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The Asian Student Environmental Platform (ASEP) had its opening ceremony at Waseda University’s Ono Auditorium on August 3. In its 5th year, this forum is dedicated to fostering global leaders in creating a sustainable society.

The theme of this year’s ASEP, hosted by Waseda University, was “biodiversity and freedom.” A total of 84 students participated from the following universities: Tsinghua University (China), Korea University (Korea), Vietnam National University, Hanoi (Vietnam), University of Malaya (Malaysia), Royal University of Phnom Penh (Cambodia), University of Indonesia (Indonesia), and Waseda University (Japan). The fieldwork mainly took place in Hokkaido, and participants visited places such as the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site and Shibecha Town, which aims to restore natural habitat for shima owls, a nationally protected species. Through these experiences, the program considers the relationship between biodiversity and human lives.

Students participating in ASEP

At the opening ceremony, AEON Environmental Foundation Chairman Takuya Okada addressed that, “I want you to seriously contemplate with your friends across nations on the pressing environmental issues we face as a global community. We must protect our one and only earth.”

The six-day forum closed with Waseda University President Kamata giving closing remarks. He said, “Because we live in an age of global instability, we need to further strengthen intercultural communications. I hope everyone in ASEP will take this opportunity and use what they learned to make decisions in our global society.”