Delegation from Japan visits UPEI on January 21
UPEI hosted a delegation from the Tokyo Metropolitan Environment Bureau and the Tokyo Climate Change Adaptation Center in Japan at its Charlottetown and St. Peter’s Bay campuses on January 21.
The group toured the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation in St. Peter’s Bay in the morning where they met with Dr. Xander Wang, a professor with the UPEI School of Climate Change and Adaptation, and members of his team. In the afternoon, they visited the Institute of Island Studies at the Charlottetown campus where they had discussions with Dr. Laurie Brinklow, assistant professor of island studies; Andrew Halliday, lecturer in island studies and political science; and Ross Dwyer, manager of research partnerships with the UPEI School of Climate Change and Adaptation.
On January 22, the delegation planned to meet with officials from the City of Charlottetown and the Government of Prince Edward Island.
During their visit to PEI, the group was interested in discussing various topics, including development of adaptation measures, including specific examples of measures against coastal erosion, precision agriculture, and the use of drones; human resource development and budget, including an overview of educational programs, required skills, budget scale, and funding sources; public awareness and outreach, including information dissemination for residents and industries; and collaboration with other organizations such as federal, provincial, municipal governments, Indigenous communities, and industries, as well as data-sharing practices.
Members of the delegation included Takamitsu Ishigaki, Deputy Director, Policy Planning Section, General Affairs Division, Bureau of Environment, Tokyo Metropolitan Government; Rie Suzuki, Staff Member, Tokyo Climate Change Adaptation Center, Tokyo Environmental Public Service Corporation; Koji Hino, Deputy Director, Policy Planning Section, General Affairs Division, Bureau of Environment, Tokyo Metropolitan Government; Toshinobu Kito, Senior Staff Member, Policy Planning Section, General Affairs Division, Bureau of Environment, Tokyo Metropolitan Government; Kosuke Kawano, Director for Inter-Municipal Collaboration, General Affairs Division, Bureau of Environment, Tokyo Metropolitan Government; and Tasuku Sato, Deputy Director, Tokyo Climate Change Adaptation Center, Tokyo Environmental Public Service Corporation. They were accompanied by Dr. Minoru Tsunoda, interpreter.
