Vice President for Global Engagement Strategy, UNESCO Chairholder, and Earth Charter International (ECI) council member YOKOI Atsufumi recently took center stage in a webinar (online seminar) hosted by the Okayama Youth International Association (IYEO, Okayama Prefecture) in cooperation with Okayama University’s Global Human Resources Development Institute and the Earth Charter International (located in the United Nations University for Peace: UPEACE). The webinar, titled “Creating the Future of Post-Corona: The Earth Charter and SDGs”, was held on September 1 and was followed by a free-talk session.

Over 80 students and members of the general public from Hokkaido to Okinawa participated in the webinar. Vice President Yokoi gave the keynote speech, wherein he discussed the history of Sustainable Development, the Earth Charter’s connection to SDGs, and the significance of the Earth Charter in a post-corona world. Additionally, Vice President Yokoi introduced the various activities that Okayama University hosts and participates in to promote the advancement of the SDGs. During the free-talk session, participants engaged in a lively exchange of opinions. Young leaders, including middle and high school students, also participated in the free-talk session, actively contributing to topics such as “What Kind of Future Do You Envision?” and “How to Create Shared Values When It Comes to Sustainability”.

Executive Director of the ECI Secretariat and UNESCO chairholder Mirian Vilela also participated in the webinar. She directly thanked Okayama University for its ongoing attempts to incorporate the values and principles of the Earth Charter and the SDG’s at the university-wide level, and also for its cooperation with the Earth Charter International.

Okayama University will continue to strengthen cooperation based on its comprehensive agreement with the Earth Charter International and to promote proactive and concrete efforts toward a more just, sustainable, and peaceful global society.