Report of the first G8 University Summit Preface
	Hiroshi Komiyama, Chair of the G8 University Summit, Chair of the Organizing Committee

The rapid expansion of human activities now imposes a heavy burden on the earth, which calls for the urgent development of a vision of achieving global sustainability. International communities have been promoting sustainable development by, for example, adopting the implementation plan at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and discussing global environmental issues at G8 Summit meetings. Universities have also been discussing how we could contribute to the advancement of global sustainability, including the announcement of the Talloires Declaration in 1990. Moreover, leading global universities are now expected to step up the effort in response to the urgent need for forming a new framework and for educating next generations who will play a major role in achieving global sustainability, based on super long term perspective.

In this context, the G8 University Summit on the occasion of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, convened 29th June-1st July, 2008 in Sapporo, Japan, through the Organizing Committee consisting of 14 Japanese universities with the support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan, for the first time in history. Leaders of the 35 universities from 14 countries including the G8 and other major countries participated to discuss the roles of universities and specific actions to be taken in achieving global sustainability from the academic and neutral point of views, as well as to encourage international community to join our efforts toward a common goal.

At the G8 University Summit, under the main theme, “Global Sustainability and the Role of Universities,” the participating universities presented on measures they had been taking and discussed future directions and possible actions in two Parallel Sessions: (A) “New Scientific Knowledge and International Network to Support Global Sustainability,” and (B) “Knowledge Innovation towards Global Sustainability and Education.”

As a result, the G8 University Summit adopted the Sapporo Sustainability Declaration, which confirms the roles of universities in research for achieving sustainability through the formation of the Network of Networks that links various existing research networks, and in education for sustainable development; commits actions to be carried out by the participating universities for achieving their own sustainability; and proposes to the leaders of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit that they implement scientifically appropriate policies.

After the G8 University Summit, I visited then Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, Chair of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, to hand the Declaration and to request for the G8 Leaders’ support for our committed actions. In the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit Leaders Declaration, it was agreed that Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) should be promoted through knowledge networks among relevant institutions including universities toward the establishment of a sustainable low carbon society.

According to the Sapporo Sustainability Declaration, the participating universities are to make every effort to fulfill the commitment and to call upon other universities to join the commitment. I hope this report, which summarizes the results of the G8 University Summit, will be utilized widely for the propagation of our proposals.

Universities are in the position to serve as an “intellectual core” and as an experiment station for a new framework and are expected to contribute much to the society in realizing global sustainability. G8 University Summit in Sapporo was very fruitful in deliberating specific actions but is considered to be the first step toward the goal. I sincerely hope that the participating universities will reinforce our commitment and it will be carried forward by the next G8 University Summit, which will be held in Italy next year where the G8 Leaders Summit will be held.

Last but not least, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the participants and to those who supported the G8 University Summit, in particular, to the faculty and staff of Hokkaido University and the people of Hokkaido who actually made the Summit successful.

Note 1 : G8 University Summit HP　http://g8u-summit.jp/
Note 2 : Leaders Declaration of G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/2008/doc/doc080714__en.html