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Sustainable City Summit 5: Unveiling New Urban Landscapes Through Non-linear Economics

The City Lab Tokyo (CLT) is excited to announce the details for the 5th Sustainable City Summit, set to take place on September 6, 2025, in Chūō, Tokyo. This year’s theme, "Opening New Urban Landscapes Through Non-linear Economics," emphasizes innovative approaches to urban development and sustainable practices that adapt to contemporary economic flows.

Overview of the Summit

In the lead-up to the summit, CLT revealed details on six engaging talk sessions that delve into the emerging trends of urban development in line with the theme. The summit aims to explore how non-linear economic approaches can reshape our cities and our daily lives. The organizers encourage attendees to look into how these evolving concepts can be harnessed towards building sustainable cities.

For a comprehensive view of the event, including speaker details, visit the official website and refer to the press release from July.

Talk Sessions Breakdown

Opening Session: Circles and Detours – New Economic Movements Beyond the Limits of Straight Lines

The opening session will address the challenges of traditional linear economic models in sustainable urban planning. It will discuss the emerging concepts of circular economies and detoured approaches in urban design, sharing insights on how these alternatives can serve as viable options for shaping sustainable cities. Prominent speakers include Toshi Yoshie from the University of Tokyo and Mari Yoshitaka from Virtue Design Corporation, who will facilitate discussions around transitioning economic models.

A-1 Session (Circular Economy): Connecting Through Place – Circular Business and Urban Development

This session will focus on examples of projects that implement circular economies in real-world settings, highlighting how local interactions can amplify the impact of circular efforts while fostering broad-reaching business models. By examining the process of community engagement, it aims to inspire solutions that address regional challenges while offering new value propositions to urban lifestyles.

A-2 Session (Regenerative): Rewilding Tokyo – Connecting Humans and Nature in the City

Focusing on the regenerative concept, this session will explore how urban nature and biodiversity can coexist harmoniously with human activity. Discussions will cover urban greening initiatives, green infrastructure value, and community involvement in environmental restoration, with insights provided by experts such as Shotaro Uehara from Greens NPO.

B-1 Session (Revitalizing): Fostering Future Economic and Urban Resilience

This session will scrutinize the shift from short-term profit-driven economic models to those emphasizing sustainable, long-term growth within urban spaces. It aims to discuss financial innovations and recent urban commercial trends, exploring how they contribute to enhancing public life and living spaces.

B-2 Session (Regional Business): Future with Local Resources – Creating Sustainable Happiness and Preserving Beauty

Two practitioners will discuss strategies for revitalizing overlooked local resources, transforming what was once deemed a nuisance into opportunity. Expect to hear about the challenges and triumphs encountered in this process, fostering a collaborative discussion around authentic sustainable practices and the roles of external actors in enriching these initiatives.

Closing Session: Diverse Economies Toward a Sustainable City

In the closing session, participants will reflect on insights shared throughout the summit, exploring new perspectives on non-linear economies and the implications for future urban landscapes. The discussion will shed light on the complexities faced in transitioning to sustainable city economies while brainstorming for the next summit.

Event Details

• - Name: Sustainable City Summit 5: Opening New Urban Landscapes Through Non-linear Economics
• - Date: September 6, 2025, from 1 PM to 7 PM (Networking until 8:30 PM)
• - Format: Hybrid event, allowing participants to join either in person at City Lab Tokyo or online.
• - Registration Fee: 2000 JPY for admission; 3000 JPY for admission plus networking event.

This summit calls on individuals interested in urban sustainability from various sectors including business professionals, local government officials, entrepreneurs, and those passionate about sustainable urban development to join in discussions that are set to shape the future of our cities.

For continuous updates, follow our social media channels or explore our special website, where more information is published regularly.