Fukushima Youth Engage in Malaysia–Japan Environment Week, Advocating Carbon Neutrality
From October 15 to 17, 2025, the Malaysia-Japan Environment Week was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
On October 16, a High-Level Plenary Session brought together youth representatives, businesses, and local stakeholders from both Japan and Malaysia to share their knowledge and experiences, while exploring practical pathways for future collaboration between the two countries.
The session was moderated by Mr. Togo Uchida, Executive Director of ICLEI Japan.
During the High-Level Plenary Session, opening remarks were delivered by representatives from both countries.
Governor Masao Uchibori of Fukushima Prefecture, which joined ICLEI in September 2025, delivered a video message highlighting the prefecture’s ongoing efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality, alongside its continued recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
In the following session, three students from Fukushima University—Ayano Kojima, Yuri Shiota, and Miku Ninodaira—who have been appointed as Fukushima Carbon Neutral Ambassadors, delivered a keynote presentation and took part in a panel discussion.
In their keynote, the students emphasized that for Fukushima, a region that has overcome the challenges of the earthquake and disaster, achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 serves as a driving force for the future. They also stressed the importance of collaboration among industry, government, and academia, and expressed their determination—speaking powerfully in English—to contribute as youth leading the next generation.
During the panel discussion, the three students exchanged views with officials from Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Malaysian student ambassadors, sharing perspectives on how achieving a decarbonized society requires not only setting goals but also taking passionate, collective action that inspires people to join the movement.
After returning to Japan, the students plan to share their experiences and insights from Malaysia at a reporting session to be held in Fukushima in early November.
Fukushima youth played a key role at the Japan–Malaysia Environment Week, showcasing how youth leadership can drive carbon neutrality and sustainable development. By engaging with international peers, local stakeholders, and students, these students contribute to advancing sustainable development and fostering ongoing collaboration between Japan and Malaysia.
