On 1–2 February 2025, UNU-IAS co-organized the 10th Japan Youth Environmental Activity Contest and Workshop. This annual event engages youth to share innovative solutions to environmental problems, empowering the next generation of sustainability leaders. It brought together students from 16 high schools across Japan, who introduced their projects addressing local sustainability challenges. Co-organized with the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ) and the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency, Japan (ERCA), the event was part of commemorative activities marking the 50th anniversary of UNU.
Opening the workshop, Akio Takemoto (Head of Programme and Administration, UNU-IAS) introduced the work of UNU-IAS, highlighting its efforts to advance progress on the SDGs. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges, noting that environmental, social and economic issues are interconnected and require solutions that incorporate diverse perspectives.
Tshilidzi Marwala (Rector, UNU) congratulated the students, stressing that their innovative solutions are an essential step toward addressing critical global challenges. He encouraged the students to actively advocate for their voices to be heard at the global level.
The UNU-IAS Director’s Award was presented to Hokkaido Iwamizawa Agricultural High School. Their winning presentation focused on transforming local waste into sustainable energy solutions for the agricultural sector by using snow for cooling and rice husks for heating greenhouses. Their creative approach was highly praised for its potential to advance sustainable agriculture practices.
