An interview with UNU-IAS Director Dr. Kazuhiko Takemoto on the establishment of the new UNU Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, published by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.
Q: This past January, the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo established its Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS), which conducts research on global environmental issues and sustainable development. What kinds of projects is the institute working on?
In Japan, there were originally two UNU institutes that dealt with “sustainability” – the concept of conducting economical and social activities while protecting the global environment. These two institutes were merged to create UNU-IAS. UNU is the only UN agency that is headquartered in Japan. UNU Centre in Tokyo oversees all the UNU institutes and programmes that are spread across the globe and are undertaking research in various specialized fields, such as the international economy and food issues. UNU-IAS conducts research on climate change adaptation measures and maintaining biodiversity while continuing agricultural practices, among others topics. An area on which we place special focus is Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), which aims to cultivate individuals with the ability to appreciate the importance of nature, make effective use of limited natural resources, and take concrete actions to realize a sustainable society. UNU has been providing education programmes for educators by approving universities and local governments as recognized ESD centres. This November, representatives from these ESD centres will convene at a conference in Okayama City where a future plan for ESD will be proposed. In recent years, the importance of sustainability – and the shift away from conventional thinking that prioritized the economy – has been gaining recognition in Japan and abroad. Making full use of its position as part of a UN agency with strengths in outreach and dissemination, UNU-IAS will continue to work towards realizing a sustainable future.