The World Maritime University (WMU) was established in 1983 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and has become a center of excellence for the advancement of maritime and ocean education, research, capacity-building and economic development. In order to contribute to the realization of a sustainable world, WMU is working actively to achieve SDG Goals 4 and 5 on Quality Education and Gender Equality, as well as serving as a place for engagement and dialogue for the international maritime community.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides scientific knowledge about climate change issues and has been a major player in policy making within the international community. In February 2022, the IPCC Working Group II published their report on climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability for the second part of the Sixth Assessment Report, which consolidates the latest information. This article provides a summary of the report, particularly from the perspective of oceans and coastal regions.

Coastal shipping forms the backbone of logistics networks in Japan. However, addressing the labor shortage caused by the aging maritime workforce has become a critical problem in recent years. To resolve this pressing social issue, 30 leading Japanese companies from diverse fields have been working together on developing full autonomous ships, succeeding in world-leading demonstration tests.