My journey started in Japan and the UK, where my studies in economics and international development laid the foundation for my career. I initially entered the diplomatic field working at an Embassy and joining the G7 Secretariat of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), an experience that first sparked my passion for sustainable development and human security. At that stage, my perspective was largely shaped by national policies and governmental structures. 

As I engaged more deeply with global issues, whether climate change or peacebuilding, it became increasingly evident that these are not confined by geopolitical boundaries or national policies. Addressing them demand regional and international cooperation, as progress is often stalled by the dilemma of common aversion—where the need for collective action is undermined by uncertainty about other countries' commitments. This realization led me to multilateralism and ultimately to UNDP, the UN’s leading development agency.

As a Policy Specialist in Climate and Security Risk, I work with the UNDP’s Climate Hub of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support and the Crisis Bureau, as well as with the UN’s inter-agency Climate Security Mechanism (CSM), on initiatives that bridge climate action with peace and security efforts.

The importance of connecting the dots 

Leading initiatives such as the Peoples’ Climate Vote provided me with a unique opportunity to engage with diverse stakeholders—from grassroots organizations to G20. This initiative is one of the largest global surveys on public opinion regarding climate change with the  2021 report analysing 1.2 million respondents. It showed that 64% across 50 countries viewed climate change as an emergency, underscoring the importance of including public voices in climate negotiations.I suddenly felt the weight of our work all as it was grounded in the concerns of real people, and was challenged to consider how best to respond to such significant  pressure.  We tried to send a clear and convincing call for decision-makers especially for developed countries and G20 to step up on ambition.  

And climate change is not just an environmental crisis—it’s a risk multiplier that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. The world is experiencing the warmest years on record and the highest number of violent conflicts since Second World War. These challenges demand a response that goes beyond the conventional climate adaptation. It is unsettling to imagine a worse scenario and even more so to witness its manifestations in the countries I visit during my missions. 

I believe that by integrating peace and security frameworks into climate policies, and vice versa, we can address the root causes of fragility, conflict and violence, while increasing resilience to climate crisis and laying foundation for development. Navigating this intersection isn’t simple. The climate, peace and security landscape are a web of geopolitical tensions, context specific crises, economic vulnerabilities, and societal inequalities. My work presents daily challenges, with alignment of environmental and climate policies with conflict-sensitive approaches, taking into account the context specific fragilities and peace-positive lens, while connecting different actors and strengthening local capacities for long-term stability.