Yuri Okubo joined the Institute in 2015 as Climate Change Policy Advisor to develop and implement the Institute’s strategy to promote renewable energy from the climate change policy perspectives.
She started her career working for a NGO (CASA) in Japan and became a research assistant at the Department of Political Science of the University of Zurich where she was engaged in research projects on climate and sustainable development which were funded by the European Parliament, the German Federal Environment Agency and UK organizations. She joined the Foundation myclimate to set up its Japanese affiliation and support the global network. She obtained a master’s degree in International Relations at Kobe City University of Foreign Studies.
At Renewable Energy Institute, she specializes on climate change policies in general and her research focuses on global and domestic coal power business policies and trends. She also takes the lead for joint studies with international organizations.

After graduating from University of Tokyo, Takejiro Sueyoshi joined the Mitsubishi Bank (the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ) in 1967 and worked for the bank until 1998. During his years with Nikko Asset Management as Deputy President, he was appointed as a member of the UNEP FI Steering Committee. In addition to the involvement in the UNEP FI activities in the Asia Pacific Region, he is giving many educational speeches about environmental problems and CSR/SRI in various government councils, seminars, universities and TV programs. Former member of the Council for Japan’s Prime Minister on Climate Change Policy and a Trustee member of Carbon Disclosure Project. Currently Vice-Chair of Executive Board of Renewable Energy Institute and Chairperson of WWF Japan.
His publications include “Ondanka Kogi　(A lecture on Global Warming)” (Toyo Keizai), “Yugai Rensa (Chain of Harmfulness)” (Gentousha), “Green New Deal” (Editor,Kankyou Shinbun), “Saishin CSR Jijyo( The Newest Book on CSR)”(Hokuseido)

Michael Bloomberg has long been a global leader in the fight against climate change. As three-term mayor of New York City, he implemented a groundbreaking strategic sustainability plan and reduced carbon emissions by 13 percent, positioning the city as a model for climate action around the world. His foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, focuses on the environment as one of its key program areas, and he has given more than $1 billion to the global climate fight. Bloomberg serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions, as well as Global Ambassador for the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience campaigns.

Bloomberg leads a number of efforts that are making progress in the global climate fight. He serves as president of the board of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and co-chairs the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and the “America Is All In” coalition. He also created the American Cities Climate Challenge to help the largest U.S. cities make more progress reducing carbon emissions in support of the Paris Agreement goals.

Through the U.S. Beyond Coal campaign, Bloomberg has worked with environmental organizations to retire more than 65% of all U.S. coal plants since 2011 – and in 2017, he expanded the effort to Europe, where Europe Beyond Coal has retired 50% of the continent’s plants. Building on this progress, he also launched Beyond Carbon, the largest-ever coordinated campaign to take on the climate crisis in the U.S., which aims to retire all domestic coal plants by 2030 and stop the construction of new gas plants.

Bloomberg has been instrumental in involving the financial community in the fight against climate change. He serves as chair of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, which develops recommendations to help companies disclose information on the climate-related risks and opportunities they face. And at the UN Secretary-General’s request, he formed the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative with other influential private sector leaders to accelerate investments in climate solutions.

Bloomberg also collaborates with partners and countries around the world to protect marine ecosystems and preserve coral reefs.

He is co-author, with Carl Pope, of the New York Times bestseller Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet.

Ken O’Flaherty is the COP26 Regional Ambassador for the Asia-Pacific and South Asia region. He is working closely with governments, business and civil society across the region to boost climate action ahead of the COP26 Leaders’ Summit which will take place in Glasgow in November 2021. Ken has recently returned from a posting as Minister in Rome, and has experience in a number of Foreign Office Departments. He has previously served in the British Embassy in Tokyo and Paris as well as the former UK Representation to the European Union. Ken has worked on a wide range of issues from climate change and energy to economic, EU cooperation, security, counter-terrorism and migration issues.

Appointed by the Chilean presidency and the United Nations as High Level Climate Champion for the 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25) of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, to mobilize climate action in non-state actors around the world. Previously, he co-founded and led TriCiclos, one of the most recognized Latin American companies in circular economy and recycling. Inspired by 10 years of running traditional food businesses where he witnessed the waste generated by the private sector, he set out to offer a transformative service that would help the environment while being financially sustainable. Using his entrepreneurial and business knowledge, he redirected his efforts towards the ideals and passion for sustainability and the environment. Today, TriCiclos operates in 13 countries in Latin America, where its mission is to foster new designs and business models for a world without waste. TriCiclos was also the first company to be certified as a B company outside North America. Gonzalo co-founded Sistema B and is a board member of BLab global. He is currently an advisor to the National Water, Green Hydrogen, Electromobility and Circular Economy Committees.

Masao Ishii joined Meteorological Research Institute of Japan Meteorological Agency in 1989. He was a sea-going oceanographer studying ocean carbon cycle, uptake of anthropogenic CO2 by the ocean and ocean acidification. He served as a co-chair of Biogeochemistry Expert Panel of Global Ocean Observing System supported by Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, WMO etc. strengthening the international coordination of ocean carbon observations (2015-2019). He was also a Lead Author of IPCC WGI 6th Assessment Report (AR6) chapter 5 (2018-2021). His publications include “Ocean warming – changing ocean and the impact of human activities” (Asakura Shoten) and “Ocean Geochemistry” (Kodansha). He holds PhD in Science from Nagoya University.

Toshikazu Hayashi is Chief Analyst at Nissay Asset Management, where he is in charge of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) related research and ESG integration for invest management process. Prior to joining Nissay Asset Management, he worked for the Japan Research Institute as ESG analyst, and also worked for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. He holds two Masters’ degrees, one in Technology Policy from Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge, and the other in Economics with distinction from the University of Edinburgh. He finished his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Kyoto University.

Kenji Ogawa joined Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) in 1987. Since 2000, he has been involved in environmental administration in Tokyo, especially for climate change. He has been in his current position since 2017, and now he is in charge of the operation and supervision of Tokyo’s carbon policy for buildings and renewable energy policies. He played the critical role on several policy programs in Tokyo, including the creation of Tokyo Carbon Reduction Reporting Program for SMEs, the operation of Tokyo Cap-and-Trade Program and Tokyo Green Building Program for new buildings, the promotion of hydrogen energy use and development of renewable power policy.

Yuko Nishida joined Renewable Energy Institute in 2017. She specializes in policy making of sustainable development in cities, sustainable architecture and urban planning. Before joining the Institute, she worked for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on climate policies and international environmental cooperation projects. She has collaborated with C40 cities, the global network of mega-cities committed to addressing climate change, and was responsible for compiling the publication of “Urban Efficiency,” a series of case studies on energy-saving measures for urban constructions. She has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Waseda University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
At Renewable Energy Institute, she is responsible for medium to long-term strategy development and provides support for energy transition projects in the building sector as well as climate change measures for non-state actors such as local governments and the business sector.

After joining NISSIN FOODS, Kanade Hanamoto worked for the advertising, corporate communication, and marketing department.
In the advertising department, she had been responsible for product brands and long involved in the planning and production of advertising strategies and media planning for group companies.
Since March 2020, she works as the head of the sustainability promotion office of the corporate communication division. To improve corporate value, she promotes and disseminates the sustainability activities of the NISSIN FOODS Group, including the NISSIN’s environmental strategy “EARTH FOOD CHALLENGE 2030”.

Takayuki Haruna is a Managing Executive Officer & Co-chief Investment officer (2021-) at Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd. (JPI). He takes responsibility for all of investments (loans, equity, fixed-income, credit and alternative investment) and ESG Investment at JPI. He joined JPI in 2016 as a Head of Credit & Alternative investment Dept. (2016-2020). He was a Executive Officer and Head of Investment Planning Dept. (2020-2021) at JPI.
Prior to joining JPI, Takayuki Haruna was a COO (2009-2016) at Japan Alternative Investment Co., Ltd. (JAI, changed its name to Mitsui & Co. Alternative Investments Ltd. in 2017). JAI is a specialized firm in alternative investments, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co. He joined JAI in 2005 as head of Business Development Department. In 2007, he founded Investment Advisory Dept. and managed FoHF as a CIO.
Before joining JAI, Takayuki Haruna worked for The Norinchukin Bank (1991-2005) and was involved with asset allocation planning on proprietary accounts. From 1998 to 2003, he worked on secondment at The Norinchukin Trust & Banking Co., Ltd. and as a Chief Fund Manager to manage, Japanese equities, fixed-income and to set up Gate Keeper business.
He received BA in Economics from Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto in 1991.

Masako Kudo joined a major international audit firm as certified public accountant in 2007.
After engaging in audit work, she moved to the advisory department of the company and worked as an ESG consultant for 6 years.
She joined Shionogi & Co., Ltd. in 2019.  After working in the IR Group of the Corporate Communications Department, assigned the Senior Director of the newly established Sustainability Management office, and assumed her current position in July 2021.

January, 1986　Joined ANA, Passenger Services
March, 1986　Cabin Attendant Administration 1, Inflight Services, Osaka Airport Office
June, 1989　Cabin Attendant Administration 1, Inflight Services, Osaka Airport Office, Sales & Marketing
June, 1991　Cabin Attendant Administration 1, Inflight Services, Osaka Airport Office
October, 1992　Assistant Supervisor, Cabin Attendant Administration 1, Inflight Services, Osaka Airport Office
June, 1994　Assistant Supervisor, Cabin Attendant Administration, Inflight Services, Osaka Airport Office
October, 1995　Group Supervisor, Cabin Attendant Administration, Inflight Services, Osaka Airport Office
April, 1999　Assistant Manager, Cabin Attendant Administration, Inflight Services, Osaka Airport Office
April, 2001　Team Coordinator, Cabin Attendant Administration, Inflight Services, Osaka Airport Office
October, 2002　Staff Advisor, Quality Planning, Service Quality Support Promotion, Inflight Services
April, 2004　Manager, Quality Planning, Service Quality Support Promotion, Inflight Services
April, 2005　Manager, Operation Services, Inflight Services
April, 2007　Manager, Risk Management, CSR Promotion
November, 2009　Manager, Risk Management, CSR Promotion
Structural Reform Promotion Committee
January, 2010　Manager, Risk Management, CSR Promotion
April, 2010　Manager, CSR Promotion
June, 2011　Skynet Asia Airways Co., Ltd.
April, 2013　Senior Manager, Quality Control, Product Strategy, CS & Products and Services
April, 2014　Senior Manager, Administration, Product Strategy, CS & Products and Services
Manager, Safety Management, Safety Promotion, Safety Promotion Center
July, 2015　Director, CSR Promotion, Group General Administration & CSR, CC, ANA HOLDINGS INC.
Director, CSR Promotion, General Administration & CSR

Yoshio Tobiyama joined Obayashi Corporation in 1987. After working in Secretarial Department, Real Estate & Tenant Department, General Administration Department and others, he served as General Manager of Marketing Department from 2012, General Manager-in-Charge of Corporate Social Responsibility Department from 2014. And then, he has been in his current position since January 2019.

Kae Takase received her Ph. D in environmental studies from graduate school of frontier science, University of Tokyo. She was an economist at Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, and her specialty was econometric modeling of energy supply and demand, and renewable policy. She has worked at Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, Center for Low Carbon Society Strategy, Japan Science and Technology Agency, and University of Tokyo, and also a senior manager at the CDP Japan. She has been successful in engaging Japanese companies to join Science-based Target (SBT) initiative, and in engaging government to consider better corporate renewable sourcing environment, as a technical partner of RE100.

Nobuyuki Asai serves as executive director of the Soka Gakkai Peace Committee and director for sustainable development and humanitarian affairs for Soka Gakkai International (SGI).
He has worked in the Tokyo headquarters of the Soka Gakkai Buddhist association since 1999 and joined the peace committee in 2011. He served as chair of Soka Gakkai’s Youth Peace Conference until 2019, covering global issues including nuclear disarmament, humanitarian affairs and the SDGs.
Nobuyuki is a member of several civil society networks and is a board member of the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities and chair of the disaster unit of the Japan Civil Society Network on the SDGs.
He was born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1976. He graduated from Tokyo University with a Bachelor of Law degree.

Chisato Murakami joined IBM Japan Ltd. in 1987, and moved to Nippon Ecology Network (an environmental NGO) in 1992. As an NGO staff member, she was involved in the establishment of the Global Environment Outreach Centre, set up by the Ministry of the Environment and the United Nations University.
In 2003, she was appointed as the Executive Director of Japan Council on the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD-J), and she served as the Deputy Director for the establishment of the ESD Resource Center from 2016. She has held her current position since 2019. She has been working as a facilitator of “”Energy Workshop for Youth”” and “” Citizen’s Meeting for Decarbonizing Kawasaki “” at the Institute for Dialogue of Environmental Policy. She holds a Master’s degree of Social Design from Rikkyo University. She is a member of the Strategic Policy Committee of the Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy.

Kagoshima University, 2nd grader. 20 years old. Suzuka Nakamura joined the climate change movement and Youth For One Earth in 2019 as a high school student, inspired by Greta Thunberg. In April 2021, Suzuka attended the House of Representatives Environment Committee. She is currently involved in the climate change movement and biodiversity conservation, mainly organizing youth political action against climate change and energy policies.

Mr. Yano is a Director of Global Environment and Energy of Kyoto City Government. In the birthplace of the “Kyoto Protocol”, he is tackling initiatives in collaboration with citizens and businesses, such as the operation of the “Kyoto Decarbonized Lifestyle Promotion Team”, to achieve the goal of “zero emissions in 2050”.

Ken Tanaka works for WWF Japan and serves as the secretariat of the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) that is co-organized with CDP Japan and Renewable Energy Institute. Before joining WWF-Japan, he worked the Fukuoka Prefectural Government and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in environmental conservation, especially in waste management and recycling including the work supporting the Japanese companies to develop overseas recycling businesses. After that, he worked as a science communicator at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, and he was actively involved in a diverse of projects cooperating with overseas museums, businesses, research institutions etc. He holds a Master of Science in chemistry from Kyushu University.

From 1989 to 1993, she was assigned as an anchor of “World News” on NHK BS. She hosted “Close-up Gendai”, a daily current affairs program on NHK-TV from 1993 to 2016. She is a Trustee of Tokyo University of the Arts, Project Professor at Keio University Graduate School, FAO National Goodwill Ambassador for Japan, Board Member of Renewable Energy Institute and worked as a journalist covering topics related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Awarded Broadcast Woman Prize in 1998, Kan KIKUCHI Award in 2002, Japan National Press Club Prize in 2011 and Galaxy Special Prize in 2016. She graduated from Brown University, US.

He graduated from Tokyo Tech in 1969 and received Ph.D. in 1975. After working at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, he was back to Tokyo Tech in 1983 as Associate Professor and became Professor in 1995, then served as Dean of the Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering. After retirement of Tokyo Tech in 2012, he moved to CUC as Professor and became President in 2017. His field is environmental planning and policy making with background of social technology. He has been contributed to create EIA systems in Japan and Japanese international cooperation organizations such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japan Bank of International Cooperation. After moving to CUC, he made it as the first RE100 University in Japan in 2019 and established the Renewable Energy University League of Japan in 2021. He was President of the Japan Association for Planning Administration, 2008-2011. He was on the Board of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) for six years and became the President in 2009. He won the Rose-Hulman Award, the premier award of IAIA. He had been on the International Advisory Board of Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 1985-2008. He published many journal articles and books in the field of environmental planning and policy making, environmental impact assessment, and consensus building.

B.E. in Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University in March 1984.
Joined Tokyo Steel in April 1984.
Assistant-General Manager of Steel Making Dept., Okayama Plant in April 1998.
General Manager of Steel Making Dept. and Rolling Dept., Okayama Plant in October 1999.
General Manager of Rolling Dept., Okayama Plant in June 2001.
Chief Officer of Takamatsu Plant in November 2004.
President in June 2006.

Akira Sugano is President and Chief Executive Officer of Asset Management One. Mr. Sugano also serves as Director of The Investment Trusts Association, Japan.
Prior to joining Asset Management One, Mr. Sugano was Deputy President and Executive Officer at Mizuho Financial Group as the Head of Global Corporate Company. Mr. Sugano has over 38 years of extensive financial experiences and he has engaged in asset management business and developing global business strategies.
He holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Tokyo.

Sandra Wu is the Chairperson and CEO of Kokusai Kogyo, member of the United Nations Global Compact Board, board member of Global Compact Network Japan, and member of the Advisory Committee on National Resilience (Disaster Reduction and Mitigation) to the Cabinet Secretariat.
She is Chair of the Board of Councilors at Shizenkan Graduate School of Leadership and Innovation, and Visiting Professor at IRIDeS, Tohoku University.
Sandra co-founded Japan Asia Group and was its Director until 2021. She was Chair of UN Office of Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)’s private sector stakeholder group from 2013 to 2015, and board member of its private sector initiative, ARISE, from 2015 to 2020. With the World Economic Forum, she was Co-Chair of the Infrastructure and Urban Development (I&U) Industry Group in 2017.
Sandra is a graduate from the Department of Chinese Literature, National Taiwan University and the Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School.

Michiyo Morisawa is Japan Director of CDP, guiding the initiative since CDP’s global expansion in 2006.
Also, since Principle for Responsible Investment, PRI established the Japan network in 2010, she has expanded its ESG investment as Japan Head of Signatory Relation at PRI.
She has been a member of several committees under the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry. She has experience in international business development of financial services that worked to alleviate the risk of settlement in Citibank and others.
She holds a PhD in Environment from Tokyo University.