Future of Local Communities in the Anthropocene | JICA Chair Programme 2024/25 Lecture V
The University of Colombo hosted the fifth lecture under the JICA Chair Programme 2024/25 on November 28, 2024. Held at the Senate Hall, College House, the event brought together academia and students to explore critical global issues in sustainability and resilience. The session commenced with a welcome address by Senior Professor (Chair) H D Karunaratne, Vice Chancellor of the University, who emphasized the significance of the collaboration with JICA and the program’s role in advancing academic dialogue.
Professor Kensuke Fukushi, Director of the Institute for Future Initiatives at the University of Tokyo, delivered the keynote lecture titled “Future of Local Communities in the Anthropocene.” He explored the challenges and opportunities facing societies in the Anthropocene epoch, a period defined by significant human impacts on Earth’s geology and ecosystems. He highlighted the necessity of operating within planetary boundaries to ensure sustainable development while addressing the pressing issue of climate change. Focusing on energy transitions, he emphasized the potential of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and biomass as equitable and transformative solutions for global energy challenges.
Drawing on the case study of Sado Island in Japan, Professor Fukushi illustrated how renewable energy integration could foster community resilience by promoting energy independence, revitalizing local economies, and creating a blueprint for sustainable living. He also discussed the critical role of urban-rural linkages in addressing urban migration and enhancing social cohesion through renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. The lecture underscored the importance of combining economic, social, and environmental factors to design resilient and inclusive communities while leveraging nature-based solutions like the preservation of Satoyama landscapes to maintain biodiversity and ecological harmony.
The lecture, moderated by Professor Ranjana U. K. Piyadasa, Dean of the Faculty of Technology, was followed by an engaging Q&A session, allowing students and academics to interact and reflect on the thought-provoking ideas presented. Dr. Iroja Caldera, Director of the International Office, delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging Professor Fukushi’s valuable insights and the active participation of the audience.
