Close links between Japanese businesses and the University of Cambridge were strengthened yesterday in a keynote seminar on the environment.

A packed audience at the Faculty of Law took part in the seminar ‘Energy, Environment and Climate Change: Perspectives from Japan'. It was organised jointly by Clare Hall, the Japanese External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and the Cambridge Environmental Initiative (CEI).

Distinguished guests included Mr Masayuki Sasanouchi, Project General Manager of the Environmental Affairs Department at Toyota, who spoke about climate change and its impacts on the company's business opportunities.

He also discussed the close links between the government and industry in the context of Japan's market evolution.

Dr Chris Hope, an energy and climate change expert based at Judge Business School and a Fellow of Clare Hall, spoke on The Social Cost of Carbon.

Professor Morihiro Kurushima from Tokyo University gave the keynote speech on his country's environmental policy. He is Programme Manager for the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO), the Japanese government organisation for promoting the development of advanced industrial, environmental, new energy and energy conservation technologies.

The seminar reflected the important role in Japan of collaboration between industry, academia and government in policy and technology development.

Professor Ekhard Salje, President of Clare Hall, Head of the Department of Earth Sciences and Chairman of CEI, said:

“Japan is one of the leading countries in the fight against global warming. Courageous policies by the Japanese government have become the benchmark for improved energy efficiencies.

“During my visits to NEDO in Yokoyama I enjoyed wide-ranging and fruitful discussions with government officials and academics which highlighted the current ideas in Japan on energy provision and climate change.

“The launch of the Prius car by Toyota was a significant economic success which demonstrates that energy saving and commercial interests are not necessarily opposed economic drivers.”

The seminar was organised jointly by Clare Hall, the Japanese External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and the Cambridge Environmental Initiative (CEI).

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