Osaka Expo 2025 Showcases Global Sustainability Efforts,Climate Impact,and Women’s Empowerment
The upcoming Osaka Expo 2025 is highlighting critical global issues,with a strong focus on sustainability,the realities of climate change,and the advancement of women’s rights. Yvonne Burton, discussing the expo, detailed several exhibits demonstrating innovative approaches and impactful presentations.
One prominent example is the NEOM Green Hydrogen Complex,owned by NGHC,which is described as “the world’s largest plant producing green hydrogen-based ammonia from renewable energy,” powered by wind and solar energy. Burton also noted that the expo features contributions from smaller and less affluent nations, showcasing their land conservation and environmental protection strategies.
A especially impactful exhibit comes from Brazil, offering a visceral demonstration of climate change’s effects. Burton described a large screen representing the sun and planet, transitioning through colors to illustrate environmental health. “When they get to the reds and the orange and kind of the violence of climate damage, everything’s deflated and dark,” she explained, noting the exhibit incorporates sound, color changes, and hanging elements to create a “jarring” and “exceptional” experience. Staff are present to provide further explanation.
Japan’s pavilion centers on the circular economy, with the theme of interconnectedness between life and life. Reflecting the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters, the pavilion prioritizes “soft materials” for construction, emphasizing their durability and repairability. Burton highlighted the use of bamboo – which bends but doesn’t break – and “cross laminated timber,CLT,” which is easily dismantled and repurposed.CLT is increasingly being incorporated into international building codes as a sustainable alternative for walls, roofs, floors, and ceilings, due to its fire resistance and seismic resilience.
The Expo also features an extensive women’s Pavilion, sponsored by Cartier, dedicated to telling the stories of women and activists. The pavilion presents statistics on global gender equality and hosts numerous events.
Burton emphasized a key message conveyed by the Japanese pavilion: individual agency in creating a sustainable future. The pavilion encourages visitors to recognise their role in circular solutions, reminding them that “it all starts with you and the decisions that you make on a daily basis…it’s all our obligation for the Earth’s sustainability.”