Okayama University participated as a cooperating institution in the “Earth Charter +25 Event,” an international conference commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Earth Charter, held from July 1 to 3 at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands. Vice President Atsufumi Yokoi (Global Engagement), UNESCO Chairholder, and a member of the Earth Charter International (ECI) Council attended the conference as an invited participant.

The conference took place at the Peace Palace, where the Earth Charter was adopted in 2000 and which houses the International Court of Justice (ICJ), one of the principal judicial organs of the United Nations. Under the theme “Planetary Consciousness, Ethics of Care, and Intergenerational Justice,” participants engaged in active international discussions.

More than 300 Earth Charter advocates and youth activists from 35 countries gathered for the event. Mirian Vilela, Executive Director of Earth Charter International, emphasized the importance of the Earth Charter as an ethical framework for building a sustainable global society. Severn Cullis-Suzuki, an ECI Council member known for her “legendary speech” at the 1992 Earth Summit, also delivered a strong message for the future of the planet. Participants celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Earth Charter’s adoption, shared past achievements, and discussed action plans for the future.

Vice President Yokoi spoke at the plenary session on the third day titled “Seeds of Change: Innovative Approaches to Education with the Earth Charter,” introducing Okayama University’s initiatives in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). He highlighted the University’s evolution from ESD activities toward comprehensive institution-wide efforts as a research university promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the use of the Earth Charter as an ethical framework. As an example of intergenerational collaboration with youth, he introduced Sofia Bermudez, a Youth Ambassador of the Okayama University UNESCO Chair, who presented a Youth Declaration to UN Secretary-General António Guterres during the United Nations General Assembly in 2022.

The conference reaffirmed the importance of the Earth Charter’s principles and the need to pass on its spirit to future generations. Okayama University will continue to promote integrated initiatives combining UNESCO’s “ESD for 2030” framework with the Earth Charter and further strengthen activities involving younger generations.