News

From May 6 to 9, Newcastle University and Durham University hosted a workshop for the Japan-UK Research and Education Network for Knowledge Economy Initiatives (RENKEI) on climate change and energy. Keio University was represented by Vice-President Motohiro Tsuchiya, Associate Professor Yoshinobu Takei from the Faculty of Law, and Associate Professor Naoki Wada from the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies.

The four-day workshop was conducted based on the theme "Just Transitions to a Net Zero World." Researchers in various fields from RENKEI member universities in Japan and the UK came together to learn about diverse research projects related to this theme, including case studies of collaboration between universities, government institutions, businesses, and local communities. A group work session was also held during the workshop. During the group work, participants discussed how Japanese and British researchers could collaborate from the perspectives of just transitions in urban environments, within industries and sectors, and in policy impacts, as well as climate justice and improvement of environmental public health. They also explored possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration on these topics.

At the RENKEI Steering Committee Meeting held on May 8, Vice-President Tsuchiya, who serves as co-chair of RENKEI's Japanese member universities, facilitated the meeting together with Professor Rob Sturman (University of Leeds), co-chair of the British member universities. At the meeting, participants discussed the future direction of RENKEI activities.