This event will review the progress of the Future Earth Japan Report 2026 and discuss how iLEAPS and other Global Research Networks (GRNs) and Knowledge-Action Networks (KANs) can contribute to its development. The event will provide an opportunity to share recent activities, achievements, and emerging research priorities from iLEAPS and related GRNs/KANs, with particular attention to activities and initiatives relevant to the Future Earth Japan community. The event will focus on strengthening communication and collaboration among researchers and networks working across disciplines and geographical regions. By sharing recent developments, participants will identify common research interests, complementary expertise, and opportunities for joint activities that can contribute to Future Earth’s broader goals of advancing sustainability science and supporting science–policy–society interfaces. Two main discussion themes will guide the event. First, participants will report on domestic and international activities of iLEAPS and closely related GRNs, highlighting recent achievements, ongoing initiatives, and future priorities, particularly those that can contribute to the Future Earth Japan Report 2026. These presentations will help clarify how international research activities and networks are connected to Japan’s sustainability research landscape. Second, the event will explore potential relationships and synergies between iLEAPS and other GRNs and KANs. Particular attention will be given to opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration on emerging challenges involving terrestrial ecosystems, climate change, biogeochemical cycles, biodiversity, water resources, and human–environment interactions. Through open discussion, the event aims to move beyond individual network activities and identify concrete opportunities for collaboration, information exchange, and joint initiatives. Ultimately, the event will contribute to strengthening the role of iLEAPS within the Future Earth community and enhancing connections between Japanese and international sustainability research networks.

The League of Geophysical Research eXcellences for Tropical Asia (LeXtra) was established to foster international collaboration toward improved understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets across Tropical Asia. As the region undergoes rapid land-use, environmental, and socioeconomic changes, the need for coordinated observations, integrated modeling, and reliable national-scale GHG assessments is becoming increasingly urgent. This special event will focus not on presenting individual research results, but on discussing the future vision, priorities, and collaborative framework of LeXtra. Building on its activities to date, the event will explore how LeXtra can evolve into a sustained regional research network that connects ground-based, aircraft, and satellite observations with ecosystem and atmospheric models, remote sensing, machine learning, and national GHG inventories. Key questions for discussion will include: How can we expand and coordinate observations in data-sparse countries? How should LeXtra contribute to RECCAP3 and the assessment of national GHG budgets? How can we better connect scientific assessments with NDCs and climate policy? What new scientific challenges should LeXtra address beyond current GHG budget assessments? And how can the network support the next generation of researchers in Tropical Asia? Key Members from Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, China, and the United States will bring complementary perspectives from atmospheric science, terrestrial ecosystems, remote sensing, modeling, and industry. Through presentations and open discussion, the event aims to develop a shared vision and concrete priorities for the next phase of LeXtra, strengthening collaboration across disciplines and national boundaries. Ultimately, the session seeks to move from a research network focused on assessing GHG budgets toward a broader regional platform capable of coordinating observations, advancing Earth-system science, and connecting scientific knowledge with climate action in Tropical Asia.

Blue carbon ecosystems, including seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, salt marshes, and seaweed habitats, play a vital role in climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and fostering ecosystem functions. Recent advances in ecological monitoring, carbon accounting, restoration science, and policy development have significantly improved our understanding of how coastal vegetated ecosystems contribute to global climate solutions. At the same time, important challenges remain regarding the quantification of carbon sequestration, ecosystem management, and the integration of blue carbon into national and international climate strategies. This side event will bring together leading researchers and practitioners working across the full spectrum of blue carbon science and application. The session will begin with an overview of the global trends of blue carbon studies. Presentations will then highlight findings from surveys of blue carbon ecosystems, ecological restoration and habitat creation initiatives, recent developments in blue carbon credit systems, and the growing role of seaweed cultivation and utilization in sustainable coastal management. The event will also introduce assessments of impacts of environmental stressors, including increase in CO2, which may influence the future functioning and resilience of coastal ecosystems. Through these diverse perspectives, participants will gain insights into the links between fundamental ecological research, ecosystem restoration, carbon management, and climate policy. By bringing together experts from academia, government research institutes, and applied management sectors, this side event aims to foster interdisciplinary discussion and identify opportunities for future collaboration to advance blue carbon science and climate solutions globally.

Achieving carbon neutrality requires not only substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but also innovative approaches to carbon recycling, resource circulation, energy transformation, and sustainable management of terrestrial and marine environments. Hiroshima University has been advancing these challenges through interdisciplinary research that connects fundamental science, engineering, environmental studies, and international collaboration. This symposium highlights the contributions of Hiroshima University to the development of carbon-neutral and carbon-recycling solutions, bringing together leading researchers from across the University. Researchers from the Seto Inland Sea Carbon-Neutral Research Center (S-CNC), A-ESG, and the IDEC institute will share perspectives on how diverse research activities contribute to the realization of a sustainable, carbon-neutral society. The program will showcase complementary approaches ranging from advanced energy and carbon-recycling technologies to environmental and ecosystem science, carbon management, and the development of innovative pathways toward decarbonization. Beyond individual research achievements, the symposium aims to demonstrate the breadth and interconnectedness of Hiroshima University's efforts, highlighting how collaboration across disciplines and research centers can generate new solutions to complex global challenges. By bringing together researchers working on different aspects of carbon neutrality and carbon recycling, the event will provide a platform to reflect on Hiroshima University's achievements, identify emerging research opportunities, and envision new forms of collaboration with industry, government, and international partners. Ultimately, the symposium seeks to communicate Hiroshima University's commitment to becoming a global hub for interdisciplinary research, innovation, and education toward carbon neutrality and a sustainable future.