Japanese ambassador for global environment affairs to give public lecture at Curtin Sarawak

Miri – 19 August 2014 – Members of the public are invited to attend a public lecture on ‘International Negotiations on Global Environmental Issues’ hosted by Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) on 29 August 2014 from 2.00 to 3.30 pm at The Auditorium, Curtin Sarawak campus.

The lecture will be delivered by Professor Masahiko Horie, former Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia and current Ambassador for Global Environment Affairs of Japan.

In his lecture, Professor Horie will touch on the current international situation and negotiations in different arenas under the auspices of the United Nations.

According to Professor Horie, the world is now at a crossroad and needs to take decisive action to overcome issues related to nature and environmental conservation and global warming. It needs to pursue sustainable development and formulate a new framework agreement for climate change by the year 2015.

As a prominent former diplomat and academic in the area of global environmental affairs, Professor Horie has held positions in various organisations around the world. In 1973, he entered the Economic Integration Division of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in 1978, joined the International Treaty Bureau. In 1983, he was appointed Special Assistant to Yasushi Akashi, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations followed by a stint as the Director of the Technical Cooperation Division, and later Director of the Aid Policy Division, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 1995 and 1996.

In 1998, he was appointed Minister at the Embassy of Japan in France, and in 2002, Director-General for International Affairs at the Japan Defense Agency in addition to Chairman of the Tokyo Defense Forum. His diplomatic career continued with appointments as Ambassador to the State of Qatar (2004), Ambassador to Malaysia (2007), and Ambassador of Global Environmental Affairs (2011).

His latest appointments include Special Assistant to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of the 48th International Tropical Timber Council (2012), and Councillor, International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Advisory Board Member, United Nations ‘Sustainable Energy for All’ (2013). In addition, he is a professor at three Japanese universities – Meiji University, Kyoto University and Tsukuba University.

In addition to holding Bachelor and Master degrees in Economics from Osaka University and Tulane University, and a Bachelor of Law from Osaka University, he also attended the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (EEC) in France.

Professor Horie is delivering the lecture in Miri at the invitation of Tan Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui, the former Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water who will also be attending, and the university. During his visit to Curtin Sarawak, Professor Horie will also have a lunch and dialogue session with senior management and staff of the university.

To pre-register for the event, contact the university’s Corporate Communications Department at 085-443 806 or email corpcomm@curtin.edu.mybefore 22 August 2014. Attendance is free of charge and refreshments will be served following the lecture.

Photo: Professor Masahiko Horie to deliver a public lecture on ‘International Negotiations on Global Environmental Issues’.