The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
Big Data and Biodiversity - how should the latest information technologies including AI be used and developed by 2050 to achieve nature positive?
Agenda 2025 Co-created Programme
Shape New World Initiative
Discussion points for the future vision in 2050: To what extent should humankind be able to acquire and track the vast amounts of biological and environmental data? Who should be able to use the data and for what purpose? How much of this data should be incorporated into daily lives and corporate activities and evaluations? How should society be designed to handle invisible and unpredictable aspects of the ecosystem that cannot be fully captured by existing technologies?
Biodiversity is in decline at an alarming rate. Although the biological information on the earth is vastly diverse, what we can access is only a handful. In this time when AI and other information technologies are transforming our society at an unprecedented speed, we ask young change-makers how we should utilize and manage information-related technologies towards 2050 for biodiversity conservation and our planet.
Recorded video available
Discussion
- Biodiversity
- Nature Positive
- Big Data
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
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Agenda2025
Co-created Programme
- Time and
Date of
the event -
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2025.09.27[Sat]
10:30 ～ 12:00
(Venue Open 10:00)
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- Venue
- Theme Weeks Studio
Programme details
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The data on biodiversity is enormous, and what we know today is only a fraction of it. Biodiversity data is complex and has been limited in its ability to be collected on a large scale. In the world of 2050, to what extent will it be possible to collect such information, decipher it, and take action based on it? How far should we be able to collect such information, decipher it, and take action based on it in the world of 2050? We will hear frank opinions from young leaders of the world, including CEO of an AI startup, a biologist, and a nature conservationist.
Reports
【Reflection】
This session featured in-depth discussions on how to implement Nature Positive by 2050 using AI and big data, drawing on diverse field knowledge and perspectives from research and business. The moderator first guided the audience and speakers through a “visualizing 2050 concretely” exercise, encouraging them to imagine details like colors, shapes, and smells before returning to the present reality of 2025. This established a clear stance: even when discussing technology, the relationship between humans and nature remained central. This introduction established a shared premise: data and AI can serve not as tools for top-down management of nature, but as mediators supporting symbiosis rooted in human sensibilities and ethics.
The first point of discussion was clarifying the utility and limitations of big data/AI. Wakana Inoue, drawing from mangrove conservation practices in Fiji and Kiribati, emphasized that while satellite data is effective for assessing the health and growth potential of planted forests across wide areas, it should not replace local experiential knowledge but rather support it. For example, the approach should respect residents' intuitive judgment about “where to plant” and use data to reinforce that. She also introduced an initiative where sales from crayons made from fallen leaves are reinvested in reforestation, noting that visualizing the joy of participation itself can become a driving force for sustainability.
Shunsuke Tsuboi presented concrete examples of optimizing soil, crop planting, and fertilization using satellite data combined with AI, while stressing the importance of translating this into actionable forms for field use. He explained that in developing regions, where purchasing power is constrained, companies and governments must bear the costs and design schemes that deliver incentives to farmers. He also mentioned low-barrier implementation scenarios, such as AI providing individual farmers with fertilization and cultivation advice simply by capturing audio or photos during meetings or gatherings. Regarding the distance created by technology's energy demands and abstract nature, he stressed that design must convey value to users. Responding to the moderator's question, he repeatedly highlighted the dual pillars of “access” and “incentives.”
Anna Reyes, drawing on conservation experience in the Masungi Geopark in the Philippines, raised the importance of data sovereignty and equitable governance. She noted that AI and sustainability frameworks often rely on Western-centric norms, risking the exclusion of cultural contexts from the Global South. She argued for a bottom-up framework that curbs the arbitrariness of corporate reporting through third-party verification while avoiding top-down “false solutions.” Furthermore, he urged audience engagement with the message that “what is unknown and unmeasured is undervalued,” emphasizing that “measuring” is the starting point for fostering affection and protection.
Wildlife expert Seung-Yun Baek introduced practical applications using GPS tracking, camera traps, and AI image recognition to understand animal movements and food resource availability, enabling the prediction of human-wildlife conflict risks in advance. However, he emphasized that while the causes of conflicts are largely understood, society's failure to act remains the core issue. He stressed the need for mechanisms linking data value to tangible action.
Midway through the discussion, the moderator deliberately raised the “danger of viewing the world solely through a technological lens.” In response, the panelists carefully addressed both the potential of AI (visualizing patterns, early warning, efficient resource use, etc.) and the requirements for its “use” to amplify connections with nature and local communities. Inoue repeatedly stated, “Data is support, not replacement.” Tsuboi touched on a future vision where employment and on-the-ground connections in rural areas increase, positioning AI as a tool that encourages humans to return to the field.
During the Q&A, attendees posed sharp questions about decolonizing data. Concerns centered on how to safeguard decision-making authority and prevent the erosion of agency and discretion for Global South stakeholders within structures where data infrastructure and AI are predominantly designed by English-speaking, developed nations.Anna Reyes acknowledged that many existing frameworks rely on Western norms, while reiterating the need to transition towards locally-driven frameworks. Through the exchange with the audience, a deeper understanding emerged that the key to implementation lies in balancing governance—including ownership, verifiability, and accountability—with the visualization of emotions like joy and pride.
Through the discussion, speakers indicated a direction where the use of big data/AI should be designed as a tool supporting the “co-education” of people and nature, by creating a back-and-forth between measuring (quantification) and sensing (relationships/narratives). The discussion also highlighted risks such as the energy demands of technology, privacy concerns, and regional disparities. It was shared that we must refine effective “uses” for 2050 through incentive design and bottom-up consensus building.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
The speakers highlighted the following as key perspectives for their respective research and business development after the conference:
(1) Strengthening efforts to provide data and technology in ways that are meaningful for local communities.
・Develop accessible dashboards and actionable metrics aligned with local priorities and traditional knowledge, connecting them to decision-making by residents, field practitioners, and policymakers
・Advance responsible and equitable data governance frameworks, embedding data sovereignty, fair benefit distribution, third-party verification, and accountability into operational rules.
・Foster collaboration among businesses, startups, governments, and regions to clarify incentive structures, creating an environment where optimized practices can be adopted without overburdening agriculture or conservation sites.
(2) Research and Technology Development
・Integrate data from satellites, sensors, camera traps, GPS, etc., using AI to advance monitoring that enhances ecosystem understanding and protection while minimizing the system's own environmental impact
・In urban areas, expand models that incorporate biodiversity value and ecosystem services (flood mitigation, heat island reduction, physical and mental health) into design and operational KPIs alongside aesthetic considerations for green spaces, enabling evaluation from the planning stage
・In education and outreach, implement programs fostering wonder and emotional connection to nature, particularly among younger generations. Provide accessible information to shift consumer and voter choices toward biodiversity-conscious options. Through these efforts, strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and implement nature-positive outcomes in society.
Cast
Moderator
Niniane Paeffgen
Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) Foundation
Niniane is the Program Lead for the Public Portal to Anticipation, an interactive platform at the intersection of arts, science and diplomacy, empowering citizens from diverse backgrounds to anticipate possible futures based on the GESDA Science Breakthrough Radar. Previously, she was Managing Director of the Swiss Digital Initiative and a member of the WEF Global Shapers Community.
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Speakers
Shunsuke Tsuboi
Sagri Co,.Ltd
Graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yokohama National University.
Founded 'Sagri Co,.Ltd' in 2018.
As an impact startup from Gifu University, working to solve global agricultural and environmental issues through visualization of farmland using satellite data and AI.
Forbes 30 under 30 Japan and Asia.
Received the Prime Minister's Award at the 6th Space Development and Utilization Awards
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Wakana Inoue
Green innovator academy 4th generation, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University 3rd grade.
Wakana is from Yokkaichi, Mie and currently studying at the College of Asia Pacific Studies at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Oita.
Her fascination with mangroves and dedication to reforestation efforts in response to rising sea levels in Pacific Island nations began when she watched a video about Pacific island countries in junior high school. While studying in Fiji and Kiribati as a 15th batch of the Tobitate! Study Abroad Initiative of the Japanese government,she founded a project called WAKA., which produces crayons from mangrove leaves and allocates a portion of the proceeds to support mangrove reforestation in Pacific Island nations. This initiative successfully raised 1 million JPY and continues to make impact. She is also actively involved in organizing Chikyu Ryugaku, a residential program held in Toya, Hokkaido, that invites youth from across Japan to engage with the region in sustainable agriculture, encouraging them to reflect deeply on the meaning of life, their paths, and broader societal issues.
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Anna Reyes
Masungi Georeserve Foundation
Anna Reyes is a sustainability leader and strategy consultant with over 10 years of experience driving transformative environmental and business outcomes across multinational organizations, social enterprises, and international institutions. She specializes in social, environmental and economic impact, working extensively with the United Nations system and International Financial Institutions across New York, Geneva, and Istanbul.
As Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Philippine Sustainability Intelligence Association (Sustina), Anna establishes Filipino sustainability standards and leads anti-greenwashing advocacy. She serves as Secretariat of the Upper Marikina Watershed Coalition, leading critical biodiversity protection initiatives, and is Special Advisor to the Board of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, a conservation project and biodiversity hotspot that has become a internationally-acclained environmental protection project.
Previously Climate and Sustainability Lead at Boston Consulting Group in Southeast Asia, Anna combines deep expertise in ESG frameworks, AI integration, and systems thinking with operational excellence to scale sustainability solutions. She regularly represents organizations at major global conferences, including UN COP, CBD, GWP, and NYC Climate Week.
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Seung-Yun Baek
Assistant Professor, Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Seung-Yun Baek is an Assistant Professor at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, focusing on wildlife ecology and human–wildlife coexistence. Since his Ph.D. studies in Ecology at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, he has studied how large mammals—particularly Asian black bears—adapt to human-modified landscapes. His research uses GPS tracking, behavioral modeling, and species distribution analysis to better understand wildlife ecology and develop effective approaches to coexistence with humans.
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The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
Big Data and Biodiversity - how should the latest information technologies including AI be used and developed by 2050 to achieve nature positive?
Agenda 2025 Co-created Programme
Discussion points for the future vision in 2050: To what extent should humankind be able to acquire and track the vast amounts of biological and environmental data? Who should be able to use the data and for what purpose? How much of this data should be incorporated into daily lives and corporate activities and evaluations? How should society be designed to handle invisible and unpredictable aspects of the ecosystem that cannot be fully captured by existing technologies?
Biodiversity is in decline at an alarming rate. Although the biological information on the earth is vastly diverse, what we can access is only a handful. In this time when AI and other information technologies are transforming our society at an unprecedented speed, we ask young change-makers how we should utilize and manage information-related technologies towards 2050 for biodiversity conservation and our planet.
-
2025.09.27[Sat]
10:30～12:00
(Venue Open 10:00)
- Theme Weeks Studio
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
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The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
