Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) strives to make sustainable development a reality in Asia and the Pacific, using the links it has with various international organisations, governments, businesses and NGOs. Its activities cover a wide range of practical policy research on up-to-date environmental issues. The Institute was established in 1998 with support from the Japanese government and Kanagawa Prefecture, and has its headquarters in Hayama, with a vibrant, international staff base. Offices and local centres in Tokyo, Kansai (Hyogo Prefecture), Kitakyushu, Beijing and Bangkok, create a regional and global network for strategic research activities.