1st Global RCE Conference Yokohama, Japan, 2006

Experts' Meeting on Regional Centres of Expertise for a Sustainable Future

Date: 12-13 April, 2006
Venue: JICA Yokohama, Japan
Co-organizers: UNU-IAS, City of Yokohama, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Event summary
Since 2003, the EfSD programme of UNU-IAS has been promoting the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (DESD, 2005-2014). Developing and promoting Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) of education for sustainable development is one of the major thrusts of the programme, and 35 RCEs have so far been acknowledged by UNU.

RCE representatives, RCE candidates, and representative from UN agencies, national and local governments met on 12 and 13 April, to exchange information on RCE activities, challenges and solutions for the way forward. This conference sought to:

  • share information and experiences on RCEs and their activities among acknowledged and candidate RCEs;
  • identify major challenges that RCEs are facing and ways to overcome such challenges;
  • facilitate communication and networking among RCEs;
  • discuss the possible roles of UNU in promoting RCEs; and
  • raise public awareness on ESD, DESD and RCEs.

 

International Symposium on Regional Centres of Expertise for a Sustainable Future

Date: 14 April 2006
Venue: Hamagin Hall "Viamare", Minato Mirai, Yokohama< Japan
Co-organizers: City of Yokohama, UNU-IAS, JICA

The International Symposium explored RCEs for a sustainable future, and opportunities for establishing an RCE to promote ESD in Yokohama. Presentations were made by actors working actively on ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) issues both in and outside Japan.

The International Symposium featured keynote speeches by Dr. Charles Hopkins of York University and Mr. Takunori Ogawa, the former producer of Aichi Expo. Dr. Hopkins, one of the key leaders in the promotion of the DESD, discussed the concept and the application of ESD and RCEs. Mr. Ogawa discussed the potential role of Yokohama in addressing ESD-related issues to progress towards a sustainable future.

 

A panel discussion with the representatives from various sectors in Yokohama including civil society, international organizations, higher education, and the municipal government shared ideas and experiences on the topic of ESD to pave the way for the establishment of an RCE in Yokohama.

See list of participants to Expert Meeting on Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, 12-13 April 2006 Yokohama, Japan.

Download presentations:

From 12 April:

JICA
Information Collection and Reporting by RCEs
RCE Greater Sendai
RCE Jordan
RCE Rhine-Meuse
RCE Toronto
Types of collaboration and facilitation
UNU Rector
Yokohama City Mayor
RCE Barcelona
RCE Pacific

From 13 April:

Kitakyushu
Proposed RCEs in India
RCE Cebu
RCE Incheon
RCE Okayama
RCE Skane
RCE Bogor
RCE Beijing
RCE Bandung
RCE Central Asia
RCE Penang
RCE Tongyeong
RCE Yokohama
ESD at UNEP Tongji
Innovating for Sustainability

 

From 14 April:

Presentation by Charles Hopkins, York University
Presentationby Hiromi Kobori, Musashi Institute of Technology (in Japanese and English)
Presentation by Kazutoshi Makino, Director of the Environmental Planning Bureau of the City of Yokohama (in Japanese)
Presentation by Takunori Ogawa, producer of Aichi Expo (in Japanese)
Presentation by the Yoshie Yokokawa, Secretary General of the Yokohama NGO liaison office (in Japanese)
Citynet
Presentation by the UNU Rector

 

Presentations from the Sendai tour, 15-16 April:

RCE Tajiri
RCE Kesennuma
Morimori Environment Rescue Team Project
Environmental Education in Sendai
Forum for Environmental Education & Learning in Sendai
ESD Activities, Miyagi University of Education

NOTE:
The presentations on this page are by participants at the RCE Experts・Meeting that took place on 12-13 April 2006 in Yokohama, Japan. UNU-IAS is in no way responsible for the accuracy or quality of content of these presentations.

Event_Info: 
Yokohama, Japan, 2006