Invited Speakers

 

Dr. Mitsuo Yoshida
1 Global Environment Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Tokyo, Japan

2 International Network for Environmental and Humanitarian Cooperation, Nonprofit Inc., Tokyo, Japan

 

Biography: Dr. Mitsuo Yoshida was acquired his doctorate degree from the Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo in 1982. He has worked for Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) since 1992, and current position is the Senior Advisor of JICA, mainly working for environmental management and waste management projects over the world. He was the visiting professor (Environmental Science and Technology) of the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology from 2008 to 2012, and visiting professor (International Environmental Studies) of the Graduate School of Frontier Science, The University of Tokyo from 2012 to 2017. He is also the Director and CEO of the International Network for Environmental and Humanitarian Cooperation (iNehc), Nonprofit Inc., Tokyo, since 2017.

 

Title of Speech: Building End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Management Systems: Lessons from International Comparison for Environmental Protection and Resource Circulation

 

Abstract: The management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) has become an increasingly important policy issue in both industrialized and developing countries. ELVs contain valuable resources, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, reusable parts, plastics, glass, catalysts, and batteries. At the same time, they also contain environmentally sensitive and hazardous components such as used oils, fuels, coolants, refrigerants, lead-acid batteries, tires, airbags, automotive shredder residue (ASR), and lithium-ion batteries. ELV management therefore requires an institutional framework that links environmental protection, vehicle registration, resource recovery, market regulation, and circular economy policy. This paper examines ELV management systems in twelve countries and jurisdictions in the world. The purpose is not to identify a single best model, but to clarify which institutional elements should be selectively adapted by countries seeking to establish or improve ELV management systems. The comparison shows that existing systems can be understood through several governance models: circular economy and extended producer responsibility (EPR), fee-based and electronic tracking systems, market-based recycling systems, fund-based recycling systems, administrative authorization models, and imported-vehicle-oriented systems. The Mexican case further illustrates that the formulation of management plans and national standards does not automatically lead to implementation without state-level capacity, financial mechanisms, enforcement, and integration with vehicle deregistration. The paper argues that economically developing countries should avoid direct transplantation of advanced systems. Instead, they should establish a minimum institutional package consisting of ELV definitions, vehicle deregistration linked with dismantling certificates, authorized dismantlers, basic depollution standards, financing mechanisms, vehicle identity number (VIN)-based data systems, and gradual formalization of existing dismantling and scrap markets. In used-vehicle-importing countries, ELV management must begin at the point of import, not merely at the point of disposal. A phased and hybrid institutional approach is necessary to prevent illegal dumping and improper dismantling while gradually moving toward circular economy, EPR, electric vehicle (EV) battery management, and critical material recovery.

 

Assoc.Prof. Cherdvong Saengsupavanich
Vice Dean for Research Development Academic Services and Internationalization

Faculty of International Maritime Studies, Kasetsart University, Sri Racha Campus, Thailand

 

Biography: Cherdvong Saengsupavanich is the chief editor of Maritime Technology and Research, a Q2 Scopus-indexed journal, owned by the Faculty of International Maritime Studies, Kasetsart University, Sriracha Campus. He has reviewed hundreds of submissions for numerous Scopus-indexed journals. His expertise is coastal protection, coastal management, and coastal structures. He has also designed various coastal protection structures, especially revetments and breakwaters.

 

Title of Speech: Coastal debris: A Recent Review on Types and Impacts

 

Abstract: Coastal zones are critical economic and ecological hubs facing severe degradation from anthropogenic pressures, particularly the pervasive accumulation of coastal debris. This review synthesizes global research on debris types, abundance, significant ecological impacts, and essential management strategies. Analysis of worldwide case studies confirms that debris, originating from both land and ocean sources, is a profound problem, dominated overwhelmingly by plastic and polystyrene. Common debris items, including derelict fishing gear and single-use packaging, show abundance directly linked to urbanization and inadequate waste management systems. The ecological consequences are critical. The debris inflicts direct physical harm through entanglement and causes physiological impairment via ingestion, inducing false satiation and transferring toxins across trophic levels. It also causes habitat destruction and acts as a biological vector for non-native species. Effectively addressing this crisis demands an urgent, multi-pronged strategy: improving monitoring through integrated tools and citizen science, setting clear reduction targets aligned with a circular economy model, and establishing multilateral working groups for coordinated global governance. Urgent and collaborative action is vital to secure the health of coastal and marine ecosystems.

Assoc. Prof. Chatchai Khiewngamdee

Faculty of Economics, Chiang Mai University, Thailand

 

Biography: Chatchai Khiewngamdee is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Chiang Mai University and previously worked as an Economist at the Bank of Thailand. His research covers international economics, financial economics, and energy and environmental economics, with recent work published in Sustainability, Energy Reports, and Agronomy, alongside several Springer conference volumes. He has been an active participant in the Asia Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development series.

 

Title of Speech: Can Remote Work Readiness Drive National Carbon Reduction?

 

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between national remote work readiness and carbon reduction performance across 93 countries, addressing critical gaps in understanding how remote work capabilities contribute to environmental efficiency at the macroeconomic level. We employ quantile regression methodology alongside ordinary least squares to examine heterogeneous effects across the distribution of carbon intensity of GDP. Our analysis utilizes the Global Remote Work Index, encompassing cyber safety, economic safety, digital infrastructure, and social safety dimensions, with comprehensive controls including renewable energy share, economic development indicators, and urbanization measures. The results reveal a statistically significant negative relationship between remote work readiness and carbon intensity, with countries exhibiting higher remote work capabilities achieving substantially lower carbon emissions per unit of GDP. Disaggregate analysis identifies social safety as the predominant driver of environmental benefits, while quantile regression uncovers important heterogeneous effects, demonstrating that remote work readiness generates the most pronounced carbon reduction benefits for countries with moderate to high baseline carbon intensity. These findings suggest that developing countries with higher carbon intensity should prioritize remote work readiness as a cost-effective carbon reduction strategy, focusing on worker protection rather than purely technical infrastructure.