DATE / TIME:

2017•03•12    13:30 - 17:30

Location:

Tokyo

UNU-IAS, together with the University of Tokyo Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S), will co-host this symposium that will bring together leading experts to discuss the integration of social and ecological systems, including the valuation of ecosystem services, with a view to contributing to building societies in harmony with nature, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promoting sustainability science.

The event will be held in English and Japanese, with simultaneous translation provided.

Background

Biodiversity provides ecosystem services that enable human well-being around the world, and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems contributes directly and indirectly to the achievement of each of the SDGs adopted by the United Nations in September 2015 through provision of food and water, improved health and sanitation, climate change mitigation, disaster-risk reduction, secure livelihoods, opportunities for stronger community bonds, and more.

The Earth’s biodiversity, however, is being lost at an unprecedented rate due to rapid economic and population growth. If this is allowed to continue, humanity may soon be unable to secure a sufficient level of ecosystem services, creating vulnerabilities that could pose significant obstacles to achievement of the SDGs. Since nature presents not only benefits but also threats, such as natural disasters, it is particularly important to build highly resilient societies.

Registration

This event has reached capacity and registration is now closed.

Programme

13:30–14:00 Opening Session
Opening Remarks

• David M. Malone (Rector, United Nations University)
• Masashi Haneda (Executive Vice-President, University of Tokyo)

Guest Speeches

• Takashi Onishi (President, Science Council of Japan)
• Hiroshi Komiyama (Chief Executive Director, Japan Foundation for the United Nations University)

14:00–15:30 Keynote Speeches
Keynote Speech I

• Kazuhiko Takeuchi (Director and Professor, IR3S, University of Tokyo; Senior Visiting Professor, UNU-IAS)

Keynote Speech II

• Gretchen C. Daily (Professor, Stanford University)

Keynote Speech III

• Mai Trọng Nhuận (Former President, Vietnam National University)

15:30–15:50 Break

15:50–17:30 Panel Discussion
Moderator

• Makoto Yokohari (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo)

Panellists (Alphabetical order)

• Thomas Elmqvist (Professor, Stockholm Resilience Center, Stockholm University; Visiting Professor, IR3S, University of Tokyo)
• Fumiko Kasuga (Senior Fellow, National Institute for Environmental Studies; Visiting Professor, IR3S, University of Tokyo; Future Earth Secretariat Global Hub Director-Japan)
• Tohru Nakashizuka (Program Director and Professor, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature; Professor, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University)
• Taikan Oki (Senior Vice Rector, United Nations University; Professor, Institute of Industrial Science and Special Adviser to the President, University of Tokyo)
• Fabrice Renaud (Head of Section, United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security)

17:30 Closing