At the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) to be held in Brazil, a seminar entitled "The Role and Prospects of Universities in Achieving Net Zero by 2050" will be held, sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and co-hosted by the Inter-University Research Institute Corporation, the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, the National Institutes for the Humanities, and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies.

Hokkaido University is a participant in the Coalition of Universities Contributing to Achieving Carbon Neutrality, which was established as a forum for universities and other institutions that are actively working towards net zero to share and disseminate information. Professor Taro Yamauchi, Director Center for Environmental and Health Sciences and Professor at the Graduate Faculty of Health Sciences, will be taking part in the panel discussion.

This seminar will discuss the role and prospects of universities in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, sharing specific initiatives and directions for progress both domestically and internationally, and discussing the role that universities should play in collaboration with stakeholders.

The event will also feature speakers from the younger generation, including university and graduate students, who will discuss their expectations for university and how to continue their efforts after graduation.

This seminar can be viewed online.
Please check the related link below. *You will be redirected to the seminar website.

Seminar Overview

• Date and time: Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 10:00-11:15 local time in Brazil / 22:00-23:15 Japan time
• Organized by: Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Co-organized by the Inter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes for the Humanities, and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
• program:
  • Opening remarks and presentation of the theme: Aya Takatsuki (Assistant Director, Environment and Energy Division, Research and Development Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
    • Panel Discussion ①
      Michiyo Kakegawa (Professor, Department School of Economics and Business Faculty of Economics, Soka University)
      ■ Ueda Meiko (Chief Research Administrator, Research and Development Strategy Headquarters, Kumamoto University)
      ■Tsuneteru Teraushi (President's Office, Tokai University)
      Michio Kondo (Professor, Research and Innovation Center, Waseda University)
    • Panel Discussion 2
      Taro Yamauchi (Director Center for Environmental and Health Sciences Hokkaido University; Professor, Graduate Faculty of Health Sciences)
      Hajime Tsujita (Member of the Youth Engagement Division, Climate Youth Japan, a youth environmental NGO)
      Tan Ying Yee (Malaysia Youth Representative for COP29 and COP30/University of Malaya)
      Franck Lecoq (Former Director of the French International Center for Environment and Development (CIRED) / Professor at the Faculty of School of Economics and Business Agropalitique (Paris Institute of Life, Food and Environmental Sciences))
      Ho Ching Siong (Professor, University Technology Malaysia (UTM) / Director, UTM Centre for Low Carbon Asia Research)
  • Closing remarks: Tokie Izaki (Assistant Director, Environmental Education Promotion Office, General Policy Division, Ministry of the Environment)
  • Overall Facilitator: Junichi Fujino (Principal Synergy Coordinator, Strategic Management Office, IGES)