【YOKOHAMA-SXIP 2025】 Themed Lecture ２: Introductory to Circular Economy

Lecture Title: Introductory to Circular Economy
Lecturer: IKEJIMA Yoshifumi, Professor, Faculty of International Social Sciences, Division of International Social Sciences, Yokohama National University

In the YOKOHAMA-SXIP program, we offer introductory lectures featuring speakers from both inside and outside YNU. These lectures are designed to help students learn about global issues related to Sustainable Transformation (SX), beyond the boundaries of their own academic fields. The aim is to deepen students’ understanding of SX trends in Japan and around the world, while also helping them clarify their own areas of interest through group work.
Building on the achievements of the past two years, YOKOHAMA-SXIP 2025 focused on the “integrated approaches” that are essential for transitioning toward a sustainable society. According to Japan's Ministry of the Environment’s Sixth Basic Environmental Plan, the transition to a decarbonized society is closely linked to circular economy initiatives and efforts to restore nature. The plan emphasizes that avoiding trade-offs among these initiatives and promoting them in an integrated, synergistic manner is crucial for addressing sustainability challenges while achieving economic growth.
Based on this perspective, this year’s introductory lectures covered three key themes: Carbon Neutral, Circular Economy, and Nature Positive.