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Sustainability Governance: Legal, Economic, and Institutional Mechanisms"

No. 2 Thematic Issue (2025): Thematic Issue Sustainability Governance: Legal, Economic, and Institutional Mechanisms, Guest Editors: Karlis Ketners, Vitalii Kotsur

Exploring Sustainability in State Governance during Crises: A Case Study of Japan and New Zealand

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3280/riss2025oa21082
Submitted
23 settembre 2025
Published
30-12-2025

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse effective practices of sustainable public governance in crisis management, with a particular focus on Japan and New Zealand. The study was based on public administration in Japan and New Zealand. For the Japanese government, the 2011 earthquake was a crisis event, and for New Zealand government, the COVID-19 pandemic was a crisis event. The study analysed how the Sendai city authorities have been actively involved in modernizing critical infrastructure and residential buildings since the 2011 earthquake and promoting renewable energy programs. In November 2023, within the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, a lecture on earthquake safety was held for Kyoto University students. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan has been strengthening the earthquake resistance of educational institutions and as of 2024, 100% of schools have been modernized. After the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, New Zealand authorities introduced a system of 4 levels of warning, according to which different rules for staying in public places were applied depending on the level of epidemiological danger. The vaccination rate reached more than 80% in a brief period, which enabled the introduction of a traffic light system, according to which, if the population had a vaccination certificate, they could return to their pre-pandemic lifestyle. The study explores how sustainable approaches – such as infrastructure modernization, disaster risk reduction, renewable energy promotion, and inclusive health governance – contributed to long-term societal well-being. The findings emphasize that sustainability-oriented strategies in public administration strengthen crisis resilience and enhance national preparedness for future challenges.

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