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What should our society look like in 2050 for humans and nature to coexist? In our attempt to find an answer to this huge question, we will explore different elements of society through discussions;

-What kind of changes should be seen in company operation and the way of consumption to properly incorporate impacts on the natural environment into our lifestyles, which has long been overlooked and deprioritized?
-Whose voices should be heard and what processes should be taken when it comes to policy-making?
-In this world where more and more populations live in urban areas, what are the roles urban and rural environments should play, and how should they complement each other?
-What kind of education and communities are necessary to nurture future leaders?

Panelists coming from a wide range of sectors including governments, international organizations, NGOs, research institutions, and the private sector, will discuss the topic from their unique perspectives.

【Reflection】
This session examined system change for implementing “human-nature symbiosis” by 2050 from multifaceted perspectives including politics, food, energy, regional industries, and indigenous communities.

Moderator Yuka Sugiura encouraged participants to concretely envision society in 2050, presenting a framework for cross-cutting discussions on the quality of democracy, regional voices, and economic structures.

Laura Curau introduced the strengths of her country's direct democracy system. She then illustrated the environmental and human rights impacts Swiss companies have overseas, advocating for the need to legally ensure corporate responsibility across borders. She envisioned a 2050 society where companies respect human rights and the environment throughout their entire supply chains, and where citizens can make informed decisions based on access to information.

Jitsai Santaputra pointed out that the core of a “fair energy transition” is the question of fairness for whom. Using the example of the risk of resident relocation and cultural heritage loss associated with hydropower development on the Mekong River, he visualized the trade-off between “expanding clean power” and “conserving biodiversity and culture,” clarifying that justice issues differ between Europe and Africa/Asia. He further emphasized the importance of intergenerational dialogue bridging old and new technologies, such as decentralization, energy storage, and demand response.

Joko Tri Rubiyanto proposed shifting from extractive relationships to partnerships, based on Indonesia's reality of massive waste of non-standard agricultural products and palm oil dependency in certain regions. He introduced practices co-created with women's groups and farmers to improve incomes through adding value to non-standard crops, intercropping (e.g., palm + coffee), and utilizing trunk wood for saccharification. He stated that consumer choices (purchasing certified products) drive market transformation.

Tsuyoshi Maruoka presented a circular model through the “Bug Secret Tea” case study, demonstrating how science and culture can rediscover the value of overlooked natural resources, leading to the utilization of abandoned farmland and job creation. Simultaneously, he emphasized the need for education that helps people overcome preconceptions like “I dislike bugs” through hands-on experience, fostering a personal connection to nature.

During the Q&A, key discussion points included: ① How to reflect minority voices in systems (the role of independent media and discussion spaces), ② Pricing and profit distribution for equal partnerships between large corporations and local communities, ③ Bridging energy security with the variability risks of renewable energy, and ④ Education and creating spaces to increase citizens' opportunities for contact with nature. Speakers agreed that while hasty change risks leaving people behind, a “phased and inclusive” approach can minimize resistance and achieve a transition involving behavioral change.

Overall, the 2050 vision was outlined as integrating: the internationalization of corporate responsibility, a just energy transition, community-led food and resource cycles, the centralization of indigenous knowledge, and experiential learning.

【Post EXPO Initiatives】
The speakers highlighted the following as key perspectives for their respective research and business development after the conference.

(1) To translate discussions into implementation, it is necessary to advance the following in a phased and inclusive manner: First, strengthen the effective operation and third-party verification across the entire supply chain, based on international standards for corporate responsibility (such as human rights and environmental due diligence). In the energy sector, expand the societal implementation of distributed power generation, energy storage, and flexible demand-side management. Institutionalize a Just Transition by incorporating dialogue between regions and generations into the design.

(2) Regarding food and regional economies, it is necessary to add high value to non-standard and underutilized resources, expand knowledge of intercropping and circular utilization to other regions, and establish mechanisms for fair price determination and profit distribution premised on the participation of women and youth.
For indigenous communities, frameworks must be expanded to respect their data sovereignty and decision-making authority, ensuring their core involvement in designing conservation and adaptation measures.

(3) From an education and outreach perspective, opportunities for direct encounters with nature and moments of “wonder” should be increased through outdoor experiences and programs at museums, schools, and community centers. Information provision should be strengthened to encourage behavioral change among consumers and voters.

By integrating these elements, we proposed building a collaborative platform linking law, markets, and communities. Standardizing transition designs that minimize resistance—through phased approaches, compensation, reskilling, etc.—could embed true symbiosis between humans and nature in society by 2050.

*Part or all of this report was generated by AI.