UN Day is held each year in commemoration of the entry into force of the United Nations Charter on 24 October 1945. This year’s UN Day Public Forum will be held with the theme of “Post ‘Rio+20’: Achieving The Future We Want”, providing an opportunity to discuss what we can and what we have to do to create a sustainable society, taking into account the setting of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the process Member States at Rio+20 agreed to launch.

At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Rio+20, held in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, world leaders discussed together with participants representing private sectors, NGOs, academics and others, how to set a new course that truly balances the imperatives of robust growth and economic development with the social and environmental dimensions of sustainable prosperity and human wellbeing. The Conference focused on two main themes: How to build a green economy to achieve sustainable development and lift people out of poverty, including support for developing countries that will allow them to find a green path for development; and how to improve international coordination for sustainable development. Rio+20 concluded with the adoption of the Outcome Document.

From Japan, representatives from various sectors attended the Conference and shared important lessons from post-disaster reconstruction efforts.

Sharing the perspectives and experiences among various sectors and strengthening cooperation are critical in our efforts to build a sustainable society. For Japan to lead the global discussion, each one of us should consider the building of a sustainable society as our own immediate goal.

Event: UN Day 2012 Public Forum — Post ‘Rio+20’: Achieving The Future We Want —

Time: 14:00-16:00, Wednesday, 24 October 2012 (* Registration starts at 13:30.)

Venue: U Thant International Conference Hall, 3rd Floor, UNU building

Organized by: United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), United Nations University (UNU) and Environmental Partnership Council (EPC)

Cooperation with: Global Environment Outreach Centre (GEOC)

Supported by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA), UN agencies based in Japan, Global Compact Japan Network (GC-JN), Rio+20 related organizations etc.

Language: Japanese/English [Simultaneous interpretation will be provided. ]

Capacity: 300 participants available [*Pre-registration required]

Fee: Free of charge

Registration: Please register your attendance at the United Nations Information Centre by Monday, 22 October, by sending an e-mail to event@untokyo.jp with your name, affiliation, and contact information including phone number and e-mail address.

*The registration is on a “first-come-first-served” basis. You will only be contacted when the seats are full. Please be informed that admission ticket will not be issued.

Inquiry: UN Information Centre (UNIC) Tel: 03 5467 4451

Tentative Programme

13:30 Registration

Moderator: Ms. Mari Yamashita, UNIC Director

14:00-14:35 Opening

Opening Remarks by Prof. Govindan Parayil, UNU Vice-Rector
Video Message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
Special Remarks by Mr. Naoki Kazama, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan

Speech Mr. Janos Pasztor, Executive Secretary, UN Secretary-General’s High-level panel on Global Sustainability

14:35-15:55 Panel Discussion

Moderator: Ms. Tomoko Hoshino, Vice-President, EPC

Panelists:
– Mr. Hiroshi Minami, Deputy Director-General of International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
– Dr. Koyu Furusawa, Chief Executive at Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES), Professor, Faculty of Economics, Kokugakuin University
– Mr. Hiroki Fukushima, Deputy Director-General, Japan Youth Ecology League
– Mr. Tsukasa Kanai, General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility Office, Corporate Planning Department, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited (UN Global Compact member company)

Commentator: Mr. Janos Pastzor, GSP Executive Secretary

Q&A Session

15:55-16:00 Closing Remarks by Youth Representative

Mr. Shoya Hirose, BA, Yokohama City University, Representative, Climate Youth Japan

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