The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
Weaving Water and Air with Children: From Expo 2025 to the Future
Suntory Holdings Limited ・ Daikin Industries, Ltd
Suntory and Daikin will conduct "A Spectacular Show of Water and Air" themed around the water and air connecting all life, every day during the period. This project is an environmental program designed to explore the "biodiversity" nurtured by water and air, which may not be fully expressed through the show.
Recorded video available
Discussion
- Nature Positive
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | To be determined |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | To be determined |
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Agenda2025
Participation Programme
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Time and
Date of
the event -
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2025.09.21[Sun]
10:00 ～ 12:00
(Venue Open 09:30)
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- Venue
- Theme Weeks Studio
Programme details
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Our lives are greatly blessed by nature, and the source of
this welfare depend on the "biodiversity" nurtured
by "water and air.” Suntory and Daikin are actively
promoting activities worldwide to maintain the balance of
nature and ecosystems, connecting this welfare to the
future.
In this program, we will focus on "water and air"
and engage several environmental experts to discuss global
environmental issues in their expert perspective, not just in
Japan but planetaly. We will also discuss initiatives and
efforts towards a sustainable future.
Additionally, the both companies plan to invite children who
are participating in theSDGs Program for the Next Generation
Considering the Importance of "Water and Air". The
both companies will host sessions to provide feedback from the
perspective of biodiversity on the proposals made by the
children.
Reports
【Reflection】
This program brought together environmental experts focused on
“water and air” to discuss sustainable initiatives and their
promotion for addressing global environmental challenges. We
also invited children participating in the next-generation
SDGs program run by two companies, which encourages reflection
on the importance of “water and air.” We provided feedback on
the children's proposals, including from the perspective
of biodiversity.
Through this program, we were deeply impressed and grateful to
witness how sincerely the children engaged with the theme of
water and air, thinking through the issues with great
dedication.
Each group’s proposal reflected their forward-looking
perspectives and earnest questions and hopes toward society,
leaving a lasting impact on all those involved.
We are also sincerely appreciative of the comments provided by
experts such as Professor Oki and Professor Hioki, who
thoughtfully responded to the children’s ideas and treated
them with genuine respect.
Moreover, what moved us most was that we were able to provide
the children—who had participated in this year-long
initiative—with the opportunity to present the culmination of
their efforts on the prestigious stage of the Expo.
As a result, not only did the children gain a strong sense of
accomplishment and agency, but we, as adults, were also
prompted to reflect anew on the value of “air” and our
relationship with society.
We received many comments from stakeholders affirming that
this initiative significantly deepened the meaning of our
participation in Expo 2025. From the perspectives of
education, the environment, and cross-sector collaboration, we
believe the program yielded substantial and meaningful
outcomes.
Furthermore, in addition to existing initiatives such as the
nighttime water show and on-site restaurants, we feel that
implementing this program has added further depth to both
Suntory and Daikin's involvement in the Expo. This
collaboration, where two global companies with roots in Osaka
could discuss the future of water and air with children, was
made possible precisely because of the Expo platform. It
proved an invaluable opportunity, serving as a place to
reaffirm our connection to society and our corporate
mission.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
Based on this initiative, we are considering expanding
environmental activities and educational programs for children
at each company going forward. Specifically, we plan to
communicate information externally through annual reports and
similar channels, with each company implementing appropriate
measures to reflect the content as needed.
In addition to initiatives like the nighttime water show and
on-site restaurants, we are exploring ways to incorporate
elements of this program into each company's
environmental activities and educational programs for children
moving forward.
Cast
Speakers
Suntory × Daikin: Out of KidZania - Young Researchers of Water and Air
Young Researchers of Water and Air
24 children aged 10 to 15 will participate in the Suntory x Daikin Out of KidZania Water and Air Researcher program, an SDGs program for the next generation that considers the importance of water and air. After a year of work experience related to water and air, they will make proposals for the future of society from EXPO2025.
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Taikan Oki
Professor and Special Advisor to the President of University of Tokyo, Department of Civil Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo
Prof. Taikan Oki’s previous academic positions include Associate Professor at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature for 2002-03, and the Senior Vice-Rector of the United Nations University and an Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for 2016-21. He was one of the coordinating lead authors for the chapter "Freshwater Resources" of the IPCC WGII AR5, and the President of the Japan Society for Hydrology and Water Resources for 2022-24. He is a full member of the Club of Rome and the Director of the 3rd Division of the Science Council of Japan. He got many awards including the Fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 2014, the International Hydrology Prize (Dooge medal) in 2021, John Dalton Meal of the European Geosciences Union in 2023, and Medal with Purple Ribbon from the Government of Japan and Stockholm Water Prize in 2024.
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HIOKI Yoshiyuki
Tottori University
Born in Tokyo in 1957. Graduated from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. After working as a landscaping engineer at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, he became a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture at Tottori University. In 2023, he became an emeritus professor at the same university. He specializes in ecological engineering, which "research technologies to restore degraded ecosystems." He is the author of "Nature Restoration" and "Encyclopedia of Environmental Greening". He loves mountaineering and skiing.
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The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
Weaving Water and Air with Children: From Expo 2025 to the Future
Suntory and Daikin will conduct "A Spectacular Show of Water and Air" themed around the water and air connecting all life, every day during the period. This project is an environmental program designed to explore the "biodiversity" nurtured by water and air, which may not be fully expressed through the show.
-
2025.09.21[Sun]
10:00～12:00
(Venue Open 09:30)
- Theme Weeks Studio
OTHER PROGRAM
The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
