Stanford University

Sustainable development

Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue 2025: Sustainable Cities and Communities

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Flyer for the 2025 Trans-Pscific Sustainability Dialogue. Illustration: color wheel brandingn representing the Susstainable Development Goals, combined with an illustration of a globe at the center.

The Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue convenes social science researchers and scientists from Stanford University and across the Asia-Pacific region, alongside policymakers, private and public sector experts, and emerging leaders to accelerate progress on achieving the United Nations-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Dialogue aims to generate new research and policy partnerships to expedite the implementation of the Agenda's underlying framework of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 2025 Dialogue focuses on advancing SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. It will be held in Manila, Republic of the Philippines, on November 10 and 11, 2025 (PHT), and is free and open to the public.

This year's main hosts and organizers are Stanford University's Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future. The co-host is the Asian Center of the University of the Philippines, Diliman (UP). The co-sponsors are the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in the Philippines (UP/CIFAL Philippines) and the Korea Environment Institute (KEI).

Steering Committee: Ambassador Kim Bong-hyun, BKMF; Dr. Cheryll Alipio, Stanford APARC; Professor Kiyoteru Tsutsui, Stanford APARC; Dean Noel Moratilla, UP Asian Center; Professor Ariel Lopez, UP Asian Center; Professor Michelle Palumbarit, UP Asian Center and UP-CIFAL Philippines 

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Join the conversation! Tag @stanfordaparc on LinkedIn/ @StanfordSAPARC on Facebook / @stanford_aparc on Instagram and mention #TPSD2025.

Isabela Ballroom (Lower Lobby)
Makati Shangri-La, Manila
Makati City, Republic of the Philippines

Master of Ceremonies
Cheryll Alipio
Associate Director for Program and Policy
Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
Stanford University

8:00–8:30 a.m. — Arrival and Check-In of Speakers
8:30–9:00 a.m. — Registration of General Attendees

9:00–9:50 a.m. — Opening Session

Welcome Remarks
Ban Ki-moon
The 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations
Chairman, Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future

Kiyoteru Tsutsui
Director of the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Director of the Japan Program, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Professor of Sociology, and the Henri H. and Tomoye Takahashi Professor and Senior Fellow in Japanese Studies, Stanford University

Keynote Speaker
Arsenio M. Balisacan
Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) of the Republic of the Philippines, Vice Chair of the Economy and Development Council and the National Innovation Council, and former Dean and Professor of the School of Economics at the University of the Philippines, Diliman

Video Message
Zandanshatar Gombojav
The 34th Prime Minister of Mongolia

Commemorative Photo of Speakers 

9:50–10:30 a.m. — Plenary 1
Envisioning the Future of Livable Cities: World Leaders on Accelerating Action on SDG 11
​​Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
 

Moderator
Kiyoteru Tsutsui
Director of the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Director of the Japan Program, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Professor of Sociology, and the Henri H. and Tomoye Takahashi Professor and Senior Fellow in Japanese Studies, Stanford University

Keynote Speakers
Endo Kazuya
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of the Philippines
Angelo A. Jimenez 
President of the University of the Philippines
 

10:30–11:00 a.m. — Coffee and Tea Break


11:00–12:00 p.m. — Plenary 2
From Vision to Action: Advancing Climate-Resilient Cities
Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels

Moderator
Gita Wirjawan
Former Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, Visiting Scholar at the Precourt Institute for Energy of the Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University, Founder of Ancora Group and Ancora Foundation, and Founding Partner at Ikhlas Capital

Panelists
Guillermo Luz
Chairman of Liveable Cities Philippines, Chief Resilience Officer at the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, Consultant at Ayala Corporation, Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness at the Asian Institute of Management, and Trustee of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation
Gwendolyn T. Pang 
Secretary General of the Philippine Red Cross
Nominchimeg Odsuren
Member of the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia
 

12:00–1:30 p.m. — Public Luncheon for Attendees (Isabela Ballroom, Lower Lobby)

Private Luncheon for Speakers (Manila Room, Level 1) 
Hosted by The Honorable Loren Legarda, Senator of the Philippines 

Keynote Speaker
Loren Legarda
She is the only woman in Philippine history to have topped two senatorial elections (1998 and 2007) and the only female to have served as Senate Majority Leader. In the 20th Congress, she serves as Chairperson of (1) the Committee on Culture and the Arts, (2) the Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, and (3) the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation, where she is the first woman to serve as Chairperson.


Commemorative Photo of Speakers

1:30–2:30 p.m. — Plenary 3
Driving Urban Innovation: Sustainable Solutions for Cleaner, Smarter Cities
Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

Moderator
Ariel C. Lopez
Associate Professor and Assistant to the Dean for Research, Publications, and Information at the Asian Center of the University of the Philippines, Diliman

Panelists
Chang Sug Park 
Vice President for Management of the Korea Environment Institute
Gita Wirjawan
Former Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, Visiting Scholar at the Precourt Institute for Energy of the Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University, Founder of Ancora Group and Ancora Foundation, and Founding Partner at Ikhlas Capital
Shari Yamaguchi
Vice Director of the Global Management Division, El Camino Real Co. Ltd.
 

2:30–3:00 p.m. — Coffee and Tea Break

3:00–4:00 p.m. — Plenary 4
Designing Energy Efficient Infrastructure: Advancing Climate-Adapted Solutions
Target 11.c: Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials

Moderator
Rie Hiraoka
Adjunct Professor at Kyoto University of Advanced Science, former Visiting Scholar at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University, and former Director of the Social Sector Division for Central and West Asia Department and former Country Director for the Kyrgyz Resident Mission at the Asian Development Bank

Panelists
Sohail Hasnie
Managing Director of Energypreneurs Advisory and former Principal Energy Specialist of the Southeast Asia Department and Central West Asia Department at the Asian Development Bank
Dave H. Kim
Senior Advisor to the President of the Assembly and Chair of the Council, Global Green Growth Institute
Priyantha Wijatunga
Senior Director of the Energy Sector Group, Asian Development Bank
 

4:00–4:30 p.m. — Coffee and Tea Break

4:30–5:30 p.m. — Policy Roundtable
From Policy to Practice: Developing Accessible Urban Environments and Housing
Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums

Moderator
David Cohen
Co-Program Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Professor of Environmental Social Sciences at the Doerr School of Sustainability, and WSD-HANDA Professor of Human Rights and International Justice, Stanford University

Panelists
Henry L. Yap
Senior Undersecretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) of the Republic of the Philippines
Cezar P. Consing
President and CEO of Ayala Corporation
Norio Yamato
Vice Senior Chief Researcher at the Institute for Urban Strategies, The Mori Memorial Foundation
 

5:30–5:40 p.m. — Closing Session

Closing Remarks
Kim Sook
Executive Director of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future and former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations

5:40–5:50 p.m. — Commemorative Photo of Speakers

6:00–8:00 p.m. — Private Reception and Dinner

Manila Room (Level 1)
Makati Shangri-La, Manila
Makati City, Republic of the Philippines

Hosted by the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center

Reception

Welcome Remarks
Kiyoteru Tsutsui
Director of the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Director of the Japan Program, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Professor of Sociology, and the Henri H. and Tomoye Takahashi Professor and Senior Fellow in Japanese Studies, Stanford University

Dinner and Cultural Performance

This event is held in Manila, Republic of the Philippines. All times referenced in the program agenda below are in Philippine Standard Time.


Day 1: Monday, November 10, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. PHT
Isabela Ballroom (Lower Lobby), Makati Shangri-La, Manila
Makati City, Philippines

Day 2: Tuesday, November 11, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. PHT
GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, University of the Philippines, Diliman
Quezon City, Philippines

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Gaea Morales

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Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellow on Contemporary Asia, 2025-2026
gaea_morales.jpg Ph.D.

Gaea Morales joins the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) as Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellow on Contemporary Asia for the 2025-2026 academic year. She is a political scientist specializing in global environmental governance, with a focus on the intersection of global and local climate politics in Southeast Asia. Gaea’s dissertation and book project, “Agents of Mass Construction: How Cities Localize through the Sustainable Development Goals,” asks why and how cities choose to translate global agreements to shape local policy, a process known as “localization.”

The project explains both the motivations and mechanisms by which cities localize environmental norms using case studies of three climate-vulnerable coastal capitals: Jakarta, Indonesia; Metro Manila, Philippines; and Bangkok, Thailand. Drawing from a global dataset of SDG localization and a year of fieldwork across Southeast Asia, the project illuminates how cities engage in a dynamic process of policy implementation that is both locally-driven and globally-informed.

At APARC, Gaea will revise her book project and adapt her dissertation into an article manuscript. She will also pursue further projects that cross-cut issues of local and global governance, the political economy of climate and the environment, and human rights. She is especially interested in topics of urban disaster resilience, inclusive climate finance, and environmental migration and security within and beyond the Asia-Pacific region.

Gaea completed her MA and PhD in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Southern California, and holds a BA in Diplomacy and World Affairs and French Studies from Occidental College. 

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Over 400 Participants to Attend the International Conference “Sustainability Dialogue 2025 - Climate Action: Billions of Trees”

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The Office of the President of Mongolia, under the auspices of the President of Mongolia and in collaboration with the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future of the Republic of Korea and Stanford University’s Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) of the United States, will host the international conference “Sustainability Dialogue 2025 – Climate Action: Billions of Trees” from June 5-7, 2025, in Ulaanbaatar.

The Sustainability Dialogue serves as a strategic cornerstone for fostering regional collaboration and advancing sustainable development. The dialogue will bring together global policymakers, experts, researchers, and practitioners, who will convene to address shared environmental challenges and tackle the escalating impacts of climate change through urgent and coordinated global action – the vision captured in Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13) of the United Nations-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The conference will serve as a platform to reinforce collective commitment to SDG 13 by advancing efforts in mitigation, adaptation, policy integration, education and awareness, and the mobilization of international financial support.

In alignment with the vision of Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, the President of Mongolia and his national “Billion Trees” initiative, the conference will host discussions under the following four themes: Climate Financing for Sustainability; Technical Cooperation, Social Responsibility, and Expertise Sharing; Partnerships for Climate Resiliency and Regional Sustainability; and Climate Action Through Land Restoration and Conservation.

More than 400 participants from 11 countries will attend the conference, including over 40 distinguished speakers from the environmental, financial, and technological sectors. Notable opening speakers include: The 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chairman of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, H.E. Ban Ki-moon; APARC Director and Stanford's William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea, Professor Gi-Wook Shin; Deputy State Secretary for Hungarian Communities Abroad of the Office of the Prime Minister of Hungary Péter Szilágyi; and Director of the Coordination Office of the G20 Initiative on Land, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Muralee Thummarukudy, who will also give a keynote speech. Other keynote speakers include Deputy Chairwoman of the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia Khurelbaatar Bulgantuya, Member of the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia and Minister of Foreign Affairs Batmunkh Battsetseg, and Environment and Green Development Policy Advisor to the President of Mongolia Nyam-Osor Batkhuu.

“Sustainability Dialogue 2025 – Climate Action: Billions of Trees” builds upon the ongoing Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue initiative launched in 2022 by APARC and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future. This initiative includes the 2022 inaugural convening and the 2023 Dialogue on Energy Security (SDG 7) in Seoul, Republic of Korea; the 2024 Dialogue on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9) at Stanford University; and two Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue sub-regional convenings in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, one focused on Advancing Gender Equity and Women’s Empowerment (SDG 5) in 2023 and the other on Promoting Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16) in 2024. Together, these convenings have played a critical role in generating impactful contributions to developing sustainable solutions that benefit Asia, the Altai region, and the global community.
 

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Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue 2024: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
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Advancing Sustainable Industrial Development: APARC and Ban Ki-moon Foundation to Host Third Annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue

Held at Stanford University on October 10-11, 2024, the third annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue will unite social science researchers, scientists, policymakers, and emerging leaders from Stanford University and the Asia-Pacific region to accelerate resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
Advancing Sustainable Industrial Development: APARC and Ban Ki-moon Foundation to Host Third Annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue
TASD 2024
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Pathways to Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions at the 2024 Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue

The Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue, part of a joint initiative by the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future, convened at the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to stimulate cooperative action towards the cultivation of peace, justice, and strong institutions as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 16 in the United Nations-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Pathways to Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions at the 2024 Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue
2025 Incoming Fellows
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APARC Names 2025 Incoming Fellows

The Center’s new cohort of seven scholars pursues research spanning diverse topics across contemporary Asian studies.
APARC Names 2025 Incoming Fellows
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Banner for the conference “Sustainability Dialogue 2025 – Climate Action: Billions of Trees”
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Building on the Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue initiative launched by Shorenstein APARC and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, the 2025 Sustainability Dialogue convenes policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to advance progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 13 – Climate Action – of the United Nations-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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Advancing Sustainable Industrial Development: APARC and Ban Ki-moon Foundation to Host Third Annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue

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The Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) at Stanford University and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future announced today the third annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue (TPSD), set to take place at Stanford University on October 10-11, 2024. This year's dialogue focuses on promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, fostering innovation, and building resilient infrastructure — the vision encompassed in Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9). Registration for the conference is now open.

APARC and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation launched the TPSD initiative in 2022 to fast-track the United Nations-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its underlying 17 Global Goals. By gathering social science researchers and scientists from Stanford University and across the Asia-Pacific region alongside government officials, experts from the private and public sectors, and emerging leaders, the dialogue initiative aims to spur transnational research and policy collaborations to expedite the implementation of the SDGs.

This year’s event follows the momentum generated in previous dialogue gatherings held in Asia, most recently the 2023 TPSD on energy security (SDG 7) and its last sub-regional dialogue on peace and justice (SDG 16). Convening this year for the first time at Stanford University, the two-day event is made possible thanks to the active co-organization of multiple partners: the Asian Development Bank, Ewha Womans University, Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Korea Environment Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, and the Natural Capital Project of Stanford University.

With just six years remaining, progress on the 2030 Agenda is severely lagging worldwide. According to the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report, only 17 percent of the SDG targets are on track, nearly half are showing minimal or moderate progress, and progress on over one-third has stalled since 2020 or even regressed below the 2015 baseline levels. Against this backdrop, this year’s TPSD will center on SDG 9 and its foundational role in the Global Goals framework. The vision at the core of SDG 9 — namely, industrial development that makes opportunities accessible to all and is grounded in technological innovation and resilient infrastructure — is pivotal for achieving economic resilience, social development, and the green transition toward a decarbonized future.

The 2024 TPSD will offer a unique platform for cross-sector leaders to highlight where interventions are most urgently needed to close disparities in achieving SDG 9 and assess best practices to expedite progress.
Gi-Wook Shin
Director, Shorenstein APARC

"The 2024 TPSD will offer a unique platform for cross-sector leaders to highlight where interventions are most urgently needed to close disparities in achieving SDG 9 and assess best practices to expedite progress,” said Stanford sociologist Gi-Wook Shin, the William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea and director of APARC. “With Stanford’s innovation ecosystem, industry collaboration, and commitment to accelerating interdisciplinary solutions to global challenges, there is no better place to pursue this work."

Day One of the dialogue will open with a plenary focused on the role of world leaders in advancing higher education and sustainable innovation, featuring Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations; Zandanshatar Gombojav, Chairman of the 7th and 8th State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia; Eun Mee Kim, President of Ewha Womans University; and Francis Fukuyama, Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Director of the Ford Dorsey Master’s in International Policy. The following plenary sessions will examine practical pathways and policies for catalyzing climate change diplomacy across sectors, sustainable industrialization in the Indo-Pacific, and financing for resilient infrastructure in the region.

"With only six years left to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, we are facing increasing instability and uncertainty due to serious global challenges: the worsening climate crisis, the exacerbation of regional conflicts, and the deepening of economic inequality,” notes Mr. Ban. “Under these challenging circumstances, the significance of this 2024 Dialogue lies in accelerating multilateral cooperation among Asia-Pacific countries to share experiences and knowledge to narrow the gap in achieving the goal of building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation."

On Day Two, expert sessions will discuss strategies for leveraging investments, cooperation, and ecopreneurship for resilient infrastructure and social change. The day will also include a policy roundtable on integrating the value of the environment into policy and decision-making for sustainable development and two parallel workshops with young scholars and entrepreneurs, highlighting the role of emerging leaders in shaping the future of sustainable industry. They will present their work on design thinking for developing sustainable technology and equitable infrastructure and strengthening labor force participation and development for inclusive industries.

The 2024 TPSD reflects the commitment of APARC, the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, and our partners to advance stronger and more effective international cooperation to create a surge in the implementation of the SDGs. We invite scholars, policymakers, industry leaders, civil society experts, and all interested stakeholders to join us in this effort.

To register for the conference and access the full program, visit the 2024 TPSD webpage.

About the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
The Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) is Stanford University's esteemed institute dedicated to addressing critical issues impacting Asia and its relations with the United States. Through interdisciplinary research, education, and dialogue, APARC seeks to shape innovative policy solutions and enhance collaboration among countries in the Asia-Pacific region. For more information, visit aparc.stanford.edu.

About the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future
The Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future upholds the legacy and vision of Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations. Guided by the principles of unification, communication, co-existence, and dedication, the Foundation works tirelessly towards achieving peace, security, development, and human rights. Collaborating with international organizations and stakeholders, the Foundation actively supports the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the 2050 carbon net-zero target set by the Paris Climate Accord. For more information, visit eng.bf4bf.or.kr.

Contact

For further information on the Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue, contact Cheryll Alipio, Shorenstein APARC’s Associate Director for Program and Policy at calipio@stanford.edu.

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Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue 2024: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
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Held at Stanford University on October 10-11, 2024, the third annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue will unite social science researchers, scientists, policymakers, and emerging leaders from Stanford University and the Asia-Pacific region to accelerate resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

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Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue 2024: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

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Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue 2024: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue convenes social science researchers and scientists from Stanford University and across the Asia-Pacific region, alongside policymakers, private and public sector experts, and emerging leaders to accelerate progress on achieving the United Nations-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Dialogue aims to generate new research and policy partnerships to expedite the implementation of the Agenda's underlying framework of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 2024 Dialogue focuses on advancing SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. It will be held at Stanford University on October 10 and 11, 2024, Pacific Time, and is free and open to the public.

This year's main host and organizer is Stanford University's Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC). The co-host is the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future. The co-organizers are the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Ewha Womans University, Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Korea Environment Institute (KEI), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MOFA), and the Natural Capital Project (NatCap) of Stanford University. 

View the detailed program agenda using the menu tabs below or download a PDF version.

Join the conversation! Tag @stanfordaparc on LinkedIn/ @StanfordSAPARC on X and mention #TPSD2024.

Bechtel Conference Center
Encina Hall Central, First Floor
616 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford CA 94305

9:00–9:30 a.m. — Welcoming of Guests
Registration of Attendees and Check-In of Speakers
Breakfast for Speakers and Attendees

9:30–9:40 a.m. — Welcome Remarks
Gi-Wook Shin
Director of Shorenstein APARC and the Korea Program
William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea
Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Professor of Sociology
Stanford University

9:40–10:35 a.m. — Plenary 1
The Role of World Leaders in Higher Education and Sustainable Innovation
Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.

Moderator
Jean Oi
Director of the China Program at Shorenstein APARC
William Haas Professor of Chinese Politics
Stanford University

Keynote Speakers
Ban Ki-moon
The 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations
Chairman of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future
Zandanshatar Gombojav
Chairman of the 7th and 8th State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia
Eun Mee Kim
The 17th President of Ewha Womans University
Professor in the Graduate School of International Studies
Director of the Ewha Global Health Institute for Girls and Women
Francis Fukuyama
Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Director of the Ford Dorsey Master’s in International Policy
Research Affiliate at The Europe Center and Professor, by Courtesy, in the Department of Political Science
Stanford University

10:35–11:00 a.m. — Q&A

11:00–11:15 a.m. — Coffee and Tea Break

11:15–12:05 p.m. — Plenary 2
Promoting Climate Change Diplomacy Across Sectors
Sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea

Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.

Moderator
Matthew Dolbow
Senior Foreign Service Officer of the U.S. Department of State
Former Consul General of the U.S. Consulate General Naha in Japan
Visiting Scholar, Shorenstein APARC, Stanford University

Keynote Speakers
Chan-Woo Kim
Former Ambassador for Climate Change and Government Representative for Arctic Affairs of the Republic of Korea
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of Kenya
Visiting Professor at Gyeongsang National University
Erdenebold Sukhbaatar
Member of the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia
Dave H. Kim
Senior Advisor to the President and Chair
Outreach Specialist
Global Green Growth Institute

12:05–12:30 p.m. — Q&A

12:30–2:00 p.m. — Public Luncheon for Attendees (Front Lawn)

2:00–2:45 p.m. — Plenary 3
Advancing Resilient Infrastructure and Sustainable Industrialization in the Indo-Pacific Region
Organized by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission

Target 9.a: Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States.

Moderator
Michael Beeman
Visiting Scholar, Shorenstein APARC, Stanford University
Former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Japan, Korea and APEC at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Panelists
Joel Abraham
CEO, Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission
Lorraine H. Akiba
President and CEO, LHA Ventures
Diana Bowman
Associate Dean and Professor, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Co-Director, Center for Smart Cities and Regions
Arizona State University

2:45–3:15 p.m. — Q&A

3:15–3:45 p.m. — Coffee and Tea Break

3:45–4:30 p.m. — Plenary 4
Catalyzing Innovative Energy Infrastructure Financing in Asia and the Pacific
Organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Target 9.3: Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets.

Moderator
Priyantha D.C. Wijayatunga
Senior Director, Energy Sector Group, ADB

Panelists
Rie Hiraoka
Visiting Scholar at Shorenstein APARC, Stanford University
Former Director of the Social Sector Division for Central and West Asia Department, ADB
Professor at Kyoto University for Advanced Sciences
Advisor for the Institute of Future Initiatives
Consulting General Manager, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank
Sulakshana Jayawardena
Former Secretary of the Ministry of Power and Energy, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Kee-Yung Nam
Principal Energy Economist, Energy Sector Group, ADB
R. Duncan McIntosh
Senior Regional Maritime Specialist, Transport Sector Group, ADB

4:30–5:00 p.m. — Q&A

TPSD 2024 Program Agenda
Download pdf


Day 1: Thursday, October 10, 9:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. PT | Bechtel Conference Center, Encina Hall Center (First Floor)
Day 2: Friday, October 11, 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. PT | Bechtel Conference Center & Philippines Room, Encina Hall Central, C330 (Third Floor)

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Second Annual Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue Convenes in Mongolia to Expedite Efforts Toward Promoting Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

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Noa Ronkin
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The State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia, along with co-hosts Stanford University’s Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future, announced today the convening of the second annual Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue to stimulate cooperative action toward achieving the United Nations-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on April 25-26, 2024, this gathering will focus on expediting action advancing peace, justice, and strong institutions — the vision captured in Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) of the Agenda’s underlying 17 SDGs.

The Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue is a subregional convening of the Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue, a joint initiative of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation and Shorenstein APARC held annually to scale action on the SDGs by activating new research and policy partnerships between experts from the United States and Asia and between governments and non-state actors. This year’s second annual Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue builds on networks and partnerships established at the June 2023 inaugural subregional Dialogue, which focused on promoting gender equality (SDG 5). This year, the subregional convening aims to provide a substantive platform for engagement on SDG 16, facilitating the exchange of best practices and policies to strengthen the capacity of local, state, and global institutions to reduce conflict and inequalities, enhance justice accessibility, and promote fair governance.

The vision encompassed in SDG 16 is at the core of the 2030 Agenda: that of a world anchored in commitments to promote more peaceful societies, provide access to justice for all, and build accountable, inclusive institutions at all levels. The embedding of SDG 16 in the 2030 Agenda acknowledges that peace, justice, and inclusion are necessary conditions for global development. Nevertheless, having crossed the midway point in the implementation period of the 2030 Agenda, none of the targets of SDG 16 are on track. Available data disconcertingly show stagnation, or even reversal of gains on SDG 16 targets related to violence reduction, access to justice, inclusive governance, and peaceful societies.

That is why the Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue sets out to tackle the imperative to share successful actionable approaches to achieving SDG 16 indicators and identify strategies to propel its implementation forward over the next seven years.

The first day of the gathering, held at the State Palace of the Parliament of Mongolia, will consist of multiple panels featuring government officials, academics, civil society experts, and industry leaders from the United States and across Asia. Keynote speakers and panelists will discuss lessons learned from initiatives addressing structural social injustices; evaluate strategies for building accountable and inclusive institutions for sustainable development; consider opportunities for strengthening the participation of developing countries in global governance through digitalization; and examine the role of international organizations in achieving SDG 16.

The Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue offers the multi-stakeholder convening force needed to identify which SDG 16 targets resonate most in a regional context and can drive advancements across national constituencies.
Gi-Wook Shin
APARC Director

Headliners include Ban Ki-moon, the 8th secretary-general of the United Nations and chairman of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future; Zandanshatar Gombojav, chairman of Mongolia’s Parliament; Nurlanbek Shakiev, speaker of the Kyrgyz Republic’s Parliament; Lezsák Sándor, deputy speaker of Hungary’s National Assembly; Rakhmetova Assem Kalashbaeva, member of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan; and Gi-Wook Shin, the William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea at Stanford and director of APARC. Panelists hail from the United States and multiple regions across Asia, including Azerbaijan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

“Indeed, Goal 16 is the golden thread that weaves through the whole fabric of the SDGs. As such, attaining Goal 16 requires a genuinely inclusive multi-stakeholder partnership where everyone participates, works, and shares the benefits together,” notes Mr. Ban Ki-moon. “In this regard, I believe this event of the Second Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue will contribute to resonating with the essential spirit of SDGs; inclusiveness.”

“As we look to galvanize the resources needed to expedite action on SDG 16, the Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue offers the multi-stakeholder convening force needed to identify which SDG 16 targets resonate most in a regional context and can drive advancements across national constituencies,” says Gi-Wook Shin. “We are pleased to see this convening, the result of our broader Sustainability Dialogue initiative, establishing itself as a thriving subregional platform for implementing a global development agenda and excited for our continued collaboration with the Ban Ki-moon Foundation and our partners in Mongolia.”

Recognizing the role of subregional frameworks and networks in translating development policies into concrete actions at the national level, the first day of the convening will also include parallel sessions that will delve into strategies for promoting peace, justice, and inclusion through Altai Studies. These sessions will address issues including Central Asian and Mongolian perspectives of democratic transition and current trends in the studies of Altai history, languages, and culture. The second day of the dialogue will be dedicated to a field excursion and cultural events designed to foster a dynamic and inclusive atmosphere conducive to stimulating brainstorming and idea sharing for future collaborations.

Please visit the Mongolian Parliament’s website and Facebook page for more information about the conference and live updates.

About the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
The Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) addresses critical issues affecting the countries of Asia, their regional and global affairs, and U.S.-Asia relations. As Stanford University’s hub for the interdisciplinary study of contemporary Asia, APARC produces policy-relevant research, provides education and training to students, scholars, and practitioners, and strengthens dialogue and cooperation between counterparts in the Asia-Pacific and the United States. Founded in 1983, APARC is home to a community of distinguished academics and practitioners in government, business, and civil society specializing in cross-Asia-Pacific trends. For more, visit aparc.stanford.edu.

About the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future
The Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future follows and further develops the achievement and philosophy of Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary General of the United Nations through upholding the values of unification, communication and co-existence, and dedication. It promotes three pillars of the UN, including peace and security, development, and human rights, and contributes to making a better future devoid of conflict and deficiency. In particular, the Ban Ki-moon Foundation actively collaborates with the UN, international organizations, and stakeholders toward achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and realizing the 2050 carbon net-zero of all state parties of the 2015 Paris Climate Accord. For more, visit eng.bf4bf.or.kr/.

Media Contact
Journalists interested in covering the Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue should contact Enkh-Undram Bayartogtokh, Chief of Staff for the Chairman of The State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia, at enkhundram@parliament.mn. For further information on the convening, please contact Cheryll Alipio, Shorenstein APARC’s Associate Director for Program and Policy at calipio@stanford.edu.

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The Parliament of Mongolia is convening the Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue on April 25-26, 2024, along with Stanford University’s Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future as co-hosts. The forum will bring together experts across academia, civil society, and government from the United States and Asia to share policy pathways and best practices to strengthen the capacity of institutions to achieve the targets for Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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APARC Unveils New Taiwan Program: Spearheading Interdisciplinary Research and Partnerships to Propel Taiwan's Next Stage of Development

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Noa Ronkin
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Stanford University's Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) proudly announces the launch of the Taiwan Program, which will serve as an interdisciplinary research and education hub on contemporary Taiwan. The program will investigate Taiwan’s strides as a modernization exemplar and the challenges its economy and society face in seeking to drive dynamism and growth in an era marked by shifting global relations. On May 2, 2024, APARC will host the program’s inaugural conference, Innovate Taiwan: Shaping the Future of a Postindustrial Society. Registration for the conference is now open.

Mirroring the dilemmas of other postindustrial societies, Taiwan today finds itself pressed by multiple imperatives. These include the need to generate novel economic competitiveness models amid rapid technological advancement and declining multilateral cooperation, address changing demographic realities, foster cultural diversity and tolerance, fulfill the action pathway to achieve net-zero emissions, and create the institutional and policy conditions to enable these adaptations. The Taiwan Program will explore how Taiwan can effectively address these challenges and seize the opportunities they afford for it to remain at the forefront of vibrancy and progress in the 21st century. 

Housed within APARC, part of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), the Taiwan Program will pursue a mission encompassing research endeavors, education and learning initiatives, and exchange opportunities. By investing in these three core areas, the program will produce interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research to understand and address Taiwan’s challenges of economic, social, technological, environmental, and institutional adaptation in the coming decades; prepare the next generation of students to become experts on Taiwan; and facilitate meaningful interactions between Stanford faculty, researchers, and students with their Taiwanese counterparts and with policy experts, industry leaders, and civil society stakeholders in Taiwan. In all these areas, the program will leverage APARC’s expertise and networks and build upon the center’s strong track record of academic research and policy engagement with East Asia. This includes leveraging the proven model and rich experience of APARC’s esteemed programs on contemporary China, Japan, and Korea.

We aim to foster research-practice partnerships between the United States and Taiwan while contributing to Taiwan's long-term development.
Gi-Wook Shin
APARC Director

"The Taiwan Program underscores our commitment to deepening understanding of and engagement with Taiwan,” said Gi-Wook Shin, the William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea and director of APARC. “We aim to foster research-practice partnerships between the United States and Taiwan while contributing to Taiwan's long-term development," added Shin, who is also a professor of sociology, a senior fellow at FSI, and director of the Korea Program at APARC.

The program will be led by a distinguished scholar of contemporary Taiwan to be recruited by the university in an international search. APARC will soon announce its inaugural postdoctoral fellow on contemporary Taiwan, who will help organize the program’s activities in the next academic year. The new program is made possible thanks to tremendous support from several Stanford donors who care deeply about Taiwan’s role on the global stage and U.S.-Taiwan relations. 

"We are profoundly grateful to our supporters for their partnership and commitment to advancing understanding of Taiwan and the U.S.-Taiwan relationship in this pivotal Asia-Pacific region," noted Shin. “This new investment will help us establish a world-leading program on Taiwan at Stanford.”

To inaugurate the new program, APARC will host the conference "Innovate Taiwan: Shaping the Future of a Postindustrial Society." Held on May 2 at the Bechtel Conference Center in Encina Hall, this full-day event will convene esteemed academic and industry leaders to engage in panel discussions covering topics such as migration, culture, and societal trends; health policy and biotechnology; economic growth and innovation; and the dynamics of domestic and international Taiwanese industries. Visit the conference webpage to learn more and register to attend in person.

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The program will explore policy-relevant approaches to address Taiwan’s contemporary economic and societal challenges and advance U.S.-Taiwan partnerships.

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The Paradox of Sustainability

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An Indian woman stands on a hill of coal, wielding a sledgehammer above her head. Next to her is the text "Shorenstein APARC Working Paper," with the organization logo.

Highlights

  • The sustainability narrative has become central to 21st-century development policy, but it resonates primarily with the population of the developed economies. The same narrative appears elitist for the remaining 84 percent of the global population focused on meeting daily needs.
  • The paradox of sustainability arises from placing equally high expectations on both developed and developing economies to achieve sustainable development. While developed countries are responsible for the vast majority of historical carbon emissions, developing countries attempting to modernize and feed themselves are under pressure to curb emissions and pursue low-carbon development trajectories.
  • An examination of the degree of electrification in developing countries demonstrates the difficulty of attaining carbon neutrality by 2050. Many developing economies, like Indonesia and India, are electrified only to around 1,000 kWh per capita, far below a “modern” level of electrification at 6,000 kWh per capita. At current levels of capacity building, most Southeast Asian countries will require more than 26 years to reach this level of electrification, with Indonesia requiring 121 years.
  • There are challenges facing the energy equation both on the demand and supply sides. The long-term demand for fossil fuels is not likely to decline, whereas, on the supply side, there are technological and economic challenges. Southeast Asian countries will need more than $1.8 trillion to build out renewable power generation capabilities — a Herculean task given their lack of robust fiscal spaces, low monetary supply availabilities, and limited ability to attract foreign direct investment.
  • To advance carbon neutrality for all, developed economies must increase their investment in clean energy opportunities in developing economies, channeling for this purpose the $100 trillion of liquidity funds they have generated under long periods of prosperity.
  • Southeast Asian countries, on their part, should focus on investing more in education to improve their economic performance and better inform citizens about the unintended consequences of detrimental environmental practices. They should also prioritize advancing a more robust political culture conducive to a stronger alignment between talent and power, thus encouraging capacity and institutional building as well as better prospects for meaningful regional and global collaboration.


Summary

This paper analyzes the paradox of sustainability that stems from the high expectations placed upon developed and developing nations' environmental and economic progress. Focusing on the coal-powered electricity sector, which has underpinned most of the world’s electrification, the author examines the time it took for Western European countries and the United States of America to modernize and the time it will take for developing economies, like those in Southeast Asia and India, to modernize while pursuing a quest for sustainable development. The author also proposes potential solutions, including renewable energy and multilateralism, to mitigate the challenges of achieving modernization and sustainability through greater collaboration among countries. The focus is on how developing countries must concentrate on increasing their renewable energy production capability. The paper does not address other elements of the sustainability narrative, such as reducing pre-existing carbon emissions, environmental protection, poverty, and hunger; responsible consumerism; or the circular economy.

Gita Wirjawan

Gita Wirjawan

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A Critique of the Modern World's Approach to Sustainable Development

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A Summit Discussion with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan and President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea

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Encina Hall backdrop with text "A Summit Discussion with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan and President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea"

This event is at full capacity and has closed for registration. There is no waitlist.
No walk-ins will be accepted.

The Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) is honored to host the Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida Fumio, and the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, for a special summit discussion. The event co-hosts are the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) and Hoover Institution.

Portraits of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan and President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea.


Following remarks by Prime Minister Kishida and President Yoon on the challenges and future of science and technology, they will engage in a moderated conversation with Secretary Condoleezza Rice, the Tad and Dianne Taube Director of the Hoover Institution. Discussion topics include decarbonization and clean energy, quantum technology, and startup innovation.

Speakers will also include Professors Gi-Wook Shin and Kiyoteru Tsutsui, Director and Deputy Director of APARC, respectively, and Professor Michael McFaul, Director of FSI.

This historic gathering on the Stanford campus of the leaders of the two key U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific — a convening that would have been almost unthinkable just over a year ago — follows a period in which the two leaders have made extraordinary progress in strengthening Japan-ROK bilateral relations, and is particularly significant in the aftermath of the August 2023 Camp David U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral summit, which has been touted as the beginning of a new era in trilateral cooperation among the three allies as they seek to advance peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

This event is available to in-person attendees and will not be livestreamed.

When registering, please be sure to read carefully the terms and conditions for attendance.

Members of the press should follow the media advisory below. For press/media inquiries, please contact aparc-communications@stanford.edu.

We will keep registrants informed of any program revisions subject to Japanese, Korean, and U.S. government protocols.

1:00 p.m. 
Registration check-in opens

1:30 p.m.
Doors to the auditorium open

2:10 p.m.
Audience seated and doors to the auditorium close

2:30 p.m.
Event begins

Welcome
Michael McFaul
Director, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies, Department of Political Science
Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution

Remarks
The Honorable Kishida Fumio
Prime Minister of Japan

The Honorable Yoon Suk Yeol
President of the Republic of Korea

Discussion
Moderated by 
Condoleezza Rice
Tad and Dianne Taube Director, Hoover Institution
Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy, Hoover Institution
Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Senior Fellow, by courtesy, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies

Q&A Session
Guided by 
Kiyoteru Tsutsui
Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Professor of Sociology
Henri H. and Tomoye Takahashi Professor and Senior Fellow in Japanese Studies, Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
Deputy Director, Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
Director, Japan Program

Closing Remarks
Gi-Wook Shin
Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Professor of Sociology
William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea
Director, Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
Director, Korea Program


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David and Joan Traitel Building
Hoover Institution
435 Lasuen Mall
Stanford, CA 94305

Panel Discussions

Advancing Energy Security: APARC and Ban Ki-moon Foundation to Host Second Annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue

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Noa Ronkin
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The Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) at Stanford University and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future are pleased to announce the second annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue (TPSD) in Seoul, Republic of Korea, set to take place on September 12-14, 2023. This convening, designed to accelerate progress on achieving the United Nations-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, will focus on energy security, the seventh of the Agenda’s underlying 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

APARC and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation launched the dialogue initiative to spur new research and policy collaborations between experts from the United States and Asia to expedite the implementation of the SDGs by governments and non-state actors. This year’s event builds upon the success of the inaugural Tran-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue, held in Seoul in October 2022, and the continued momentum generated through its resultant regional convening, the Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue, which took place earlier this summer in Mongolia.  

The Korea Environment Institute, Korea Energy Economics Institute, Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute, K-water, and Ewha Womans University will co-host the second annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue. The event’s supporters include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University, and the Asian Development Bank. Award-winning Korean actor and director Cha In-pyo has been named honorary ambassador of the TPSD. Mr. Cha will deliver remarks at the opening session of the dialogue. 

At the core of the 2023 TPSD is the pivotal theme of energy security, SDG7, which proposes to ensure access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all. The challenge of energy production, transportation, and security poses a critical barrier to a shared sustainable future. Despite ongoing progress toward sustainable energy targets on a global scale, recent data indicates that the pace of advancements is insufficient to meet the SDG7 targets by 2030 and varies significantly across different regions. The latest report from the SDG7 Indicator Custodian Agencies also finds that the policy measures required to tackle the global energy crisis, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, continue to lag and that international public financial support for clean energy in low and middle-income countries has been declining since before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By extending a platform for leading experts to combine rigorous scientific research, policy analysis, and industry insights, I am confident in our ability to advance tangible solutions and real-world action to propel us forward in pursuit of a decarbonized world.
Gi-Wook Shin
Director, Shorenstein APARC

“Energy security is pivotal to the SDGs. Without securing clean energy, the climate crisis remains insurmountable. However, the clean energy future is under serious threat from the war in Ukraine sparked by Russia,” says Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations. “In this regard, I expect the second annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue to play an important role in convening world-renowned researchers, policymakers, and students to address energy security and advance clean energy technologies,” he adds.

In pursuit of genuine progress, the second annual TPSD will convene esteemed academics, government officials, industry experts, and leading professionals from Stanford University and across Asia. Together, they will interact in dynamic discussions that bridge multiple disciplines and climate science, exploring technological and policy solutions to expedite the transition toward a future free from fossil fuels and other unsustainable energy practices.

“As we approach the 2023 TPSD, we find ourselves at a crucial juncture, crossing the mid-point of the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with mixed results,” notes Gi-Wook Shin, the William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea at Stanford and director of APARC. “By extending a platform for leading experts to combine rigorous scientific research, policy analysis, and industry insights, I am confident in our ability to advance tangible solutions and real-world action to propel us forward in pursuit of a decarbonized world.”

The first day of the dialogue, co-hosted by the Korea Environment Institute and the Korea Energy and Economics Institute, will convene at The Plaza Seoul. A World Leaders Session will kick off the event, headlined by Mr. Ban Ki-moon; Chairman of the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia Zandanshatar Gombojav; former U.S. Secretary of Energy and Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics, Stanford Professor Steven Chu; and Managing Director General of the Asian Development Bank Woochong Um. The following plenary sessions will examine the intersections of energy security, sustainability, and issues such as geopolitics, green technologies, and clean energy co-benefits.

The second day will be held at Ewha Womans University and hosted by Ewha’s Center for Climate/Environmental Change Prediction Research. The day’s discussion topics will include, among others, energy-efficient technologies and principles for energy security education. With the mission of empowering young leaders to drive the climate change and sustainable development agenda, the second day will offer opportunities for emerging scholars and young professionals to present their research and applied work in championing progress toward energy security.

The 2023 TPSD underscores APARC’s and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation's shared commitment to fostering ambitious action toward delivering the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. APARC and our partners, co-hosts, and supporters warmly invite scholars, students, policy experts, and professionals to join us at the TPSD and get involved with our efforts to shape a sustainable and resilient future for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Visit the 2023 TPSD page to register to attend the event in person and access the complete program agenda and list of speakers.

About the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
The Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) is Stanford University's esteemed institute dedicated to addressing critical issues impacting Asia and its relations with the United States. Through interdisciplinary research, education, and dialogue, APARC seeks to shape innovative policy solutions and enhance collaboration among countries in the Asia-Pacific region. For more information, visit aparc.stanford.edu.

About the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future
The Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future upholds the legacy and vision of Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations. Guided by the principles of unification, communication, co-existence, and dedication, the Foundation works tirelessly towards achieving peace, security, development, and human rights. Collaborating with international organizations and stakeholders, the Foundation actively supports the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the 2050 carbon net-zero target set by the Paris Climate Accord. For more information, visit eng.bf4bf.or.kr.

Contact

For further information on the Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue, contact Cheryll Alipio, Shorenstein APARC’s Associate Director for Program and Policy at calipio@stanford.edu.

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The second annual convening of the Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue will gather social science researchers and scientists from Stanford University and across the Asia-Pacific region alongside young leaders, policymakers, and practitioners, to expedite energy security solutions, investment, and policy support. Held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on September 12-14, 2023, the dialogue features award-winning actor and director Cha In-pyo as honorary ambassador.

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