to create and disseminate a culture of disaster prevention and reduction. Furthermore, through collaboration with international organizations active in Kobe, it will strive to promote international exchange and understanding.

At the initial phase of RCE Hyogo-Kobe, the organizations and institutions listed below will act as key institutions. The initiative will gradually develop as an open network to engage a wider range of stakeholders including local schools and corporations.

• Kobe University
• The Museum of Nature and Human Activities, Hyogo
• Hyogo Environmental Advancement Association
• Asian Disaster Reduction Center
• United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), Disaster Management Planning Hyogo Office
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Hyogo International Centre
• Hyogo International Association
• Kobe Shimbun (Kobe Newspapers)
• Sun Television

The RCE Hyogo-Kobe administrative office will be set up in the Action Research Center for Human and Community Development of Kobe University Graduate School of Human Development and Environment. Kobe University will actively engage in RCE Hyogo-Kobe by advancing its education for sustainable development through its ongoing educational project, "Development and Promotion of ESD with Action Research," which has been selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's grant program "Support Program for Contemporary Education Needs."