The conference will examine recent global outlooks on the environment in the lead up to the 10th anniversary of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (Rio+10). These include priority areas such as pollution, depletion of non-renewable resources, and degradation of the natural environment. The conference will also review and provide a forum on climate change issues, such as effective market mechanisms, mitigation scenarios related to the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) directive, and the issues that will engage negotiators at the 6th Conference of the Parties (COP6) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change this November.

Conference sessions will focus on Global Outlooks and Trends, Global Warming and Key Issues Towards COP6, Global Modelling and Future Scenarios, The Kyoto Protocol and Alternatives, and Water in the 21st Century. Special sessions on Sustainable Development & Developing Countries and on the Global Sustainable Future & Developing Countries will be convened to consider the problems faced by developing countries. In the context of new paradigm shifts in technology, environment, economic activity and lifestyles aimed at ensuring sustainable economic growth, researchers from India, Indonesia and China will present research findings from recent UNU/IAS studies.

Leading experts from around the world will participate in this conference. Scheduled speakers and panellists include representatives and researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Environment Agency of Japan, National Academy of Sciences (US), National Institute for Environmental Studies (Japan), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations Environment Programme, World Water Council, and World Resources Institute as well as numerous leading universities.

Simultaneous interpretation in English and Japanese will be provided. Sessions are open to the public, but advance registration is required. Media representatives are cordially invited to attend. A copy of the programme is attached.