INSTITUTE:

UNU-IAS

OFFICE:

UNU-IAS

E-MAIL:

atakemoto@unu.edu

PHONE:

+81-3-5467-1212 ext. 1343

NATIONALITY:

Japanese

Research Interests

• Global Change & Sustainable Development
• 気候変動

Education

• PhD Environmental and Functional Sciences (Ibaraki University)
• Masters of Science in Geophysics (Hokkaido University)

Biographical Statement

Akio Takemoto is Head of Programme and Administration at United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) based in Tokyo, Japan. He leads and coordinates academic and administrative activities of UNU-IAS projects in the institute’s three thematic areas: sustainable societies, natural capital and biodiversity, and global change and resilience. From January 2018 to January 2020, Dr. Takemoto served as Senior Environmental Specialist at Global Environmental Facility (GEF). He managed the GEF programs in Climate Change and Chemicals & Waste focal areas at the GEF Secretariat in Washington, DC, USA. From July 2017 to January 2018, Dr. Takemoto served for climate change negotiation as Director for International Strategy on Climate Change at Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ). From July 2014 to July 2017, He served as Directors of Research and Information Office and Climate Change Adaptation office at MOEJ.

He contributed to formulation of Japan’s first National Adaptation Plan to Climate Change, and served as delegation to the IPCC and UNFCCC, and promotion of earth observation and environmental research programs. From July 2011 to July 2014, Dr. Takemoto served as Secretariat Director for the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN-GCR) to provide financial and technical support for regional research activities for the 22 member countries. From August 2000 to August 2003, he served as Secretary to Permanent Delegation to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) based in Paris France. Dr. Takemoto started his career in the Environmental Administration (Environment Agency of Japan) in April 1992. He was awarded his PhD (Environmental and Functional Sciences) from Ibaraki University in March 2010, and a Master’s Degree of Science (Geophysics) from Hokkaido University in March 1992.