The Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) organized its 15th webinar featuring Mr. Jeremy Rifkin as the keynote speaker. The panel discussion that followed included three distinguished experts: Prof. Taikan Oki, Professor at the University of Tokyo and Vice President of the Japan Water Forum; Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative to the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia and Vice Chair of the APWF Governing Council; and Dr. Qingfeng Zhang, Senior Director for Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Ms. Changhua Wu, Chair of APWF Governing Council, moderated the panel discussion.
This webinar was convened to introduce Mr. Rifkin’s latest book, Planet Aqua: Rethinking Our Home in the Universe, which was published globally in September 2024 in all major world languages. The session also explored how Rifkin’s visionary ideas can be applied within the context of Asia and the Pacific.
In his keynote address, Mr. Rifkin presented a compelling new paradigm: we do not inhabit a land planet, but a water planet—Planet Aqua. As climate change intensifies, Earth’s hydrosphere is destabilizing, resulting in increasingly frequent and severe floods, droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, hurricanes, and ecological disruptions. He argued that humanity’s historical efforts to control and dominate water are no longer sustainable.
In response, Mr. Rifkin proposed a transformative vision—a “Blue Deal” to complement the Green Deal—framing water not as a resource to be exploited, but as a life force to be respected and stewarded. He emphasized the need to adapt to the hydrosphere, rather than reshaping it to suit human needs. His keynote highlighted how this shift in worldview could reshape science, policy, education, and infrastructure on a planet driven by water.
Mr. Rifkin introduced the concept of a Third Industrial Revolution, driven by the convergence of technologies in communication, energy, mobility, water, and habitats—all viewed through a water-centric lens. He discussed innovations such as decentralized “water internet” microgrids, renewable energy systems that reduce water consumption, and the development of resilient, water-aligned communities. He also cautioned against the water-intensive nature of digital and data-driven industries, urging the integration of artificial intelligence systems that promote resource consciousness. Notably, he highlighted a global shift from globalization to “glocalization” and from centralized systems to distributed ones, emphasizing the importance of equity and ecological resilience.
Following his 50-minute keynote, a panel discussion was held with Prof. Oki, Prof. Khan, and Dr. Zhang. The panelists echoed Rifkin’s urgency and offered regional insights.
Professor Taikan Oki praised Mr. Jeremy Rifkin’s visionary “Blue Deal” paradigm and his deep understanding of the planet’s fragility. He shared Japan’s evolving approach under its Basic Water Cycle Management Plan, which now increasingly acknowledges the need for lifestyle changes, such as relocating people from flood-prone areas, in response to intensifying water-related disasters. He emphasized the importance of integrated water governance, involving nature, infrastructure, and people, citing the principle of “of all, by all, and for all.” Prof. Oki emphasized the need to shift from viewing disasters as unavoidable to fostering harmony with the water cycle through “blue-green deals.”
In response, Mr. Rifkin emphasized the importance of well-designed hydraulic systems but stressed the need to reframe water not as a resource to be controlled, but as a life force. He added cultural depth by referencing the Japanese Emperor’s scholarship on water and the spiritual and philosophical traditions of the Asia-Pacific region. He highlighted a historical gendered shift—from water as life (recognized by women) to water as a tool of control (driven by male-dominated societies)—and called for greater representation of women in water governance. He suggested Asia has the potential to lead a global cultural shift toward more holistic and inclusive water stewardship.
Prof. Khan praised Jeremy Rifkin’s Planet Aqua vision for its timely call to shift from control to adapting to water systems, which resonates with the Asia-Pacific values of harmony with nature. He linked the message to UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) agenda and Japan’s leadership in integrating climate education. He proposed utilizing networks such as UNESCO Associated Schools Network and biosphere reserves to integrate Planet Aqua principles—adaptability, coexistence, and rewilding—into curricula and youth engagement initiatives.
Mr. Rifkin emphasized reframing water as a life force, not just a resource, and advocated for abductive science—an approach grounded in experience and interconnectedness. He proposed transforming museums into immersive learning spaces and highlighted practices like Japan’s Shinrin-yoku to reconnect people with nature.
Dr. Qingfeng Zhang highlighted Asia’s growing water and food insecurity, given the region’s large population and limited freshwater and cropland resources. He emphasized the need for a systemic shift toward a Blue Deal vision—treating rivers as living ecosystems and adopting integrated, basin-scale governance. While recognizing the potential of digital tools, he stressed that cultural and political transformation is essential to revalue water as a life-giving resource and align food systems with ecological limits.
Dr. Zhang proposed rebranding the Asia-Pacific Water Forum as the Blue Planet Forum to reflect this holistic approach and raised concerns about nations reverting to food self-sufficiency at the expense of ecosystems.
Mr. Rifkin responded by underscoring the water-energy-food nexus. Drawing on Planet Aqua, he advocated reintroducing low-water crops, such as roots and tubers, to diversify diets and build resilient, place-based systems, aligning with Elinor Ostrom’s sustainability principles.
Dr. Zhang added that Asia’s reliance on water-intensive rice poses significant risks and called for greater regional cooperation in sustainable rice and water management.
Jeremy Rifkin concluded with a call for a biocentric worldview and a unified Planet Aqua vision across Eurasia. He emphasized the importance of immersive education, youth empowerment, and bioregional cooperation in restoring balance between life and water. Rifkin envisioned APWF as a catalyst for this global movement toward resilience and interconnectedness.
The recording is available via YouTube:
(Reported by Yumiko Asayama, Chief Manager)
