Registration: https://unu-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_axNMXml4Q_Cz9NZ__EVcHQ
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Date and Time: March 26, 2026 (Thursday) 19:00 – 20:30
Format: Online (Zoom)
Organizer: United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa(UNU-IAS OUIK), IMAGINE KANAZAWA 2030 Promotion meeting
Co-Organizer: Global Environmental Outreach Centre (GEOC)
Language: Japanese (This event will be conducted only in Japanese. English language support or interpretation will not be provided.)
High School Students’ insights from Attending COP 30 – Think Climate Action and Youth Engagement from Ishikawa, Kanazawa –
Climate change is not just a topic for international conferences; it is an issue deeply connected to the future of the communities where we live.
According to surveys conducted by international organizations and analyses by youth, many countries and regions – including those in the Asia-Pacific – face structural challenges in which, even when young people participate, their voices are not sufficiently reflected in decision-making. Even at the local level, not only climate change issues, but also there are opportunities for youth to express their opinions; however, it is not uncommon for these views to have little influence on actual decisions or policies. At the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU‑IAS), we run a youth empowerment programme that connects young people from local communities to international discussions in response to these challenges.
In this SDGs Café session, Mr. Sunwoo Kang from the Global Environment Outreach Centre (GEOC) will explain the structure of COP and share international trends regarding youth participation. In addition, two high school students from Kanazawa who participated in COP30 through the UNU-IAS OUIK’s youth empowerment programme will take the stage to share their insights and experience at the COP.
Topics:
- What is COP (Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change)? Purpose, roles and activities of youth
- Why is it difficult for young people’s voices to be reflected in decision‑making?
- What kinds of youth participation mechanisms exist in other countries?
- How can youth participation be expanded from the local context of Kanazawa?
Program (tentative):
- Introduction by Yoko Tomita (UNU-IAS OUIK) – 5 minutes
- Presentation by Mr. Sunwoo Kang (GEOC) – 15 minutes
- Presentation by UNU-IAS OUIK’s Youth Empowerment Program participants: Ms. Aoi Tachibana (Kanazawa University Senior High School ) and Ms. Miyu Hira (Kanazawa Nishikigaoka High School) – 15 minutes
- Discussion and Q&A – 55 minutes
Speakers
Mr. Sunwoo Kang (GEOC)
While at university, he was a member of Eco-League (the National Youth Environmental Federation) and devoted most of his student years to a wide range of activities related to climate change, biodiversity, SDGs, and more. Drawing on his experience in these fields, he now seeks to serve as a bridge between policy research and civil society. After serving at the Commissioned Research Fellow at the Korea Environment Institute (KEI)”and as an Assistant Professor at the Keio University Degree Offered and Three Policies, he assumed his current position in August 2025.
Ms. Aoi Tachibana (Kanazawa University Senior High School / Youth Empowerment Program participant)
Inspired by volunteer work during the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, she has been researching disaster‑response water purification technologies using diatomaceous earth from Noto, and has presented and published her findings. She also shares her experiences of engaging in dialogue with people from diverse backgrounds at COP in various settings both within and outside the prefecture, hoping to bring those learnings back to her local community.
Ms. Miyu Hira (Kanazawa Nishikigaoka High School / Youth Empowerment Program participant)
At school, she serves as the captain of the English Club and practices daily in preparation for participating in events such as the High School English Festival and various speech contests. To help broaden interest in environmental issues, she launched an inquiry-based forum—a joint event for junior high and high school students—and hopes to share her learnings from COP with a wider audience.
