On 13 December 2025, UNU-IAS co-hosted the Youth Ocean Summit on marine sustainability and youth-led conservation initiatives. The event shared expert insights on coastal environmental conditions in Japan, followed by pitch presentations by high school and university students highlighting innovative marine conservation initiatives. It included a screening of a documentary film produced by university students, which examined intergenerational differences in human–ocean relationships in Okinawa and efforts to pass marine conservation activities to future generations.
A panel discussion featured Jungen Ono and Saki Iwamoto, participants of the 2025 Global Youth MIDORI platform, a capacity development programme empowering youth to develop solutions for local and global sustainability challenges. Discussing their experience with the programme, Mr. Ono and Ms. Iwamoto noted their broadened perspective on sustainability issues and strengthened motivation to advance their own initiatives through exchange with other participants on diverse issues including climate change adaptation in cities, flood prevention, waste management and child labour. They identified institutional barriers and psychological challenges to youth participation in policymaking, and stressed the importance of developing one’s expertise for meaningful engagement.
Noriko Tamiya-Hase (Deputy Director, Office of Policies against Marine Plastic Pollution, Plastic Pollution Negotiation Team Marine Environment Division, Ministry of the Environment, Japan) highlighted the G7 and G20 consultation processes, which involve governments and a wide range of stakeholders, including youth. She noted that participation of Asian youth has been increasing during recent international conferences.
Interactive workshops engaged participants in developing solutions and concrete actions for marine environmental conservation.
The event was co-organized by UNU-IAS and CRUX Productions, and supported by Minerva University and its student government, and the Global Environmental Outreach Centre (GEOC).
