Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the contributions of the Asia-Pacific region to leading practice in sustainability in higher education (HE), as prelude and orientation to this special issue collection from different countries and regions. Design/methodology/approach-This is a critical review that includes international and regional policy contexts in sustainability and "education for sustainable development" (ESD), whilst exploring the trajectories of key initiatives across the region and considering the broader context of sustainability innovation within the HE sector. Findings-The Asia-Pacific region offers many creative initiatives and shows considerable progress in ESD and in understanding the learning dimensions of sustainability. At the same time, it mirrors global trends in that further work is needed to promote systemic change in educational arenas, particularly in terms of strategic integration within HE institutions. The Asia-Pacific contributions to this collection demonstrate the need to harness national policy, to develop local and regional initiatives and to work effectively towards more profound change in HE curricula and through collaboration with external communities and stakeholders. Originality/value-This is a distinctive collection of new initiatives from the Asia-Pacific, which compensates for the comparative lack of dissemination in this area. There is considerable sustainability innovation emerging in this region which shows leading-edge responses from within the HE sector on a number of key challenges and issues.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to review key developments and the role of governmental support in the field of education for sustainable development (ESD) in higher education in Japan. Design/methodology/approach -This is an analytical review paper on policy and practice, using an evaluative perspective to consider developments, challenges and prospects for ESD in higher education in Japan and the significant drivers for existing and ongoing activities. Findings -This paper reveals the significance of the initiatives taken by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of the Environment for the development of ESD in Japanese universities. Government policies and funding supports have been critical, but the current dependency on them also poses a significant challenge for the continuous development of ESD in Japanese higher education institutions over the longer term. Analysis suggests that encouraging leadership development for sustainability amongst university executive staff members is critical to continuing and strengthening efforts in this area in Japanese higher education. Originality/value -Although environmental education and awareness is well developed in Japan, the engagement of higher education with the more inclusive field of ESD has been less well researched and documented. This review foregrounds the distinct historical platform for ESD in Japanese higher education and the strength of government support, to examine the role of these drivers for ESD and to inform understanding of sustainability efforts in higher education worldwide.

The Japanese government provided various political opportunities for nongovernmental groups and individuals in Japan to 'jointly propose' policy on education and sustainable development at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 2002. These opportunities resulted in the emergence of the Japanese education for sustainable development (ESD) movement, and the crystallisation of a broader proposal that led to the initiation of the UN Decade of ESD (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014). In this paper, we trace the history of these two outcomes, arguing that the opportunities, developed through the coordination of nongovernmental groups by government, took place within, rather than broadened or confronted, the government's scope of interests. While the paper illustrates how the government's continued support was crucial to the development of the ESD movement and the UN Decade, and the movement has met with considerable achievements thus far (via its collective challenges to conventional education in a sustainability context in Japan), we argue that recognition of the political opportunity structures that affect the movement's further development remains crucial. In particular, we argue for close attention to the significance of a corporatist framing of this emerging civil society movement in Japan by the national government, and call for further political and historical analysis of ESD movements and their relations with government, around the world.

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The persistent traffic congestion and the consequent delay at intersections resulting in increased operating cost, travel time, accident rate, loss of convenience and comfort, early depreciation rate of vehicles, more fuel consumption, increased maintenance case are the problems affecting both social and economic life in Ado-Ekiti. To enhance the capacity of roads in Ado Ekiti, the physical road factors on vehicular delay at intersection on 10 major roads were investigated. From the investigation, it was discovered that street trading and illegal parking occupy about 29.4% of the available road width in most of the approaches to intersections. Most of the roads have no shoulder and the one that have failed to meet the required stipulated standard of 2m. The capacity of major roads in Ado-Ekiti can be enhanced if parking facilities and bus terminals are provided and sited outside the right of way at regular intervals on both sides of the roadway. Pedestrian crossing and overhead pedestrian bridges should be provided at strategic locations. Road signs and traffic signals should also be provided at major intersections to ensure free flow of traffic.