The Center for Global Commons at the University of Tokyo (CGC) held a seminar entitled “Nature on the Balance Sheet” on November 21st at the Japan Pavilion at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29, held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, from November 11th to 22nd, 2024).
The seminar highlighted the integration of natural capital into economic decision-making. With the Amazon nearing a tipping point and our economic system exceeding planetary limits, the panel stressed the urgent need for systemic change. Key conclusions included recognizing the value of natural capital, creating financial mechanisms to support its preservation, and implementing comprehensive policies. The panel emphasized that international cooperation and public-private partnerships are crucial to preventing catastrophic environmental loss and achieving sustainable economic transformation.
Seminar Overview
| Date ＆ Time | Thursday, November 21st, 2024, 10:00 – 11:15 am local time (15:00-16:15 JST) |
| Venue | Japan Pavilion at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), BLUE ZONE, ZONE E, #C-5, Baku Olympic Stadium |
| Organizer | Center for Global Commons at the University of Tokyo (Institute for Future Initiatives) |
| Seminar title | Nature on the Balance Sheet |
| Language | English |
| Speakers | Moderator: – Naoko Ishii (Special Presidential Envoy for Global Commons, UTokyo; Professor and Director, Center for Global Commons at UTokyo) Panelist: – Yutaka Matsuzawa (Vice-Minister for Global-Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Japan) – Carlos Nobre (co-chair, Science Panel for the Amazon; a member of IPCC) – María Fernanda Espinosa (President, Cities Alliance Assembly; Fmr President, UN General Assembly; Fmr Minister, Foreign Affairs & Defense Ecuador) – Shigeo Nakamura (President, Ajinomoto Brazil) – Rocio Sanz Cortes (Managing Director, Supply at Emergent) – Yuichi Tsuchibuchi (PhD student, Grad. Sch. of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo) |
| Ministry of the Environment, COP29 Japan Pavilion seminar site | https://www.env.go.jp/earth/cop/cop29/pavilion/en/exhibition/details/069/
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| Japan Pavilion Official Website | https://www.env.go.jp/earth/cop/cop29/pavilion/en |