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 .
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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) |
| Organizers | Specified Nonprofit Corporation ZERI JAPAN/ Climate Emergency Network (CEN) |
Program
Opening
| 13:00 ～ 13:05（5） | Opening Declaration | Yusuke Saraya Chair, Certified NPO ZERI JAPAN / President, CEN |
| 13:05 ～ 13:10（5） | Guest Greeting |
Session: The Expert Briefings
Moderator: Atsushi Suzuki, Professor Emeritus, Yokohama National University
| 13:10 ～ 13:20（10） | Importance of Science | Takaaki Kajita | Distinguished Professor, The University of Tokyo |
| 13:20 ～ 13:30（10） | Climate Change in Japan | Seita Emori | Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo |
| 13:30 ～ 13:40（10） | Nature / Restoration & Coexistence | Hiromi Kobori | Visiting Professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Tokyo City University |
| 13:40 ～ 13:50（10） | Medicine & Health | Chiho Watanabe | Specially Appointed Professor, Graduate School of Planetary Health, Nagasaki University |
| 13:50 ～ 14:00（10） | Food Security | Miyuki Shimizu | Professor, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University |
| 14:00 ～ 14:10（10） | Climate Security | Takashi Sekiyama | Professor, Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University |
| 14:10 ～ 14:20（10） | Circular Economy | Yuichi Moriguchi | Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo |
| 14:20 ～ 14:30（10） | Energy Systems | Kazunari Sasaki | Vice President / Principal Professor, Kyushu University |
| 14:30 ～ 14:40（10） | Social Transformation & Behavior Change | Junko Edahiro | Vice President / Professor, Shizenkan University |
| 14:40 ～ 14:50（10） | Summary and Recommendations | Naoko Ishii | Director / Specially Appointed Professor, Global Commons Center, The University of Tokyo |
| 14:50 ～ 15:00 (10） | Break |
Session: Q&A / Dialogue Toward Building Common Understanding
| 15:00 ～ 15:25(25) | Responses by politicians/policy leaders; proposals from youth; Q&A |
| 15:25 ～ 15:50(25) | Q&A with media and participants |
閉会
| 15:50 ～ 15:55 (5) | Closing Remarks | ||
| 15:55 ～ 16:00（5） | Closing Declaration | Mitsuo Takeuchi | Vice Chair, Certified NPO ZERI Japan / Secretary-General, CEN |
Organizing Structure / Secretariat Information
(In Japanese syllabary order; honorifics omitted. Affiliations/titles as of April 1, 2026.)
Organizing Committee Chair
| Yusuke Saraya | Chair, Certified NPO ZERI JAPAN / President, CEN |
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 |
Advisors
| Mie Asaoka | Chair, Certified NPO Climate Network |
| 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 Miyagawa | Deputy Secretary-General, Asian Productivity Organization (participating in an individual capacity) |
| Manami Yamaguchi | Representative Director, Japan Sustainable Label Association (General Incorporated 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. |
Under the auspices of (pending application)
Science Council of Japan
Sponsoring Organizations (recruiting)
Supporting Organizations (recruiting)
| Green Purchasing Network | Institute of Global Geochemistry Research | the Ethical Association (General Incorporated Association) |
| Certified NPO Institute for Environmental Relations | E’s Future Co-Creation Forum | Institute for Studies in Happiness, Economy, and Society |
| Mirai Sozo-bu Co., Ltd. | Certified NPO Sustainable Management Forum of Japan | Environmental Business Agency Co., Ltd. |
| Japan Ethical Initiative (General Incorporated Association) | Kankyo-news Co., Ltd. |