Planetary Health and Methane Innovation

[Event Notice] (held on November 18) UOsaka ASEAN Campus SDGs Co-creation Forum: “Planetary Health and Methane Innovation”

Efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 are being seriously considered to control climate change caused by global warming. Additionally, reducing short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as methane, tropospheric ozone, black carbon, and sulfates—which adversely affect health—is also necessary to curb global warming.

This lecture aims to raise awareness and promote action on planetary health and methane innovation. We will have presentations on outstanding advanced case studies and trends from Professor Kei Okubo (Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives), Professor Yoshinori Sumimura (Institute for International Initiatives), and Takaaki Asakura (Osaka Gas Co., Ltd).

Date and Time: Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Venue: Osaka ATC Green Eco Plaza (11th floor, ITM Wing, ATC Building, 2-1-10 Nanko kita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka) and via Zoom

Capacity: 60 people onsite, 300 people via Zoom participation
Participation Fee: Free of charge

Program:

Opening Remarks (Guest Professor Akira Kondo, Institute for International Initiatives, the University of Osaka)

Lecture 1: “Methane Innovation and the Future of Energy Society: Learning from Initiatives in Dairy Farming Regions”
(Professor Kei Okubo, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, the University of Osaka)

Lecture 2: “Innovative Technologies for Realizing Energy Transition through e-Methane”
(Takaaki Asakura, SOEC Development Office, Advanced Collaborative Research Laboratory, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd)

Lecture 3: “Green Villages and Methane in Southeast Asia”
(Professor Yoshinori Sumimura, Institute for International Initiatives, the University of Osaka)

Panel Discussion: “The Intersection of Methane Innovation and Planetary Health”

Summary and Closing Remarks (Guest Professor Akira Kondo, Institute for International Initiatives, the University of Osaka)

Organizers: Osaka ATC Green Eco Plaza Executive Committee (Osaka City, Asia Pacific Trade Center, Nikkei Inc.), Institute for International Initiatives, the University of Osaka (The UOsaka ASEAN Campus SDGs Co-creation Forum), NPO Eco Design Network, Osaka Green Purchasing Network

Sponsors: Kinki Chapter of The Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan

Click here for the event report