Sweden and Japan Join Forces on Water and Climate at High-Level Tokyo Seminar

News.May 19, 2025

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Sweden and Japan Join Forces on Water and Climate at High-Level Tokyo Seminar

“Water is not only a victim of climate change — it is also one of our most powerful tools to overcome it.”

The Embassy of Sweden to Japan and Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and the United Nations University are excited to invite you to attend a jointly hosted seminar on the importance of water management in tackling climate change.

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On 16 May 2025, the United Nations University (UNU), in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden in Japan and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), hosted a high-level seminar in Tokyo on “Water as Enabler for Climate Action and the Future Society of Our Lives.”Held in the presence of His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, the event gathered senior officials, business leaders, and researchers to explore the critical role of water in climate mitigation, resilience, and sustainable development.

A Shared Commitment to Innovation and Sustainability

In his opening remarks, Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, UNU Rector and UN Under-Secretary-General, underscored the shared leadership of Sweden and Japan in promoting scientific cooperation:

Photo: UNU

BY:

Christina Bergstrand

Senior Communications Manager

christina.bergstrand@siwi.org

072-0506012

Malin Lundberg Ingemarsson, PhD

Research Advisor Water Climate and Environment

malin.ingemarsson@siwi.org

+46 (0)703 00 26 66

This seminar is a powerful affirmation of both the enduring bonds between your nations and the United Nations, and the indispensable role of international cooperation in addressing the complex challenges of our time.
Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala UNU Rector and UN Under-Secretary-General

H.E. Viktoria Li, Ambassador of Sweden to Japan, reaffirmed the growing partnership between the two countries, referencing the 2024 Sweden–Japan Strategic Partnership and their shared values in climate action and innovation:

It is no coincidence that water management has long been a significant focus of scientific research in both of our nations.
H.E. Viktoria Li, Ambassador of Sweden to Japan

Keynotes on Water and Climate

The seminar’s keynote segment featured:

Photo: UNU

Prof. Taikan Oki, 2024 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate, on the nexus between hydrology, climate change, and sustainability
Dr. Malin Lundberg Ingemarsson, SIWI, on freshwater’s role in climate mitigation, drawing from the report The Essential Drop to Net-Zero
Prof. Kensuke Fukushi, Tokyo University, on human and financial resource perspectives in water and climate

A video tribute to the late Prof. Malin Falkenmark, one of Sweden’s most influential water scholars, reminded participants of the legacy that continues to inspire water-wise solutions worldwide.

Celebrating Action and Policy

Mr. Hiroyuki Saito of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism formally announced the launch of World Lake Day (27 August) — Officially recognized in UN resolution (A/RES/79/142 ) to promote freshwater ecosystem conservation and resilience.

Corporate Leadership on Water Stewardship

The seminar featured Swedish-Japanese climate solutions led by:

Mr. Tom Erixon, CEO of Alfa Laval, who highlighted the company’s integration of carbon neutrality and water sustainability in manufacturing. He emphasised the need for stable policy frameworks to support long-term business innovation.
Mr. Harumichi Seta, Senior General Manager at Suntory Holdings Ltd., shared examples of corporate responsibility in action, including the Natural Water Sanctuary and Mizuiku education programme, which has reached over 250,000 participants globally.

Panel: The Water–Climate–Justice Nexus

A moderated panel led by Mr. Thomas Rebermark explored the intersection of water, climate, and social equity. Speakers included Prof. Oki, Dr. Lundberg Ingemarsson, Mr. Erixon, Mr. Seta, and Prof. Kaveh Madani (UNU-INWEH).

Key themes included:

Integrated approaches to climate mitigation and adaptation
Water governance as a pathway to sustainability and justice
The concept of virtual water and its implications for local communities
The importance of policy stability in driving industrial sustainability
Embedding water stewardship in business models across sectors

Closing Reflections

In his closing remarks, Mr. Rebermark described water as “a connector of nations, disciplines, actors, and generations,”. Underscoring the urgency of coupling innovation with equity, science with policy, and corporate ambition with community wisdom. Emphasizing the power of dialogue, collaboration, and collective action in advancing global climate and sustainability goals.

The seminar capped an eventful week for SIWI, which welcomed royalty, heads of state, UN leadership, and hundreds of participants for two milestone gatherings focused on peace, resilience, and multilateral cooperation.

Unless otherwise stated, all photos are credited to UNU

Water as enabler for climate action and the future society of our lives

Held in the presence of His Majesty the King of Sweden, this high-level seminar explored how water can act as a catalyst for climate action and the creation of future-proof societies. Co-hosted by the Embassy of Sweden to Japan and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), the event brought together leading voices from Japan and Sweden — including the 2024 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate Professor Taikan Oki — for an inspiring dialogue on innovation, resilience, and international cooperation.

The Essential Drop to Net-Zero

Unpacking freshwater’s role in climate change mitigation

Learn more about The Essential Drop to Net-Zero: siwi.org/publications/essential-drop-to-net-zero