On March 15, 2025, UNU-IAS OUIK hosted the ‘Youth and Climate Action Conference’ in partnership with Kanazawa University. Building on last year’s event, this year’s gathering brought together 28 students from eight high schools, both within and outside Ishikawa Prefecture.
In the first part of the event, Akio Takemoto, Program Head of the United Nations University, gave a lecture titled “Climate Change Policy and the SDGs – Current Global Status and Challenges.” He discussed both domestic and international issues related to sustainability, as well as the role of international treaties on climate change and the SDGs, introducing how Japan’s youth can get involved.
Mari Honda (Kanazawa University Senior High School)
Furthermore, Mari Honda (Kanazawa University Senior High School), who participated in the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change through OUIK’s youth program, shared her experiences and reflections on “Participating in COP29.” Following her, Hinako Ishijima, also from the same school and part of the OUIK program, presented on “Moving Away from a Car-Dependant Society,” sharing data on transportation issues in Kanazawa City and offering specific proposals for solutions.
Finally, OUIK Researcher Juan Pastor-Ivars, delivered a lecture on Sustainable Urban Nature Projects in Kanazawa, discussing the relationship between people and nature in urban settings.
In the latter part of the event, a workshop was held under the guidance of Researcher Juan. Participants were divided into six groups to deepen discussions on the connections between urban areas and nature, as well as climate change-based solutions. Each group shared ideas such as “growing our own food and creating compost,” “planting trees in the community and taking care of them,” “increasing parks and creating community gardens,” and “creating gardens at schools to reduce CO2 emissions.” Many ideas were shared regarding nature-based solutions and the involvement of youth.
