Sustainability Joint Initiative
United Nations University and University of Tokyo Sign Partnership Agreement
UNU Rector Konrad Osterwalder (left) and University of Tokyo President Hiroshi Komiyama after toasting the signing of the agreement establishing the Sustainability Joint Initiative. Photo: Jeremy Hedley/UNU.
2008.07.16 • UNU and the University of Tokyo (Todai) today signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the Sustainability Joint Initiative within the Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S).
The agreement was signed by Konrad Osterwalder, UNU rector, and Hiroshi Komiyama, president of Todai and executive director of IR3S, at a ceremony held at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo. Attending were representatives of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Cabinet Office as well as recently appointed UNU vice-rector Kazuhiko Takeuchi, IR3S deputy executive director and a professor at the University of Tokyo.
The concept of sustainability involves diverse and increasingly interrelated factors: problems previously regarded primarily as scientific issues such as climate change have become urgent political concerns while social issues such as economic development have their own wide-ranging effects.
The agreement, in line with the Sapporo Sustainability Declaration issued by the G8 University Summit held prior to the recent G8 Summit in Hokkaido, strengthens the alliance between UNU and Todai by fostering the exchange of faculty, researchers and staff and opening the way for collaborative research and joint educational programmes, seminars, and symposiums as well as projects promoting sustainability science.
Abdoulaye Wade Delivers 15th U Thant Lecture
Climate Change & African Initiatives
President Wade delivering the 15th U Thant Lecture at UNU. Photo: Curtis Christophersen/UNU.
2008.07.09 • President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal delivered the fifteenth U Thant Distinguished Lecture at UNU Headquarters, Tokyo yesterday. He spoke on climate change, and specifically on how African-led initiatives, such as la Grande Muraille Verte (the Great Green Wall) can contribute to combating desertification.
Joining President Wade to explain the project was Professor Abdoulaye Dia, director of the Earth Sciences Institute of Senegal and coordinator of studies for the Great Green Wall initiative.
Estimates suggest Sahelian countries lose more than 1.5 million hectares of land to desertification each year, and a report last year by UNU's International Network on Water, Environment and Health stated that desertification is the "greatest environmental challenge of our time," with 50 million people at risk of displacement in the next ten years alone.
President Wade was in Japan to attend the G8 Summit in Hokkaido. He had agreed to deliver the U Thant lecture after meeting with Rector Konrad Osterwalder at the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) in Yokohama in May.
U Thant Distinguished Lecture Series
Climate, Oil, Food
UNU Launches Our World 2.0 Website
Photo: Scott Butner
2008.07.09 • UNU is pleased to announce the launch of a new website devoted to examining the most critical problems of our time: climate change, peak oil, and the food crisis. The site was produced by UNU's Media Studio and is now online as a public beta.
When the challenges of climate, oil, and food are converging and business as usual is no longer an option, creativity and smart thinking cost a lot less than $200 a barrrel. For better or worse — and whether the former or the latter depends on us all — welcome to Our World 2.0.
UNU G8 Symposium on Innovation and Climate Change
Messages to G8 Leaders from Climate Science and Policy Experts
CLIMATE CHANGE - Messages to the G8
DR. JAMES E. HANSEN:
If I could speak with leaders at the G8 meeting, I would tell them that the strategy of trying to identify a target for reducing CO2 emissions is doomed to failure. You need to look at the basic facts, the basic physics of the problem. The most important thing is for them to recognise the key role of coal, and unless we have a moratorium and phase-out of coal — except where the CO2 is captured — then we're not going to be able to solve the problem.
Watch the symposium:
Point of View:
Rector Konrad Osterwalder
All must innovate in this time of climate change
Asahi Shimbun
2008.07.05 • During the UNU G8 Symposium on innovation and climate change held yesterday in Tokyo, the UNU Media Studio filmed interviews with some of the world's leading climate science and policy experts including James E. Hansen, Gwyn Prins, David Steven, Alex Evans, Shuzo Nishioka, and Ted Nordhaus.
We asked them what they would say to the G8 leaders gathering in Hokkaido next week. This video contains their messages.
Other videos from the symposium will be available soon.
Media Release
Leading Climate Scientist Issues Letter to Prime Minister of Japan
Dr. James E. Hansen delivering the keynote address at the UN University G8 symposium on innovation and climate change held today in Tokyo. Photo: Jeremy Hedley/UNU.
For Immediate Release
2008.07.04 • Dr. James E. Hansen, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, has issued a letter to Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda ahead of next week's G8 Summmit in Hokkaido. The letter issues from Dr. Hansen's delivery of the keynote address at the UNU G8 symposium on innovation and climate change held July 4 at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
In the letter, Dr. Hansen calls for a strengthening and continuation of Japan's leadership on the matter of climate change, warning that we are approaching critical tipping points that could lead to an unstoppable rise in global sea level, shifting climatic zones, the extinction of many plant and animal species, and a freshwater supply crisis for hundreds of millions of people, among other detrimental effects.
Read Dr. Hansen's letter
Dear Prime Minister Fukuda (288 KB PDF)
Priority Africa
New Series of UNU Podcasts Feature Development Voices of Africa
2008.06.10 • On the occasion of the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV), a small team led by members of the UNU Media Studio realized a series of short UNU branded podcasts which focus on Africa.
Priority Africa: Gender equality
Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai and Gertrude Mongella speak to UNU on gender equality and the role of women in Africa's development.
The seven podcasts cover the atmosphere of the TICAD event while presenting the views of delegations members, including policy makers and experts on topics such as climate change, education, the role of women in development, science and technology, and the misconceptions and challenges facing African development.
Priority Africa: Africa and Japan
Yasuhide Nakayama, Japan's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs: People think that what's happening in Africa is something far away and has nothing to do with them. But the battery in my cellphone is from Africa. The mineral resource in my laptop is from Africa. The diamond I gave to my wife when I proposed to her is from Africa.
Working with members of the UNU delegation at TICAD, the video team interviewed more than 20 people including Wangari Maathai, the Nobel peace prize laureate; Gertrude Mongella, the president of the Pan-African Parliament; Abdelkader Messahel, the Algerian minister-delegate to the minister of state for foreign affairs in charge of Maghreb & African affairs; and Tsuneo Kurokawa, the director general of the regional department IV (Africa) at JICA.
Priority Africa: Climate Change
Delegates to TICAD IV including Adebayo Adedeji, Anna Tibaijuka, Luc Gnacadja, Calestous Juma, Wangrai Maathai, and UNU's Obijiofor Aginam discuss climate change and Africa.
View all Priority Africa podcasts:
Inaugural Hideo Noguchi Africa Prize
Laureates Deliver Commemorative Lectures at UNU
Dr. Brian Greenwood deliveres his Hideo Noguchi Africa Prize lecture at UNU. Photo: Cabinet Office
2008.05.29 • Dr. Brian Greenwood, Manson Professor of Clinical Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Professor Miriam K. Were, Chairperson of Kenya’s National AIDS Control Council, are the recipients of the inaugural Hideo Noguchi Africa Prize. Dr. Greenwood and Professor Were delivered commemorative lectures at an event in the U Thant International Conference Hall at UNU in Tokyo today.
The lecture was introduced by special advisor to the rector Ambassador Hiroharu Koike and welcome remarks were provided by Kiyoshi Kurokawa, former president of the Science Council of Japan.
Dr. Miriam K. Were delivering her Hideo Noguchi Africa Prize lecture at UNU. Photo: Cabinet Office
Dr. Greenwood delivered a lecture on malaria elimination and Prof. Were addressed the potential for the improvement in Africa’s health systems. The lectures, organized by the Cabinet Office of Japan and co-organized by UNU and the Science Council of Japan, followed the awarding of the prizes at a special ceremony last night held as part of TICAD IV in Yokohama.
The Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize was established by the government of Japan to honour individuals who have made outstanding achievements in combating infectious diseases in Africa or in establishing innovative medical service systems.
Conference updates from Yokohama
TICAD IV Report, Day 2
2008.05.29 • Thursday was a busy day for the UNU delegation and staff at the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV). In the morning, the conference plenary separated into four 2.5-hour breakout sessions that focused on economic growth, human development, peace and good governance, and environmental issues.
Prof. Osterwalder (left) moderated the segment on adaptation and disaster prevention during breakout session D.
UNU Rector Konrad Osterwalder served as moderator for a segment of “Breakout Session D: Addressing Environmental Issues/Climate Change” that examined issues related to “Adaptation and Disaster Prevention.” In his lead-off speech, Rector Osterwalder noted that adaptation to climate change is a crucial issue for Africa because that continent’s low capacity to respond and adapt makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change. He briefly discussed the major challenges and what adaptation will involve, as well as possible approaches and some opportunities. He ended with the exhortation: “We know what we have to do, so let’s go and do it!”
Rector Osterwalder’s schedule for the day also included a meeting with the President of Namibia, a lunch reception hosted by the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, the afternoon TICAD IV Plenary Sessions, and an evening meeting of UN agency heads with Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda.
During the afternoon, the UNU convened three more official TICAD IV Side Events.
Conference updates from Yokohama
TICAD IV Report, Day 1
2008.05.28 • Wednesday marked the opening of the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV), a forum aimed at promoting high-level political dialogue between Africa and its development partners. Among the nearly 2,000 persons in attendance were high-level delegations from 45 African countries (including 35 heads of state).
A delegation headed by UNU Rector Konrad Osterwalder participated in the TICAD IV Plenary Sessions. In addition, the United Nations University convened two official TICAD IV side events on Wednesday (with three more scheduled for Thursday).
In the morning, as a precursor to the Wednesday afternoon TICAD IV Plenary Sessions on “Ensuring Human Security” and “Addressing Environmental Issues/Climate Change”, the UNU held a side event to consider the connections between these two issues. This seminar, “Critical Intersection: Climate Change and Security”, examined the impact of climate change on human security, with a focus on the challenges facing sub-Saharan Africa.
More than 70 Projects Online
Announcing Our New Priority Africa Website
2008.05.26 • As a direct contribution to the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV), I am pleased to announce the launch of UNU’s revived Priority Africa web pages.
“Priority Africa” is a portal for accessing the scope and variety of the UNU’s Africa-focused work, including research, policy studies and capacity development initiatives, as well as dissemination initiatives. The revived “Priority Africa” features more than 70 activities in and on Africa, as well as information on UNU and the TICAD process, access to academic resources and the UNU Africa Day Series. Within the framework of its activities in and on Africa, UNU aims to foster knowledge creation and knowledge accumulation and further aims to contribute directly to the development of human resources on the African continent with a strong emphasis on home-grown and participatory solutions.
I very much hope that Priority Africa will contribute to making UNU’s research and capacity development activities more accessible to all, and most specifically to researchers and scholars in developing countries. Let me welcome you all warmly to our renewed Priority Africa.
Prof. Konrad Osterwalder
Rector, UNU
New from UNU Press
Making Choices about Hydrogen: Transport Issues for Developing Countries
Edited by Lynn K. Mytelka and Grant Boyle
As a disruptive technology, dominant designs for the production, storage and distribution of hydrogen have not yet been established. Nor have performance characteristics been achieved that would make hydrogen proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells competitive with the existing combustion engine. Yet, costs are coming down and the efficiency and durability of hydrogen fuel cells are improving. How to deal with competing arguments that push the hydrogen economy into the longer term (2050) and those that place its advent in a shorter-term perspective (2020) is one key issue for developing countries today as they explore their options for the design of national energy, environment and transport policies.
Download the UNU Press 2007-2008 catalogue
(1.8 MB PDF)
Global Seminar Series
UNU Global Seminars are held annually in Japan and abroad in an effort to increase awareness and enhance understanding of contemporary global issues and the role of the United Nations. This aim is achieved through close interaction of students and young professionals with scholars and experts working in the UNU's global networks.
International Courses
The UNU International Courses (UNU/IC) are organized annually for a select group of postgraduate students and professionals in various occupations in Japan and abroad who wish to pursue careers in international fields in public-service or private organizations
U Thant Lectures
The U Thant Distinguished Lecture Series is a forum through which eminent thinkers and world leaders speak on the role of the United Nations in addressing the challenges facing the world's peoples and nations in the twenty-first century.
UNU Library
The UNU Library plays a vital role in support of dissemination of the knowledge gained in UNU activities and assists learning and research through information resources.
UNU Video Portal
Tune in to UNU events as they happen, and on-demand. Recent additions to the UNU Video Portal:
- 15th U Thant Lecture by Abdoulaye Wade
- UNU G8 Sympsoium: Innovation in the Time of Climate Change
- G8 Dialogue with David Runnals: Climate Change and World Trade
Financial Assistance
The UNU Financial Assistance Programme is implemented by UNU with the generous assistance of the Government of Japan and JBIC which provides reimbursable funds to self-financed students from developing countries studying at junior colleges and universities in Japan.
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Page last modified 2008.07.23.
Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
Achieve Universal Primary Education
Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
Reduce Child Mortality
Improve Maternal Health
Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Diseases
Ensure Environmental Sustainability
Develop a Global Partnership for Development