Purpose

To achieve the SDGs by 2030 and to build a sustainable society, there is a growing demand for individuals who can discern the underlying structures of social issues, engage in dialogue, discussion, and careful examination of solutions, and take action. Therefore, with the aim of nurturing leaders who perceive global environmental issues as their own and lead activities connected to the SDGs, we have launched the “Earth Youth Summit in KYOTO” targeting junior and senior high school students worldwide.

This program is primarily conducted in English. After attending lectures by experts, students identify issues from their own perspectives, brainstorm ideas for problem-solving, participate in field training, and then put their plans into practice. Through this program, we foster and network individuals who acquire the ability to communicate their goals and gain empathy in a global society by collaborating with others, as well as the skills to realize those goals. We aim for future leader candidates to deepen their understanding of diverse social issues, develop their ability to express themselves, and take flight.

In the 2025 academic year, 47 students participated (18 international students and 29 Japanese students). Participants join online sessions twice a month from the end of March through July to deepen their understanding of the SDGs and leadership. Prior to each lecture, they engage in preparatory study related to the topic, listen to the lecture, and then participate in discussions mainly in English on a wide range of SDG-related subjects.

Subsequently, with advice from instructors and mentors, students form groups to select themes related to sustainability, devise actions (proposals) to solve problems inherent in those themes, and participate in a three-day, two-night onsite summit in Kyoto Prefecture in August. Afterward, they implement their action plans and are required to present their results at the final online presentation in October.

Please refer to the following page for information on last year’s program.

Overview

(1) Theme

“Are we taking action toward achieving the SDGs by 2030? Let’s explore the current status of the SDGs and review our daily actions.”
With a focus on promoting the SDGs to the next generation, we aim to deepen our understanding of behavior changes that contribute to solving global challenges.

(2) Number of Participants

Approximately 50 high school students from both domestic and international locations (up to two students per school and per grade).
(In case of many applicants, each school should select up to two students per grade before applying. For example: 2 first-year high school students, 0 second-year students, 1 third-year student, etc.)

(3) Expenses

• Participants are responsible for securing their own environment for attending online courses.
• Accommodation, meals, and transportation costs during the onsite summit program will be covered by the secretariat (excluding transportation costs to the summit site).
• Travel expenses will be subsidized for a few international applicants. The applicants will be judged comprehensively on the basis of their efforts in the pre-assignment, their positive attitude in the online main course, and their cooperative attitude in group work.
• On the first day of the summit, please have lunch on your own and gather at Kyoto Station at noon (planned).
• On the last day of the summit, participants will move to Kyoto Station after lunch and be dismissed there.

Schedule

Online lectures

All times are Japan Standard Time (JST).

Onsite summit (to be confirmed)

Date and Time: From noon on Friday, August 21, 2026, to noon on Sunday, August 23, 2026 (2 nights, 3 days)

Content: Fieldwork, interaction with local residents, presentation of devised action plans, discussion on methods to implement the action plans, etc.

Location: – Owl Keihoku (2 Toritani, Shimonanacho, Keihoku, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City)

– Kyoto Satoyama SDGs Lab Kotosu (11 Motokeihoku Daiichi Elementary School, Shimoterada, Shuzancho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City)

*The meeting place on the first day and the dismissal place on the last day are planned to be Kyoto Station.

Online final presentation

Date and Time: Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

Content: Presentation of results from the implemented action plans, announcement of awards, certificate awarding, etc.

*After the field training, participants will present their action plans and results to develop the ability to communicate what they want to achieve in collaboration with others and acquire the skills to realize it. Special consideration is requested when implementing the action plans at schools or other institutions.

Application conditions and methods

Eigibility

• Students who will be in their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year of high school in the 2026 academic year (or 3rd to 5th year for secondary schools).
  Highly motivated 3rd-year junior high school students are also eligible. Nationality and place of residence are not restricted.
• Ability to engage in discussions and writing in English (English proficiency level is not a barrier if there is strong motivation).
• Demonstrates an interest in social issues such as SDGs, and is able to actively participate in group work learning.
• Must complete the pre-application assignment and submit it along with the application documents.
• Participants are expected to attend all online lectures, practical training sessions, and the final online presentation (please inform us in advance if there are unavoidable circumstances preventing attendance at any session).

Application Method

This year, applications are generally accepted through schools, but individual applications will also be permitted if school application is difficult.

(1) School-Sponsored Application

Your teacher in charge should fill in the following information (i) to (iii) in the entry form. As there are many items, we have prepared a draft paper. Please use it as appropriate.

(i) School and Teacher Information

• School Name
• Teacher’s Full Name
• Teacher’s Email Address
• Teacher’s Phone Number
• Number of Entrants

(ii) Student Information

• Full Name
• Grade Level (as of FY2026)
• Gender
• Nationality
• Email Address
  → This will be used for communication from the secretariat. If it is difficult to collect the student’s email address, please leave this blank. In that case, the initial communication will be sent to the teacher, so please forward it.

(iii) Pre-assignment

• What SDGs do you want to achieve, or feel you must achieve?
• What do you think the SDGs are?
• Do you think the SDGs can be achieved by 2030? Why?
• What do you hope to gain from participating in the Youth Summit?
• Please provide a self-introduction.

(2) Individual Application

Please fill in the entry form with the following information: (i) and (ii).

(i) Basic Information

• Full Name
• School Name
• Grade Level (as of FY2026)
• Gender
• Nationality
• Email Address

(ii) Pre-assignment

• What SDGs do you want to achieve, or feel you must achieve?
• What do you think the SDGs are?
• Do you think the SDGs can be achieved by 2030? Why?
• What do you hope to gain from participating in the Youth Summit?
• Please provide a self-introduction.

Additional information

(1) PDF version of the application guidelines

The above information is also available in PDF format. Please view and download it using the button below.

(2) Public relations poster

This is a promotional poster for the Youth Summit. We hope you will use it for display within your school.

(3) Participant Selection

All applicants will be accepted. After the submission deadline, the secretariat will directly contact each participant by email with information about the first online lecture.

(4) Handling of Personal Information

The information provided in the submitted documents will be strictly managed and used only for the purposes of this program.