In this session, we will summarize the discussions from the seven Theme Weeks and present recommendations for "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." Beginning with a keynote speech by a senior UN official, we will share the outcomes demonstrated in the Theme Weeks and highlight key messages for the future society. Furthermore, under the banner of “SDGs+Beyond,” we will organize what new values and perspectives can be presented for the world beyond the SDGs. Finally, diverse speakers—including international organizations, researchers, companies, and next-generation leaders—will come together to discuss how the knowledge gathered can be translated into concrete social impact.

*Simultaneous interpretation is available in both English and Japanese. Please bring a smartphone, tablet or other internet-enabled device with earphones to listen.

Subtitles for this program are available at the URL below.

EXPO2025 Theme Weeks 「Shaping the future: insights and innovations from 7 themes」

<Subtitles URL> https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88563917244

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【Program Summary】
This session was held as a platform to re-examine both the challenges and hopes facing humanity as the year 2030—the target year of the SDGs—approaches, and to share the fundamental question of how to design the society that lies beyond. Beginning with a keynote address by UN Under-Secretary-General LI Junhua, the session featured discussions among corporate leaders, researchers, cultural figures, and youth representatives on building a “Regenerative Society” that transcends the idea of sustainability.
Five key themes emerged from the discussions: well-being, culture, co-creation, technology, and intergenerational solidarity. The speakers agreed that the post-2030 society should not focus solely on economic growth or environmental protection, but rather on reconstructing relationships between humanity and nature, the individual and the community, and the present and the future. The Expo, as a space for experiential learning, is a symbolic experiment in enabling visitors to feel and co-create the future through their senses.

【Speaker Summary: LI Junhua】
Under-Secretary-General LI Junhua analyzed the current state of the 2030 Agenda based on the UN’s latest report, presenting a clear picture of the multilayered crises facing humanity. “We are living in an age of unprecedented transformation,” he began, listing the intensification of the climate crisis, geopolitical tensions, economic inequality, social distrust, and the entrenchment of post-pandemic disparities. According to the SDGs Progress Report, only 35% of the 17 goals are on track or making moderate progress, nearly half are stagnant, and around 18% are regressing. “At this rate, many of the goals promised by the international community will remain unachieved by 2030,” he warned.
Yet, amidst this pessimism, Li found seeds of hope. “Crisis is also a catalyst for transformation,” he said, highlighting local initiatives in Japan and beyond—municipal SDG Future Cities, corporate innovation, SDG education in schools, and youth-led social entrepreneurship. He emphasized that “it is not systems or frameworks but human passion and collaboration that will realize sustainability.”
He went on to explain the significance of the Pact for the Future, adopted in 2024, founded on three principles—solidarity, inclusion, and sustainability—as a new guideline for international cooperation beyond 2030. “The Pact calls not only for institutional reform but also for the reconfiguration of our thinking and relationships,” he said, stressing a shift from state-driven development to network-based collaboration across local governments, corporations, civil society, and academia.
Li also highlighted the role of the Independent Group of Scientists, which supports evidence-based policymaking, and praised the contribution of Japanese researchers, including Professor Kanie. “The bridge between science and policy is not merely about knowledge transfer but about catalyzing social transformation,” he said, calling for a “human-centered science” that harmonizes evidence and values. He concluded with three guiding principles: Share, Shape, and Shine—sharing knowledge and experience, shaping society collaboratively, and allowing the outcomes to shine as human well-being. “This philosophy, emanating from Osaka-Kansai, is a beacon of hope in an era of division and a compass for our shared future,” he concluded to strong applause.

【Speaker Summary: Norichika Kanie】
Professor Norichika Kanie (Keio University), as moderator, set the direction and framework of the session, clarifying the significance of entering an era of “co-creation” that goes beyond 2030 on the basis of the SDGs. “It is human relationships that will shape the post-2030 society,” he said at the outset, framing the session’s theme.
Summarizing insights from across the Theme Weeks, he observed that “the EXPO clarified the importance of co-creation and co-being, which are wanted by many, as well as the very importance of dialogue.’” He emphasized that we must move to the stage of sharing and respecting diverse values across culture, science, and ethics. He defined conceptual basis in the era of “SDGs + Beyond” as a shift from human-centered to life-centered approaches, aligning with the Expo’s philosophy of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”
Throughout the session, Kanie linked the remarks of other speakers: echoing Li’s global perspective, he noted that “global challenges can only be solved through local action,” stressing collaboration among municipalities, businesses, and citizens. In response to Sam Karita’s point on culture and co-creation, he said, “Culture transcends systems; it is the strongest catalyst for social change.” Referring to Özge Aydoğan’s vision of a regenerative society, he added, “A society aiming for regeneration that goes beyond sustainability embodies the true spirit of the beyondSDGs era.”
He concluded by positioning the Expo as a “laboratory for social experimentation,” where technology and humanity, emotion and reason, and individuality and community intersect. “Data expands our knowledge, and culture expands our heart. Only when the two are connected does society evolve,” he said, advocating the fusion of science and culture.

【Speaker Summary: Sam Karita】
As overall coordinator of the Theme Weeks, Sam Karita reflected on the insights gained from 24 programs involving 127 speakers. He began by presenting the Expo’s three core principles—saving life, nurturing life, and connecting life—and noted that each Theme Week had embodied these principles in its unique way. “Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is not an exhibition but a dialogue—a shift from sharing issues to co-creating actions,” he stated.
In sessions addressing peace, human rights, and dignity, he highlighted the central theme of designing a “society of coexistence based on diversity.” In discussions on climate change and biodiversity, a paradigm shift was proposed to connect regional circular economies with global supply chains—“In the coming era, industries will gather where energy exists, not transport it.”
In health and well-being, he pointed out the transition from “curing disease to cultivating happiness,” enabled by advances in digital technology. In learning and play, he summarized that the essence of human learning lies not in acquiring knowledge but in nurturing empathy and creativity. In food and ethical living, a “symbiotic model between culture and economy” was proposed through ethical consumption and local resource cycles.
Integrating these discussions, Karita derived four keywords: culture, empathy, solidarity, and co-creation. “It is culture, not systems, that transforms society,” he stressed, concluding that when people connect through culture, true transformation occurs. “Designing a future society means linking science and culture to enhance the total sum of life,” he said, defining Expo 2025 as an “experimental ground for social transformation based on cultural solidarity.”

【Speaker Summary: Özge Aydoğan】
Özge Aydoğan, Director of Beyond Lab at the United Nations in Geneva, proposed a new framework for a “Regenerative Future,” which inherits and evolves the spirit of the SDGs. “The SDGs represent humanity’s most comprehensive agreement in history, yet they now require renewal,” she said, emphasizing the need to evolve the goals rather than merely preserve them.
Aydoğan described the evolution of sustainability in three phases: (1) the MDGs, focused on economic growth; (2) the SDGs, promoting integration and inclusion; and (3) the post-SDGs era, characterized by regeneration. “We must move beyond sustaining what exists to healing and revitalizing what has been damaged,” she stated.
Based on youth research by Beyond Lab, she noted that Generation Z and Millennials prioritize well-being, empathy, slow living, cultural inclusion, and intergenerational ethics—valuing the quality of connection over material affluence. “Young people seek not numbers but meaning,” she said, calling for the development of “Beyond GDP” indicators and policies protecting cultural diversity.
She also raised the issue of ethical technology use: “AI and data must serve human happiness; unchecked efficiency breeds new inequality.” She called for “value-driven innovation” through collaboration among science, culture, and policy, presenting Beyond Lab’s international cooperation model. “The future is not to be predicted but to be designed together,” she said, concluding that building a regenerative society founded on empathy and solidarity is humanity’s next great task.

【Speaker Summary: Tarek Oliveira Shayya】
Drawing from his experience as former Vice Chairman of Expo 2020 Dubai, Dr. Tarek Shayya passionately described the role of Expos as an “architecture of human co-creation.” “An Expo is not an exhibition but a platform for humanity to converse and build hope together,” he emphasized, recalling the guiding vision of Expo 2020 Dubai—Connecting Minds, Creating the Future—which naturally connects to Osaka’s theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”
He reflected that Expo 2020 brought together 192 nations—a convergence of the world’s most diverse cultures and values. What mattered most, he said, was not competition but “dialogue based on empathy and trust.” “The Expo’s mission is to visualize our collective willingness to act together across borders,” he said, quoting an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Shayya proposed that future Expos should aim not only for sustainability but for regeneration. “Sustainability may preserve the status quo, but regeneration repairs what was broken and nurtures new relationships through empathy,” he said. “True innovation lies not in technology itself but in how it supports human happiness and solidarity.” He emphasized that innovation emerges at the intersection of technology, renewable energy, and cultural exchange.
Expressing his expectations for Osaka-Kansai Expo, he stated, “Japan’s long-cultivated spirit of Wa—harmony—has the power to reconnect a divided world.” “The challenge that began in Dubai will be carried forward in Osaka and then passed to Riyadh. This relay of hope is the true legacy of the Expo,” he concluded. His words reflected a deep philosophy that frames Expos not merely as international events but as “acts of dialogue that sustain humanity’s belief in the future.”

【Speaker Summary: Hiroaki Miyata】
As General Producer of the Theme Projects, Hiroaki Miyata articulated a vision of the future society based on the philosophy of “experience, not exhibition” and “empathy, not knowledge.” “The future is not designed by someone but emerges from the relationships between people and between lives,” he said, proposing a shift from human-centered to relationship-centered design.
He introduced his cross-disciplinary project Design for Empathy, which bridges science, design, art, and social practice. It aims to restore the “capacity to feel others,” which tends to be lost in the age of AI and data. “The more technology evolves, the more essential empathy becomes,” he emphasized. He described his approach as integrating “the structure of the world” revealed by data with “the meaning of the world” expressed through art.
Referring to the architectural design of the Expo’s Grand Roof and tranquil spaces, he said, “In an age of information overload, silence and empty space awaken emotion.” For him, the Expo is not a display venue but a “space of connection,” where visitors encounter the future through sensory and emotional experience—a “device for empathy.”
He described data as “the nervous system of society” and empathy as “its heart,” proposing a society of well-being that integrates the digital and the emotional. “By accumulating data on human experiences, cities and policies should evolve around empathy,” he said, positioning technology as a “medium of connection” rather than a tool of efficiency. He concluded, “A future society that lets life shine is sustained by imagination that feels others’ pain and empathy that bridges differences. The future is transformed not by technology but by the design of empathy.”

【Speaker Summary: Yoji Sakuma】
Representing the younger generation, Yoji Sakuma delivered a powerful message: “The future is not inherited—it is co-created.” Introducing his Shape New World Initiative, where young people around the world co-create policy proposals and art projects online, he emphasized that youth are no longer passive commentators but active agents of change.
He argued that realizing “a future society where life shines” requires rebuilding a culture of solidarity led by youth. The digital-native generation, unconstrained by borders or institutions, has the ability to build new social relations through empathy and creativity. “In the age of AI, our uniquely human ability to imagine, feel, and connect becomes the source of hope,” he said.
Sakuma discussed the roles of youth in environmental, educational, and peace initiatives, citing global youth networks and regional projects in Africa and Asia. “We must design systems that enable youth to speak with their own voices and act with their own hands,” he said, urging companies, governments, and international organizations to form partnerships for co-creation.
He challenged the notion of “entrusting the future,” declaring, “The future is not something given to us—it is something we create through our choices and actions today.” He concluded that nurturing ethical and imaginative next-generation leaders is the most vital social investment. “Empathy is the most sustainable energy,” he said. “Not technology or economics, but a culture of empathy and solidarity will lead humanity toward regeneration.”

【Discussion Summary】
In the latter half of the session, speakers engaged in a lively dialogue on redefining values in the “SDGs + Beyond” era and designing a life-centered future society. Moderator Kanie led the discussion, asserting that “the organizing principle of the post-2030 world lies not in economic or technological indicators but in relationships themselves.” LI Junhua reiterated that life-related issues transcend borders and require a shared foundation, reintroducing the ideals of the Pact for the Future and emphasizing “co-creative governance” linking scientific evidence with ethical imagination.
Sam Karita stated that “a co-creative ecosystem grounded in diversity and culture is the paradigm that follows the SDGs,” emphasizing the need to visualize “social resonance” among corporations, academia, municipalities, and citizens. “Japan’s greatest contribution to the world is not technological power but cultural power,” he said. “A society designed through empathy can become the starting point of new value creation.”
Özge Aydoğan revisited the concept of regeneration, asserting that “beyond maintaining sustainability, we must heal lost relationships and circulate life anew through cultural imagination.” She proposed new metrics such as an “Empathy Index” and “Social Regeneration Score.” Dr. Shayya emphasized the Expo’s international significance, describing Osaka-Kansai as “a venue that will demonstrate to the world a culture of dialogue beyond division.” He called the sequence of Expos from Dubai to Osaka to Riyadh “a relay of hope.”
Hiroaki Miyata focused on integrating technology and emotion: “AI should enhance not our intellect but our capacity for empathy,” he said, envisioning a future where data reconnects humanity. He concluded, “Design for empathy is the foundation for humanity’s transition to a regenerative society.” Finally, Yoji Sakuma declared from a youth perspective that “empathy is the most sustainable resource,” urging all generations to actively create the future rather than wait for it. His message resonated as a symbol of intergenerational responsibility and hope.
Overall, the discussion clarified that “designing future society” is not the blueprint of experts or institutions but a co-creation of relationships where culture, ethics, science, and sensibility intersect. Empathy, regeneration, collaboration, and hope—these were the session’s key pillars and guiding coordinates toward the post-2030 world.