25 July 2017

International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific 2017

IIASA Director General and CEO Professor Dr. Pavel Kabat was among the keynote speakers during the 9th International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific (ISAP) that was held in Yokohama, Japan.

© Richard Yoshida | Shutterstock

© Richard Yoshida | Shutterstock

Kabat gave a keynote address on emissions pathways consistent with 1.5-2°C targets, and provided an introduction to the IIASA integrated systems approach, which includes The World In 2050 project. Kabat also featured as a panelist in the relay talk centered on visions for a low-carbon/decarbonized sustainable world from both social and economic angles. The talk covered the role of finance in the era of major transitions, developing countries’ low-carbon, green growth and sustainable development. It was followed by a discussion on how to bring about breakthroughs and steer societies in positive directions.

Jan Marco Müller, Head of the Directorate Office and IIASA Science to Policy and Diplomacy Coordinator/Science Officer accompanied Kabat on the visit.

About the International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific

ISAP is an annual event held since 2009 and is an initiative of the IGES. The forum this year was organized by IGES and UNU-IAS.  The forum drew participation from experts and stakeholders from governments, international organizations, business and non-governmental organizations with the sole purpose of promoting diverse discussions on sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.

The forum this year focused strongly on sustainability for the transformation of socioeconomic systems guided by the theme of Transformational Changes: Putting Sustainability at the Heart of Action and has several thematic sessions. Kabat took part in the first session entitled Eye on Science: Zooming in on the future.

As the world works towards implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, ISAP2017 provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share their viewpoints and knowledge, forge a shared vision for the future we want, and create narratives to convey this message. 

Find the full program on the ISAP2017 website.

Bilateral Meetings

During the visit Kabat attended a number of bilateral meetings with Japanese Government Officials and key members of Japanese academia in Tokyo and Kyoto to discuss enhancing IIASA-Japan Collaborations, these included:

  • Kazuhiko Takemoto, IIASA NMO Representative for the Japan Committee for IIASA, Director of the Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, United Nations University (UNU-IAS) and Visiting Professor, Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S), The University of Tokyo, Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS)
  • Teruo Kishi, Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  • Michihiro Kishimoto, Deputy Director General for Technology and Environment at the Ministry of Economy, Technology, and Industry (METI)
  • Yoichi Kaya, Chair of the IIASA Japan Committee and President of the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE)
  • Yoshiko Shirokizawa, Executive Director of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
  • Tetsuzo Yasunari, Director General of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN)
  • Makoto Taniguchi, Deputy Director General of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN)

Lectures

Kabat also made lectures during the visit, the first entitled “Applied Systems Science: Methods, Models, and Science Policy Application”  at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) on Wednesday 26 July and the second “Benefits of Systems Science: from Methods and Models to Robust Policies” at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University on Thursday 27 July. 

Photo Gallery

17.07 IIASA and Japan



About IIASA and Japan

As one of IIASA founding organizations, the Japan Committee for IIASA has helped develop a highly-productive relationship between IIASA and Japan. Research collaborations between IIASA and Japan have been highly productive since the institute was founded in 1972. This Info Sheet focuses on key aspects of this beneficial relationship since 2010, which has involved cooperation with more than 31 Japanese organizations and resulted in over 300 scientific publications and a range of research advances.

Recent studies have included in-depth analyses of how to maximize the co-benefits from measures to reduce both air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in
Japan and Asia; the development of a new set of scenarios to underpin future climate modeling, impact, vulnerability, adaptation, and mitigation assessments; and research into the evolution of diseases and commercially-exploited fish.

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Last edited: 10 July 2018

INFO SHEET ON IIASA ACTIVITIES WITH JAPAN

PUBLICATIONS

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
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Phone: (+43 2236) 807 0 Fax:(+43 2236) 71 313