The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
Fostering People Who Plant Trees: Stories from the Indonesia and Japan Internship Program
Republic of Indonesia
Sompo Environment Foundation runs the ""CSO Learning Program,"" which sends university and graduate students as interns to environmental organizations in Indonesia and Japan.
In the first half of the event, representatives from the Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation and adacemic experts will talk about the importance of corporate engagement in developing global environmental leaders.
The second half will feature a dicussion amang program alumni from both contries. These young changemakers continue tackling social and environmental challenges even after completing the program. Through their stories, we invite you to gain firsthand perspectives on how the next generation is addressing environmental issues in Indonesia and Japan.
Recorded video available
Discussion
- Climate change
- Biodiversity
- Deforestation
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese |
-
Track Programme
- Time and
Date of
the event -
-
2025.09.19[Fri]
16:00 ～ 18:00
(Venue Open 15:30)
-
- Venue
- Pavilion
- Indonesia Pavilion
Programme details
*Subtitles: Choose “Subtitles/CC” in the “Settings” (gear icon) at the bottom right of the YouTube video.
*Subtitles may not show with multiple languages or overlapping audio.
Sompo Environment Foundation launched the ""CSO Learning Program"" in Japan in 2000 and in Indonesia in 2019. To date, over 1,500 graduates have gone on contribute to the environmental field in both countries. This long-term, paid internship program, specialized in the environmental sector, is highly regarded as an outstanding human resource development initiative with no parallel in either country.
In the first half of the event, we will focus on the fact that this program is operated by a corporate foundation. A guest from the Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation will discuss how companies can contribute to the environmental issues. Additionally, academic experts with deep knowledge of environmental issues in both countries will talk about Indonesia's current environmental challenges and the significance of Japanese companies supporting human resource development in Indonesia.
The second half will feature a panel discussion with program alumni from both countries. These young changemakers will share their experiences, discuss what they learned from the program, and explore the realities of youth-led environmental initiatives. They will also address the importance of fostering the next generation of environmental leaders. Through these discussions, the session will highlight the commonalities and differences in environmental challenges between Indonesia and Japan and examine the ideal approach to corporate-driven, cross-border social contributions.
Reports
【Reflection】
The exhibition highlighted initiatives for developing environmental talent in Japan and Indonesia, with a particular focus on the CSO Learning Programme implemented by the SOMPO Environmental Foundation.
This programme offers long-term, paid internships for university and graduate students, placing them with NGOs and NPOs in both countries to provide practical experience and cultivate the next generation of environmental leaders. It began in Japan in 2000 and in Indonesia in 2019, and to date, more than 1,400 graduates in Japan and over 120 in Indonesia have gone on to pursue careers in the environmental field. At the Expo, visitors learned about the significance of corporate foundations in managing such programmes, as well as initiatives by the Japan Business Federation’s Nature Conservation Committee to support corporate engagement in environmental activities, emphasising the importance of collaboration between the corporate and educational sectors in nurturing environmental leaders.
In the first half of the event, presentations by experts and corporate representatives illustrated how businesses can contribute to biodiversity conservation and address environmental challenges. In the keynote speech, Mr Fujiki, CEO of Biome Co., shared his experiences conducting biodiversity surveys in Borneo and explained how the resulting data is used for natural capital assessments for companies, highlighting the importance of balancing environmental protection with economic value.
The latter half of the event featured a panel discussion with programme alumni from both countries, who exchanged views on their internship experiences, current environmental activities, and the role of businesses in supporting sustainability.
Participants gained insights into pressing environmental issues such as waste management, deforestation, and illegal wildlife trade, while also appreciating the value of youth-led initiatives and corporate partnerships in fostering sustainable environmental talent. Through this structure, the programme was recognised as a comprehensive model that integrates education, corporate support, and hands-on experience in environmental human resource development.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
Following the Expo, the SOMPO Environmental Foundation has been leveraging its alumni network to further develop environmental leadership and expand social contribution activities.
Graduates continue to apply the knowledge and experience gained during their internships, independently engaging in biodiversity conservation and local environmental improvement initiatives in both countries, thereby strengthening their roles as emerging leaders. In addition, collaboration among alumni, companies, and academic institutions has increased opportunities for joint projects and information sharing, enhancing the impact of their work on local communities and society as a whole.
Corporate foundations have also further strengthened their efforts, with companies deepening their understanding of developing young environmental leaders and reflecting this in their social contribution activities and sustainable management strategies. Furthermore, alumni are using digital technologies to collect and analyse biodiversity data, enabling evidence-based environmental initiatives. This approach ensures that conservation efforts are returned to local communities in an economically and socially sustainable manner, while also increasing the value of the programme as an international model connecting Japan and Indonesia.
Building on its introduction at the Expo, the programme is expected to continue expanding its reach and influence both domestically and internationally, contributing to the development of the next generation of environmental leaders and promoting youth-led solutions to social and environmental challenges.
Cast
Moderator
Tatsuhiro Kato
Secretary general of Japan Environmental Education Forum
After graduating from university, joined the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and were dispatched to Jordan in the Middle East. In 2014, joined the Japan Environmental Education Forum (JEEF), where have been involved in ecotourism projects and the development and sales of products utilizing natural resoures in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Cambodia. Since November 2019, have served as the Secretary General of JEEF.
View Profile
Close
close
Speakers
Rie Sako
Director, Education & Nature conservation Bureau, Secretary General & CEO, Keidanren Nature Conservation Council, Keidanren Japan Business Federation
View Profile
Close
close
Shogoro Fujiki
President & CEO, Biome Inc.
In 2017, he obtained a Ph.D. in Agriculture from Kyoto University. He developed visualization technology for biodiversity using satellite image analysis. After spending more than two years living in camps in the tropical jungles of Borneo, he resolved to commercialize environmental conservation. He later founded Biome Inc. and became its CEO.
Aiming to create a system in which biodiversity conservation leads to benefits for society, he has been engaged in building a business that converts biological information into big data.
View Profile
Close
close
Kodai Kishi
Nagoya City Environmental Affairs Bureau / Board Member, Fujimae Ramsar Society (NPO) / Alumni of Internship from Japan
View Profile
Close
close
Nanami Takei
Director, General Incorporated Association Protect Our Winters Japan / Board Member, Certified NPO KIKO Network / Alumni of Internship from Japan
View Profile
Close
close
Aulia Rahman
The Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia / Alumni of Internship from Indonesia
View Profile
Close
close
Alfitra Firizkia Luthfiana Dewi
Graduate Student / Alumni of Internship from Indonesia
View Profile
Close
close
Jo Kumala Dewi
Ministry of Environment, Head of Environmental Generation Development Center
View Profile
Close
close
Co-organiser
Sompo Environment Foundation
Japan Environmental Education Forum
The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
Fostering People Who Plant Trees: Stories from the Indonesia and Japan Internship Program
Sompo Environment Foundation runs the ""CSO Learning Program,"" which sends university and graduate students as interns to environmental organizations in Indonesia and Japan.
In the first half of the event, representatives from the Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation and adacemic experts will talk about the importance of corporate engagement in developing global environmental leaders.
The second half will feature a dicussion amang program alumni from both contries. These young changemakers continue tackling social and environmental challenges even after completing the program. Through their stories, we invite you to gain firsthand perspectives on how the next generation is addressing environmental issues in Indonesia and Japan.
-
2025.09.19[Fri]
16:00～18:00
(Venue Open 15:30)
- Pavilion
- * 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.
OTHER PROGRAM
The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
