Deep Dive Series
"Global Warming - Can the Law Prevent it Getting Worse?"
08:00-10:00 Friday, September 12, 2025
(The speech and Q & A will be in English)

Sergio Shigeo Kato: Co-Representative of the Japan Climate Change Initiative
Fletcher Harper: Executive director of GreenFaith, a national interfaith environmental coalition headquartered in New Jersey

In a landmark July advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague declared that countries have a legal obligation to protect the climate from greenhouse gas emissions, including phasing out fossil fuels, and that failing to do so is an internationally wrongful act that can lead to liability for damages, such as reparations. Few in Japan (Tokyo especially) would fail to cheer this move after a stiflingly hot and humid summer, with perhaps more of the same yet to come.

But can the ICJ ruling give teeth to the 2015 UN Paris Accord in climate change which required governments to submit voluntary pledges to curb carbon dioxide emissions? The FCCJ Deep Dive initiative has assembled a panel of climate experts to bring us up to date on this existential challenge.

Sergio Shigeo Kato is Co-Representative of the Japan Climate Change Initiative. In 2018, several hundred Japanese companies, local governments, research institutions and NGOs established the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) - a network committed to strengthening communication and exchange of strategies and solutions among all actors implementing climate actions in Japan.

Fletcher Harper is an Episcopal priest and executive director of GreenFaith, a national interfaith environmental coalition headquartered in New Jersey. During his tenure at GreenFaith, Harper launched the GreenFaith Fellowship Program, an interfaith environmental leadership initiative.

Register for this event at Reception 03-3211-3161, front@fccj.or.jp or via the website. The charge, with mini salad, Danish pastry, orange juice, coffee or tea, is members and guests 2,750 yen and non-members 3,300 yen (tax included). Members and their guests may opt out for breakfast, to do so please inform staff when reserving. Reservations cancelled after September 9 will be charged in full. Online attendance via Zoom is free for members and 550 yen (tax included) for nonmembers, payment must be received by September 10. Details on how to join online will be sent by individual email by September 11.

Deep Dive Committee