The objective of the forum is to raise awareness and understanding of the WSSD among the general public in Japan. Participants will discuss the implications and expected results of the Johannesburg Summit, as well as the roles of the UNU, UNU/IAS and Japan in the Summit process. The discussion will cover such issues as environmentally friendly production and consumption patterns, water/forest/ecosystems, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, human capital development and education, and partnerships among the actors in the Summit.

The forum's morning session will feature a keynote speech by Dr. A. H. Zakri, Director of the UNU/IAS, and a presentation on the UNEP GEO-3 Report by Mr. Surendra Shrestha, Director of the Environmental Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, UNEP. The UNEP GEO-3 Report, prepared for the Johannesburg Summit, provides an overview of environmental development in the past thirty years and how various factors (such as society and economy) affect the environment. The focus of the afternoon session will be a panel discussion on "The Role of Japan for WSSD" by leading figures in the areas of environmental politics, environmental economics, environmental NGOs, ecosystem preservation, and media on environmental issues.

The Public Forum will begin at 10:30 a.m. on 11 July in the U Thant International Conference Hall (3F) of UN House in Tokyo. Simultaneous interpretation between English and Japanese will be provided. A copy of the programme is attached for your reference. Media representatives are cordially invited to attend.