Symposium: The Role of Science in Building a Sustainable Society

Streamed live on Dec 21, 2023

This symposium will explore the role of science and individual action in creating sustainable societies, bringing together experts and practitioners working on water, ocean and biodiversity issues to discuss interdisciplinary cooperation and citizen participation for achieving the SDGs.

https://unu.edu/ias/symposium/role-science-building-sustainable-society

Language

Japanese and English

Programme

10:00–13:00 Morning Session

Opening Remarks

• Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi (Director UNU-IAS)
• Masami Watanabe (Director-General of International Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT); Secretary-General of Japanese National Commission for UNESCO)

Keynote Speech

• Maki Hayashikawa (Director, UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta)

Presentations

Water

• Taikan Oki (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo; Chair of Science Subcommittee, Japanese National Commission for UNESCO)
• Michiru Sasagawa (Director, NPO People for Rainwater; Senior Fellow, The Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research)

Ocean

• Yutaka Michida (Professor, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo; Chairperson of UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC))
• Akira Sakano (Representative Director, Zero Waste Japan, Director and Chief Sustainability Officer, ECOMMIT Co., Ltd.)

Biodiversity

• Tsunao Watanabe(Senior Programme Coordinator, UNU-IAS)
• Yasuhiro Meguro (Director, Office of Tadami UNESCO BR, Tadami Town)

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Kazuhiro Yoshida (Professor, IDEC Institute CICE, Hiroshima University)

14:30–17:00 Afternoon Session

Presentations

Water

• Shinjiro Kanae (Professor, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology)

Ocean

• Kaoru Nakata Executive Director (Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency)

Biodiversity

• Suneetha Subramanian (Research Fellow, UNU-IAS)

Climate Change and Governance

• Mahesti Okitasari (Consultant, UNU-IAS)

Roundtable Discussion

Moderator: Yutaka Michida

Organizers

This event is organized by the UNU-IAS and the Japan Foundation for United Nations University (jfUNU).