The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
BPC Roundtable 2025 Osaka
Osaka Business Partner City Council
In September 2025, the Roundtable Conference will be held in Osaka City, bringing together representatives from Osaka City and other overseas cities primarily in the Asia-Pacific region, that have concluded Business Partner City (BPC) agreements with Osaka, including municipal governments and chambers of commerce, to discuss climate change response issues aimed at realizing a decarbonized society.
Discussion
- climate change challenges toward the realization of a decarbonized society
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | English |
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Theme Weeks CONNECT
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Time and
Date of
the event -
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2025.09.25[Thu]
09:00 ～ 14:30
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- Venue
- Theme Weeks Connect (Outside Venue)
Reports
【Reflection】
Osaka City and the Osaka Business Partner City Council held
the “BPC Roundtable 2025 in Osaka.
The conference, themed “The Role and Challenges of Cities
Toward a Sustainable Future,” served as an opportunity to
deepen understanding of initiatives and challenges related to
climate change among the business partner cities and the
related organizations, while fostering new insights through
presentations and panel discussions.
At the outset, the moderator introduced the theme of the
conference and explained its significance by referring to the
“three global crises facing humanity — the climate crisis, the
nature crisis, and the pollution crisis.” The moderator
emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge, experiences,
and case studies on environmental management, waste
management, and the promotion of a circular economy.
Session 1: “Responding to Climate Change and Achieving a
Decarbonized Society”
The session began with introductions of the efforts toward
achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and its plans to
implement carbon-neutral technologies at EXPO 2025.
Subsequently, representatives from the Hong Kong Trade
Development Council, Malaysia External Trade Development
Corporation, Shanghai City, City of Melbourne, Tianjin
Municipal Commerce Commission, and Ho Chi Minh City presented
their initiatives at national and city levels toward realizing
a decarbonized society and promoting a green economy through
the engagement of citizens, enterprises, and educational
institutions.
During the panel discussion, participants shared challenges in
waste treatment and renewable energy introduction, and
discussed examples of how such issues are being addressed
through policies and projects.
Session 2: “Minimizing Environmental Impact through Innovation
and Achieving a Circular Economy”
This session reaffirmed the importance of collaboration
between the public and private sectors and the sharing of
international knowledge and technologies.
The Government of the Philippines introduced a PPP model for
waste-to-energy projects; the Australian Industry Group
presented the national circular economy framework and SME
support measures; the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce introduced
public-private collaboration cases such as Circular Hubs; and
the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported on SME
support through ASEAN cooperation and its SDGs platform. It
was confirmed that intercity cooperation plays an important
role in achieving sustainable growth.
Session 3: “Collaboration and Cooperation to Solve Urban
Challenges”
This session highlighted the importance of international
cooperation and knowledge exchange, recognizing
decarbonization and the circular economy as shared
challenges.
Discussions included public-private collaboration in
introducing renewable energy and waste-to-resource systems,
cooperation between policy and local communities, the adoption
of new technologies such as batteries and AI, and technical
collaboration through waste-to-energy initiatives.
It was reaffirmed that intercity collaboration and knowledge
sharing are key to solving climate, resource, and
environmental issues.
In closing, the participants adopted a Joint Declaration on
Decarbonization and Sustainability, reaffirming their shared
commitment to future cooperation and collaboration.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
At this conference, discussions were held as an opportunity
for sharing knowledge, experience, and case studies on
environmental challenges faced by each city, including the
promotion of decarbonization and the circular economy, waste
management, and the introduction of renewable energy. As a
joint declaration, it was adopted and proposed that each BPC
city and affiliated organization will cooperate to address
environmental challenges such as climate change and advance
initiatives through business activities that contribute to
solving these challenges.
Based on the discussions and the joint declaration from this
conference, the participating cities and organizations will
work together to promoting ongoing business exchanges between
cities through activities such as business matching meetings,
exhibitions, business mission dispatches, and business
seminars, with the aim of generating tangible business
outcomes toward addressing climate change and realizing a
sustainable society.
Furthermore, by deepening intercity collaboration and
continuously sharing knowledge, technology, and experience,
the member cities aim to establish a flexible and effective
cooperative framework that contributes to solving the
challenges each city faces, while exploring new opportunities
for business collaboration.
Cast
Moderator
Shunichi Honda
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC)
Since joining the International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2015, he has implemented a wide range of projects, including mercury waste management under the Minamata Convention, support for international negotiations, environmentally sound management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and hazardous waste, plastic waste management, development of waste management strategies, and UNEP Sustainability Action initiatives.
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Speakers
Representatives from Osaka City and other business partner city-affiliated organizations
Participating cities：Osaka,Hong Kong,Malaysia,Republic of the Philippines,Shanghai,Ho Chi Minh City,Melbourne,Tianjin,Hamburg
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The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
BPC Roundtable 2025 Osaka
In September 2025, the Roundtable Conference will be held in Osaka City, bringing together representatives from Osaka City and other overseas cities primarily in the Asia-Pacific region, that have concluded Business Partner City (BPC) agreements with Osaka, including municipal governments and chambers of commerce, to discuss climate change response issues aimed at realizing a decarbonized society.
-
2025.09.25[Thu]
09:00～14:30
(Venue Open 09:00)
- Theme Weeks Connect (Outside Venue)
OTHER PROGRAM
The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
