Tokyo — The United Nations University (UNU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. Shizuka Hashimoto as the next Director of the UNU Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU‑IAS). Prof. Hashimoto will begin his term on 1 December 2026.
A Japanese national, Prof. Hashimoto currently serves as Professor at the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo. He is an internationally recognized scholar in ecosystem services, biodiversity, land use dynamics and social-ecological systems, with more than two decades of experience advancing sustainability science and evidence‑based environmental policymaking. His work bridges science and policy, contributing to global, regional and national efforts to strengthen the science-policy interface for sustainable development.
Prof. Hashimoto brings extensive experience connecting scientific evidence to policy and implementation. He has held senior leadership roles within the Intergovernmental Science‑Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), serving as Co‑Chair of the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (2022–2026) and Co‑Chair of the Task Force on Scenarios and Models (2019–2026). He was a Lead Author of both the IPBES Global Assessment and the Asia‑Pacific Regional Assessment, and contributed to major international science academy statements on climate change and biodiversity. His advisory roles include membership in the Ad Hoc Scientific and Technical Advisory Group of the Convention on Biological Diversity, reflecting his long‑standing engagement in global sustainability governance.
At the national level, Prof. Hashimoto serves on multiple expert committees, including the Science Council of Japan, the Nature Conservation Committee of the Central Environment Council, and the Global Environment Subcommittee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. He also sits on the boards of several environmental organizations, contributing to Japan’s efforts to strengthen environmental stewardship and sustainability transitions.
UNU Rector and UN Under‑Secretary‑General Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala welcomed the appointment: “I am delighted that Prof. Shizuka Hashimoto will be joining UNU as the new Director of UNU-IAS in Tokyo. His decades of contributions to evidence-based environmental policymaking and his demonstrated leadership in the field of sustainability science will be essential as UNU-IAS continues to expand its partnerships and impact in Japan, Asia and beyond. As a leading scholar of biodiversity and social-ecological systems, Prof. Hashimoto brings distinct strengths that will undoubtedly reinforce the role of UNU-IAS in advancing education, research and policy that support creative and durable solutions for sustainability challenges."
Prof. Hashimoto’s academic contributions span more than 100 peer‑reviewed publications. His research has advanced understanding of ecosystem services, social-ecological systems, multiple values of nature, and future scenarios. He holds a PhD in Agriculture from the University of Tokyo, where he also earned his master's degree, and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Yamaguchi University.
Commenting on his appointment, Prof. Hashimoto said: “I am deeply honoured by my appointment as the next Director of UNU-IAS and I am grateful for the opportunity to build upon my predecessors' outstanding legacy. UNU-IAS has long been at the forefront of connecting science and policy to promote sustainability. This mission feels more urgent than ever as the multilateral institutions we depend on for coordinating a collective response to global environmental crises are not guaranteed. Precisely because of this, UNU-IAS's role in connecting science, policy and practice, as well as strengthening multilateral frameworks, is crucial. I am committed to advancing research and education that bridge local realities with global sustainability agendas and to keeping UNU-IAS a trusted hub for transformative, nature-positive futures."
Media contacts
Daniel Powell
Senior Communications Officer, UNU, Tokyo
powell@unu.edu
Yukiko Nakahari
Japan Communications Specialist, UNU, Tokyo
y.nakahari@unu.edu
