Prof. Emeritus Ryoichi Yamamoto (R) and Secretary-General Indra exchanging views on emerging environmental issues and trends.

APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata paid a courtesy call on Prof. Emeritus Ryoichi Yamamoto, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Tokyo Metropolitan Public University Corporation at his office in Tokyo on 14 November. Prof. Emeritus Yamamoto, an APO Regional Awardee 2021, warmly welcomed Secretary-General Dr. Indra and congratulated him on his appointment as APO Secretary-General.

Secretary-General Dr. Indra extended appreciation and respect to Prof. Yamamoto, the mastermind of the Green Productivity (GP) concept, for his continued guidance in the development and promotion of GP since the 1990s. Prof. Yamamoto emphasized that the risk of reaching climate tipping points was rising rapidly due to climate change and that the APO’s ongoing initiative to develop GP 2.0 for its 21 member economies was therefore increasingly important. Secretary-General Dr. Indra and Prof. Yamamoto both believed that Climate Emergency Declarations, carbon-neutral goals, climate and social tipping points, etc. should be integrated into the APO’s ongoing GP 2.0 development activities.

Secretary-General Dr. Indra expressed his commitment to pursuing the promotion of GP for the sustainable development of the region, while Prof. Yamamoto reconfirmed his continued support for the GP Advisory Council for the development of GP 2.0 and willingness to serve as the chair of the council.

Secretary-General Dr. Indra (L) presenting the APO Productivity Databook 2022 to Prof. Yamamoto.