- Institute for SDGs Promotion
- Kick-off symposium to celebrate the establishment of Institute for SDGs Promotion
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Kick-off symposium to celebrate the establishment of Institute for SDGs Promotion
2022年12月20日更新
Kick-off Symposium to Commemorate the Establishment of Institute for SDGs Promotion - A New Challenge by OCHA-SDGs -.
Summary of the symposium
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Date and time of the event |
Wednesday, October 19,2022, 14:00 - 16:30 |
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Method of holding the symposium |
Hybrid style (face-to-face and online) |
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Number of participants |
376 (Venue: 117, Online: 259) |
Event Report
The Kick-off Symposium to commemorate the establishment of Institute for SDGs Promotion– A New Challenge by OCHA-SDGs - was held on October 19, 2022.
The aim of the symposium was to publicize our Institute for SDGs Promotion, which was established in April 2022, and to introduce “OCHA-SDGs”, the newly launched consumer-driven SDGs promotion research and activities at the University, as well as to hold discussions with speakers and experts from a range of sectors. The total number of participants in the Ochanomizu University auditorium "Kiindo" and online streaming exceeded 350, indicating a high level of interest in SDG research.
A distinctive feature of the program was that speakers were invited from industry, government, and academia, with the aim of deepening a common understanding of the expectations and potential of “OCHA-SDGs”, also the need for industry-government-academia collaboration.
In the keynote speech 'SDGs make the future of global citizens' by Yutaka ARAI, Commissioner of the Consumer Affairs Agency, it was explained that both innovation on the part of producers and awareness-raising on the part of consumers are the driving forces to achieve the SDGs. Compared to other countries, Japan is so occupied with protecting its current lifestyle that few people responded that they are making efforts to contribute to the next generation. On the other hand, a survey showed that awareness of the SDGs has been increasing in recent years. As the role of global citizens, the consumers should eliminate waste in various ways, even if this is done little by little. She also introduced that the responsibility of producers is also evolving, and that various initiatives are being undertaken in consideration of both convenience and the global environment. She stated that starting with what we can do is directly linked to ethical consumption, adding that from the SDG perspectives it is important to think about what is behind the products and services, and that this will surely change our lives.
The next speaker was Tomoko HASEGAWA, Managing Director of KEIDANREN (Japan Business Federation). In her keynote speech, ‘The importance of promoting the SDGs in industry', Ms. HASEGAWA introduced not only the recognition and engagement of “SDGs” in whole industry but also Keidanren's practical efforts to promote the SDGs. She said that “SDG” is now a universal language. Thanks to this, companies can enhance a common understanding with diverse stakeholders. It was also stated that new partnerships and collaborations can be created, leading to innovation and value creation. The fact that the scale of sustainable finance is expanding rapidly around the world was also introduced as a reason for companies and industry to work on the SDGs. KEIDANREN believes that achieving the SDG goals through the realization of the Society 5.0 -concept for the future society- is a way for companies to make the most of their creativity and innovation, which will also enable them to grow and increase their own value. Regarding the co-creation of value with consumers, she stated that the aim is to build a society in which consumers can experience the ease of living through DX.
In the presentation 'About Institute for SDGs Promotion of Ochanomizu University' by Professor Yoko FUJIWARA, Director of the Institute, she explained the characteristics of the Institute and its principal role. Ochanomizu University has a long and firm history of leading the field of life science, which targets at life base around us, particularly food, clothing and housing, from the perspective of consumers. One of the characteristics of the university’s research is that even in the process of development of technologies and innovations, we value the perspectives of consumers, and we think it should be integrated in our research. In addition, as the affiliated schools are located on the same campus, it is possible to engage actively in SDG promotion in cooperating with the younger generation. Interactive education with students of different ages shows a big potential to lead to new initiatives for integrated SDG education. The mission of the Institute is to gather theories and knowledge gained from previous basic research and contribute to a sustainable society, future and the planet in the long run. It was also explained that the Institute will serve as a hub organization that transcends not only research fields, organizations and gender gaps, but also generation gaps, thereby strengthening engagement within the university. (Click here for presentation materials in Japanese)
This was followed by a panel discussion entitled 'What to expect from OCHA-SDGs'. The panelists were Chika MORISHIMA, Executive Officer in charge of Sustainability and Communications at Ajinomoto Co., Inc.; Yuka SUZUKI, General Manager of Sustainability Promotion Department at Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.; Mayumi TSURYU, Senior Officer of Sustainability development department at Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.; Sayumi OHTA, a third-year undergraduate student from the faculty of Letters and Education of Ochanomizu University; Associate Professor Toyohiko NAKAKUBO, Vice-director of the Institute, and Arisa YOSHIUCHI, home economics teacher at Ochanomizu university's Senior High School. The panelists spoke about the SDG research they have conducted so far and their expectations of “OCHA-SDGs”.
Ms. TSURYU, Executive Officer of Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. spoke about the need of sustainable management to contribute to local communities’ further sustainability in association with local people. Understanding the expectations and demands from society through dialogue and putting them into practice lead to a sustainable future. She said that sustainable management should be continuously conducted on this basis. She stated the expectations towards future generations who will be an important key for a sustainable future. Also, she added that she would like to move towards the future together with the OCHA-SDGs, and proposed a society based on cooperation rather than competition.
Ms. SUZUKIi, General Manager of DNP's Sustainability Promotion Department, introduced the corporate message of 'Creating future standards', pointing out that social issues are becoming more complex as set out in the SDGs goals and, like climate change, have a complicated structure that cannot be solved by a single company. She expressed her view that it is necessary to understand people's expectations and social issues, and to solve these issues towards a better society by combining innovation in cooperation with partners and stated that she would like to connect with OCHA-SDGs as a partner and move forward alongside of consumers.
Ms. MORISHIMA, Executive Officer in charge of Sustainability Communications, Ajinomoto Co., Ltd., introduced Ajinomoto's “Path toward the 2030 outcomes”: 'Reduce our environmental impact by 50%' and 'help extend the healthy life expectancy of one billion people'. The first target 'Reduce our environmental impact by 50%' aims for the recycling of by-products after extracting amino acids, which is called amino acid biocycle. Regarding the other target 'Help extend the healthy life expectancy by one billion people', she introduced the approach of nutrition without compromise, such as Delicious Salt Reduction. She stated that it is important to know and understand the things correctly, and that she would like to create sustainable values together with consumers.
Ms. OHTA, a third-year student in the Faculty of Letters and Education at Ochanomizu University, introduced ‘Thank You Cambodia Project’, which she launched in her first year of high school. ‘Thank You Cambodia Project’ is a volunteer project to provide emotional education to rural villages and orphanages in Battambang Province, Cambodia. She has led this project with thanks for the kindness and support that Cambodia offered to Japan, while passing a hard time caused by Great East Japan Earthquake. She stated that she valued mutuel support, rather than being on the either side of the supporter or the recipient.
She also stated that she put herself in the position of Ukraine to think and act on her own at the occasion of fundraising.
She wished to use the fundraising as a starting point, and that she would like to think about what she can do for the achievement of SDGs from the viewpoint of consumers. At the end of the panel discussion, she also introduced a food drive activity to be held on campus on the coming week, also the recruitment and orientation seminar of Student Committee.
Associate Professor NAKAKUBO, Vice-Director of the Institute for SDGs Promotion, focuses on sanitation and hygiene related to daily life, including research considering measures to combat global warming while considering the construction of infrastructure in the context of a declining population. He suggested that the time is ripe for researchers to implement their research into society, while being aware of the synergies and trade-offs that can be made in the various SDG fields in infrastructure related to domestic wastewater and domestic waste. How can research activities be developed as social implementation? He stated that researchers are required to think about this from the perspective of the SDGs in the current era.
Ms. YOSHIUCHI, home economics teacher at Ochanomizu University Senior High School, introduced the 12-year history of the SDGs at her school, suggesting that ethical consumption is a concrete action towards the SDGs and stating that the home economics classes at her school place emphasis on learning through experience. In 2016, they established the “Ethical Learning Lab”, an Ochanomizu University’s joint research project, which conducts collaborative research on various ethical initiatives at kindergarten, elementary shool, junior high school, senior high school and university. Senior high school students visit elementary and junior high school students to give classes, and she explained that this is a way of consecutive learning just like a chain, at the same time communication of learning takes place. (Click here for lecture materials in Japanese).
Visiting researcher Junko KIKUCHI, who acted as facilitator, stated that in recent years, companies have also brought the SDGs to the forefront of their management, and she got the impression that they are working on the SDGs to survive. She also referred to the field of education. There are more and more opportunities for children to come into contact with the SDGs from their early ages. To think about what is required in the current age in the perspective of SDGs when they are still young is becoming common.
She concluded the panel discussion by stating that she would like to continue having discussions and collaborating with people from various sectors for further research.
Despite the limited time, we could have deepened discussion on industry-government-academia collaboration and the expectations towards OCHA-SDGs.
