Presentations, Discussion and Results of the Summit

Plenary Session

6. President Komiyama, as the Chair of the Summit, explained that the Plenary Session was aimed at reaching a common understanding of the purposes, procedure and outputs of the Summit. He also introduced his “2050 Vision” roadmap for a sustainable earth, the Integrated Research Systems for Sustainability Science (IR3S) and other activities of the University of Tokyo aiming at promoting sustainability.

7. 1. The purposes of Parallel Sessions A and B were introduced by the respective Chairs, President Saeki of Hokkaido University and President Anzai of Keio University.
Universities are responsible for creating new scientific knowledge through integrating differing disciplines. Therefore networking between academic networks is more important than ever before. President Saeki briefly outlined the aim of Session A, introducing some of his university’s initiatives such as the Hokkaido University Initiative for Sustainable Development (HUISD) and the establishment of the Center for Sustainability Science as its educational body. Referring to the purpose of the Parallel Session B, President Anzai mentioned the important role of the universities in developing knowledge through research and education and thereby contributing toward the sustainability of society.

8. Five Presidents of universities introduced issues to be discussed at the Summit as follows:

9. President Tisato Kajiyama of Kyushu University introduced his university‘s attempt to develop its campus as an “Energy Campus”, to be promoted as the nation’s leading energy research and development centre. He emphasized the intellectual role of universities in solving global issues, and leading the advancement of knowledge. He also pointed out the important role universities play in fostering human resource development.

10. In his presentation, President and Vice-Chancellor Stephen J. Toope of the University of British Columbia mentioned that it is vital in the context of today’s imperilled world that the top scholars and top university administrators engage more directly in society as advocates and facilitators of change. He introduced his university’s successful attempts to prove this new model of engagement, including demonstration of best practices, and called for international university partners to take up the challenge.

11. President Xavier Michel of Ecole Polytechnique introduced his university’s three principal areas for sustainable development. The university provides three Masters degree courses to bridge the gap between pure theoretical and interdisciplinary approaches, with the goal of providing education to develop the sensitivity of students to emerging environmental problems and the necessity of sustainable development. It is intensively participating in research on global change and sustainable development, and has also committed to become a model and an experimental test ground for sustainable campuses.

12.President Bernd Huber of LMU Munich emphasized that a worldwide discussion is needed to rethink all measures undertaken toward global sustainability until now, in order to avoid further damage in the future. He insisted that universities should not only encourage development of scientific knowledge on sustainability but also serve as role models for the public and promote awareness of the importance of sustainability by citizens and political leaders. He also noted that occasions such as the G8 University Summit are important opportunities to formulate a network of research intensive universities and institutions to create a platform for conducting inter- and cross-disciplinary research.

13. Referring to the G8 Declaration, “Education for Innovative Societies in the 21st century” (Saint-Petersburg, 2006) for action by leading research universities, President Vladimir Kurilov of Far Eastern National University proposed establishing a G8 University Council on Sustainability, to prepare reports for G8 governments on the most important environmental issues. He referred to the recent initiative of the Network of Federal Universities by the government of Russia on global sustainability.

14. Participants engaged in discussion based on the issues arising from the presentations:

• Interdisciplinarity was affirmed as a key issue, with suggestions that in the past the concept of sustainability has been biased towards natural science and technology. Social scientists should be encouraged and supported to take an equal part in research and teaching efforts by universities to tackle sustainability issues. Interdisciplinarity also requires strong leadership to ensure it is not disadvantaged by external pressures such as citation indexes, which favour traditionally-defined disciplinary boundaries.
• The discussion highlighted the need for research and knowledge developed by universities to be effectively communicated to governments and policymakers. To this end, universities should support and defend scholars who engage in public debate, and support researchers in developing skills which will enable them to successfully present messages to policymakers.
• It was recognized that if universities are to promote sustainability, they must make their own campuses sustainable, as a model and example for society.
• Participants also emphasized the issues of poverty and equity related to developing countries in the efforts of universities towards sustainability, and the education of younger children to effect lasting changes in society.
• The Chair of the Plenary Session concluded that the discussion had raised issues in three key areas: interdisciplinarity, the identity of universities, and the importance of diversity.