The ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) held a launch ceremony for the “Future Leaders’ Declaration on ASEAN-Japan Cooperation for International Marine Plastic Waste” project on March 16, 2021, which is the first attempt to adopt and present a student-initiated declaration on the issue of marine plastic waste between Japan and ASEAN member states. The ceremony was livestreamed online (160 viewers).
Twenty-two university and graduate students from 10 ASEAN member states and Japan were selected for this project, which started in November 2020. Under the guidance of Prof. ISOBE Atsuhiko of Kyushu University, a leading researching in the field of microplastics and oceanography, and Prof. KAJITA Takaaki of The University of Tokyo, a Nobel Laureate in Physics (for his discovery of neutrino oscillation in 2015), the students discussed the issues and policy recommendations on international marine plastic waste, and drafted the declaration.
The launch ceremony started with an opening speech by ASEAN Secretariat, Secretary General, H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, followed by the reading of the declaration Preamble by student representatives. A panel discussion on “Lessons from Current Leaders to Future Leaders” ensued, which includes Prof. KAJITA Takaaki of the University of Tokyo, Dr. SUZUKI Motoyuki, President of the Japan Association for UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), Ms. KOSHIISHI Yuko, Senior General Manager, Corporate Sustainability Department of Suntory Holdings Limited, Prof. ISOBE Atsuhiko of Kyushu University, and four selected students representing Japan, Cambodia, Indonesia and Viet Nam. Following the third preparatory session held in December 12, 2020, the launch ceremony was also filmed by NHK International. The outline of the launch ceremony is as follows.
1.Welcome Remarks by ASEAN Secretariat, Secretary General, H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi
2.Keynote Speech by Prof. KAJITA Takaaki, Nobel Laureate in Physics in 2015, The University of Tokyo, entitled, “Perspectives on the Coexistence of Universe, Mankind and Nature”
3.Future Leaders’ Declaration and Signing on ASEAN-Japan Cooperation for International Marine Plastic Waste by selected student representatives:
-Ms. FUJIKAWA Machiko (Japan), Bachelor in Resources and Environmental Engineering, Waseda University
-Mr. UCHIDA Yukiya (Japan), Bachelor in Agriculture, Bioresource and Bioenvironment, Kyushu University
-Mr. Bandos ROS (Cambodia), PhD candidate in Economics, Hiroshima University
-Ms. NURLATIFAH (Indonesia), Master in Chemistry, Kumamoto University
-Ms. Shelvy SANTOSO (Indonesia), Master in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University
-Ms. Thuy Tien TRAN (Viet Nam), Master in Environmental Management, Kyoto University
4.Address on the Declaration by Nobel Laureate in Physics, Prof. KAJITA Takaaki
5.Address on the Declaration by Prof. ISOBE Atsuhiko, Mentor and Professor, Kyushu University Center for Ocean and Atmospheric Research
6.Panel discussion, entitled, “What Future Leaders May Learn from Present Leaders”
-Facilitator: Ms. AMANO Fujiko, AJC Assistant Director & Head of RPA Cluster
-Panelist: Prof. KAJITA Takaaki, Nobel Laureate in Physics
-Panelist: Dr. SUZUKI Motoyuki, Representative Director, Japan Association for UNEP
-Panelist: Ms. KOSHIISHI Yuko, Senior General Manager, Corporate Sustainability Department, Suntory Holdings Limited
-Panelist: Prof. ISOBE Atsuhiko, Mentor and Professor, Kyushu University Center for Ocean and Atmospheric Research
-Four Student Representatives:
-Mr. Bandos ROS (Cambodia), PhD candidate in Economics, Hiroshima University
-Ms. Shelvy SANTOSO (Indonesia), Master in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University
-Ms. Thuy Tien TRAN (Viet Nam), Master in Environmental Management, Kyoto University
-Ms. FUJIKAWA Machiko (Japan), Bachelor in Engineering, Waseda University
7.Closing remarks by AJC Secretary General FUJITA Masataka