Youth study session in Tokyo for climate change agents

April is the time of the year when many young people step into new phases of education and work. To help them begin with an awareness for the impending climate crisis, a free event in Shibuya is being held to provide an opportunity to tackle it. Youth-led Fridays For Future Tokyo together with 350.org Japan have prepared an evening that blends insights with discussions to shed light on both local and global environmental challenges. The session, held at the Global Environment Partnership Plaza within the United Nations University in Jingumae, Shibuya, begins at 18:00 and runs until 19:30, with the possibility of an informal gathering at Yoyogi Park afterwards if the weather is accommodating.

The organisers will begin with a brief introduction of the evening’s purpose, emphasising the growing urgency of climate action in the face of escalating climate-related disasters. Participants will see how while decarbonisation efforts are in progress, the current pace fails to secure a sustainable future and risks imposing heavier environmental and social burdens on coming generations. The first portion of the programme unfolds with a lecture by representatives from 350.org Japan that covers the fundamentals of climate change, detailing its present impacts and reviewing both domestic and international responses. They will then follow up with an open dialogue session, which offers participants the chance to ask questions and share insights on the matter.

After a short break designed to foster networking and provide refreshments, the gathering resumes with a second lecture, delivered by Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Japan. This session examines a contentious pipeline project in Canada, delving into its intertwined implications for both the environment and human rights. A subsequent dialogue session further extends the conversation, allowing for a deeper exploration of these critical issues.