Emergency briefing on the climate crisis by leading Japanese scientists,
intended for policymakers and the general public
CEN’s 6th Anniversary Event
Purpose of the event
With climate and natural crises worsening, there is a strong need to hear the latest findings directly from scientists. In 2024, the global average temperature rose by 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels, the highest on record. In 2025, temperatures are predicted to rise by 1.45°C, the second highest level after 2024, clearly indicating that global warming is accelerating. In April 2025, the German Meteorological Society and the German Physical Society issued a joint statement warning of the risk of a 3°C rise in the global average temperature by 2050.
At the 2nd Global Tipping Points Conference held in July 2025, around 600 scientists released the “Dartington Declaration,” stating that the tipping point for coral reefs has already been exceeded, and that tipping points such as a shutdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and dieback of the Amazon rainforest may be approaching by mid-century. To avoid this and keep warming to 1.5°C or below, rapid and unprecedented reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are essential. However, despite these scientific warnings, COP30, held in Belém, Brazil, in November, failed to achieve sufficient progress toward phasing out fossil fuels.
In response to this situation, the UK held a “National Emergency Briefing” in Westminster, London, in November 2025. Called by 1,046 scientists, 1,250 people, including approximately 130 members of parliament, participated in a comprehensive, science-based briefing on climate change, energy, food systems, nature, extreme weather, turning points, the economy, health, and food and economic security. This initiative has been highly praised for promoting risk sharing based on the latest science, fostering a common understanding that transcends political stances, and promoting a shared sense of crisis across society, including industry and finance, while also positioning climate and nature policies as crisis management. This was a new attempt to directly connect scientific knowledge with society and politics, and served as an opportunity to redefine climate change not merely as an environmental problem, but as a national issue.
The UK’s experience offers important insights for Japan as well. In Japan, the effects of climate change, such as extreme heat and agricultural risks, are becoming apparent. Failure to address these risks could lead not only to social losses but also to economic losses for businesses due to disruptions in supply chains and market changes. However, an understanding of climate risks and the turning point is not yet fully shared throughout society. In order to consider the direction of future policies and economic activities, a forum for broadly sharing scientifically-based risk awareness is essential. Therefore, it is extremely important in Japan to create a forum that clarifies the climate risks and impacts we face, as well as the necessary deadlines for action, based on direct and integrated insights from scientists.
Against this backdrop, the certified NPO ZERI JAPAN/Climate Emergency Network (CEN) will host an “Emergency Briefing on Climate and Nature.” This initiative is an important step for Japanese society as a whole to take action based on scientific evidence and shared understanding, and will also contribute to strengthening food and economic security, the health and lives of citizens, disaster prevention and mitigation, international credibility, and industrial competitiveness. We sincerely ask for your understanding and cooperation in this endeavor .
The program abstract of briefing is available here.
The report on the Emergency Briefing is available here.
Event Overview
| Date | Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 13:00–16:00 |
| Venue | Nikkei Hall (Nikkei Building 3F, 1-3-7 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8066) |
| Event format | Hybrid (in-person capacity: 600; no online participant limit) |
| Organizers | Specified Nonprofit Corporation ZERI JAPAN/ Climate Emergency Network (CEN) |
| Supported by | Science Council of Japan, Cross-Party Parliamentary League for Achieving Carbon Neutrality, Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnership (JCLP), Future Earth The Global Secretariat Hub Japan |
Members of the Diet Who Participated in or Supported the Briefing (Honorifics omitted)
Legislators Who Participated on the Day (Listed in Order of RSVP)
◇ Diet Members
- Furukawa Motohisa — Member of the House of Representatives
- Tajima Kaname — Member of the House of Representatives
- Ito Shintaro — Former Minister of the Environment
- LaSalle Ishii (Represented by: Onodera Hazuki, Secretary to a Member of the House of Councillors)
- Tadokoro Yoshinori — Former Senior Vice-Minister for Reconstruction
- Kunimitsu Ayano — Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs
- Iwasaki Hina — Member of the House of Representatives
- Ito Satoshi — Member of the House of Representatives
- Hirabayashi Akira — Member of the House of Representatives
- Niwada Yukie (Represented by: Nakajima Koichi, Accounting Manager for a Member of the House of Councillors)
- Ukishima Tomoko (Represented by: Kashiwagi Atsushi, Secretary to a Member of the House of Representatives)
- Fukuyama Tetsuro — Member of the House of Councillors
- Kai Takeshi — Member of the House of Representatives
- Dobashi Akihiro — Member of the House of Representatives
- Nakagawa Koichi — Member of the House of Representatives
- Nukaga Fukushiro (Represented by: Hirakawa Daisuke, Secretary to a Member of the House of Representatives)
- Furukawa Yasushi — Member of the House of Representatives
◇ Local Assembly Members
- Isozaki Tatsuya — Member of the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly
- Saito Shinji — Member of the Shiraoka City Council
◇ Members of the National Diet Endorsing the Purpose
- Ooka Toshitaka — Member of the House of Representatives
- Furukawa Yoshihisa — Member of the House of Representatives
- Obuchi Yuko — Member of the House of Representatives
- Fujita Fumitake — Member of the House of Representatives
- Saito Tetsuo — Member of the House of Representatives
- Fukushima Mizuho — Member of the House of Councillors
- Kato Akira — Member of the House of Councillors
Program
Opening
| 13:00 | Opening Declaration | Yusuke Saraya Chair, Certified NPO ZERI JAPAN / President, CEN |
| Guest Greeting | Introduction of Attending Members of the National Diet① |
Session: The Expert Briefings
Moderator: Atsushi Suzuki, Professor Emeritus, Yokohama National University
| 13:10 | Importance of Science | Takaaki Kajita | Distinguished Professor, The University of Tokyo |
| 13:20 | Climate Change in Japan | Seita Emori | Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo |
| 13:30 | Nature / Restoration & Coexistence | Hiromi Kobori | Visiting Professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Tokyo City University |
| 13:40 | Medicine & Health | Chiho Watanabe | Specially Appointed Professor, Graduate School of Planetary Health, Nagasaki University |
| 13:50 | Food Security | Miyuki Shimizu | Professor, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University |
| 14:00 | Climate Security | Takashi Sekiyama | Professor, Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University |
| 14:10 | Circular Economy | Yuichi Moriguchi | Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo |
| 14:20 | Energy Systems | Kazunari Sasaki | Vice President / Principal Professor, Kyushu University |
| 14:30 | Social Transformation & Behavior Change | Junko Edahiro | Vice President / Professor, Shizenkan University |
| 14:40 | Summary and Recommendations | Naoko Ishii | Director / Specially Appointed Professor, Global Commons Center, The University of Tokyo |
| 14:50 | Break | Introduction of Attending Members of the National Diet |
Session: Q&A / Dialogue Toward Building Common Understanding
Moderator: Yoshiko Ikoma, Chair, Japan Ethical Initiative (General Incorporated Association)
| 15:00 | Responses from members of the natinal diet and policymakers; proposals from young people followed by Q&A and dialogue involving experts; and Q&A sessions with the media and participants. |
Closing
| 15:50 | Closing Remarks | Introduction of Attending Members of the National Diet③ | |
| Closing Declaration | Mitsuo Takeuchi | Vice Chair, Certified NPO ZERI Japan / Secretary-General, CEN |
Organizing Structure / Secretariat Information
(In Japanese syllabary order; honorifics omitted.)
Organizing Committee Chair
| Yusuke Saraya | Chair, Certified NPO ZERI JAPAN / President, CEN |
Senior Advisor
| Ryoichi Yamamoto | Honorary President, CEN / Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo |
Program Committee Chair
| Atsushi Suzuki | Advisor, Certified NPO ZERI JAPAN / Professor Emeritus, Yokohama National University |
External Advisors
| Mie Asaoka | Chair, Certified NPO Climate Network |
| Masanori Imai | Representative Director, JCLP / Chairman of the Board of Directors, Toda Corporation |
| Toshihiko Goto | Special Advisor, Certified NPO Sustainable Management Forum of Japan |
Executive Team
Executive Committee Chair
| Mitsuo Takeuchi | Vice Chair, Certified NPO ZERI JAPAN / Secretary-General, CEN |
Executive Committee Members
| Yoshiko Ikoma | Chair, Japan Ethical Initiative (General Incorporated Association) |
| Norihiro Itsubo | Professor, Waseda University / Chair, the SPEED Research Group |
| Mie Usuba | President & CEO, MC Planning Co., Ltd. |
| Junko Edahiro | Vice President / Professor, Shizenkan University |
| Junko Saeki | Chief, Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry (General Incorporated Association) |
| Tsuyoshi Sakai | Director / Head of Planning & Sales Division and Business Division Head, Kankyo-news Co., Ltd. |
| Rika Sueyoshi | Representative Director, the Ethical Association （General Incorporated Association) |
| Atsuko Suzuki | Chair, Certified NPO Institute for Environmental Relations |
| Atsushi Suzuki | Professor Emeritus, Yokohama National University |
| Gakuji Fukatsu | Secretary-General, Green Purchasing Network |
| Hiroshi Mizutani | Representative, the Institute of Global Geochemistry Research |
| Setsuko Miyakawa | Director, erex Co., Ltd. |
| Manami Yamaguchi | Representative Director, Sustainable Lifestyle Association |
Observers
| Masayuki Kamegamori | Executive Advisor / Senior Consultant, Japan Management Association Consulting, Inc. |
| Mutsuko Miyakoshi | Head, Research Center, BI Division, Japan Management Association Consulting, Inc. |
Sponsoring Organizations (recruiting)
Zaimokuza Clinic YOKOYAMA MEDICAL CLINIC MUFG Bank 株式会社サラヤトレーディング
Supporting Organizations (recruiting)
National Emergency Briefing（UK）
Enterprise
| Mirai Sozo-bu Co., Ltd. | Environmental Business Agency Co., Ltd. | Kankyo-news Co., Ltd. |
| SMFL Mirai Partners Company, Limited | SOMPO Institute Plus, Inc. | Terada Iron Works Co., Ltd. |
| Kashiwa Tanaka Farm, Inc. | Tango Foods Co., Ltd. | Saraya Environmental Design Co., Ltd. |
| Yamazakura Co., Ltd. | The Links, Inc. | Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. |
| esa Inc. | Mito HollyHock Football Club, Inc. |
Local Governments, Assemblies, and Regional Administration
| Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly | Mito City Council | Namegata City, Ibaraki Prefecture |
| Toride City, Ibaraki Prefecture |
Research, Academic, and Policy Institutions
| Institute of Global Geochemistry Research | Institute for Studies in Happiness, Economy, and Society | Certified NPO Sustainable Management Forum of Japan |
| Biodiversity Academy(BDA) | JAPAN PRODUCTIVITY CENTER | The Ecomaterials Forum |
| Asian Productivity Organization |
Public Interest Organizations, Industry Associations, and Networks
| NIPPON ASSOCIATION OF CONSUMER SPCIALISTS | Green Purchasing Network | Japan Ethical Initiative (General Incorporated Association) |
| Ibaraki Prefecture Environmental Management Association | the Ethical Association (General Incorporated Association) | Japan Sustainable Cosmetics Promoting Foundations (JSCF) |
| Sustainable Life Association | Sustainable Management Promotion Organization (SuMPO) | Japan Ethical Painting Association |
Private Organizations in Society, Lifestyle, and Co-Creation
| Wago International Peace Association | Soka Gakkai International | E’s Future Co-Creation Forum |
NPOs, NGOs, and Citizens’ Groups
| Certified NPO Institute for Environmental Relations | Japan Youth Council (JYC) | Youth Environmental NGO Climate Youth Japan(CYJ) |
| NPO International Exchange Club GAIA | Foundation Tara Océan | Ibaraki Prefectural Center for Climate Change Actions |
| Oita Prefecture Center for the Promotion of Global Warming Prevention Activities | Taito Recycling Network | Kanagawa Prefectural Council for Climate Change Actions |
| Sakasagawa Kids Eco Club | Lake Senba Water Quality Purification Promotion Association | Theater Company Cinderella |
| Youth Econet | NPO Wakayama Environmental Network | NPO Environmental Network Saitama |
| NPO Environmental Partnership Iwate | Sustainable Mihara | General Incorporated Association Hollyhock IBARAKI Club |
| NPO Green & Peace | Oita Genki Kids |