DENSO Corporation, a leading global supplier of advanced technology, systems and components  for automotive climate control, among others, will, in collaboration with the Japan Environmental Education Forum (JEEF), implement “DENSO Youth for Earth Action,” an international project designed to educate young people in addressing issues related to the development of a sustainable society with diversified values and broad perspectives. Participants will learn about environmental problems from multilateral viewpoints, and also participate in regional and corporate environmental conservation projects.

For the first program, approximately 20 university and graduate school students in Japan and Thailand will be recruited to participate in Japan over a 13-day period from July 29 to Aug. 10, 2008. The program includes a nature restoration project in Kushiro-shitsugen wetland, Hokkaido, as well as an on-site project to reduce the environmental burden from industries and local communities in Aichi prefecture. DENSO also plans to assist in the formation of participant networks and specific initiatives to be pursued by the participants subsequent to the program.

“In order to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society, we need to help people develop a broader outlook on the world’s environment as well as comprehensive problem-solving abilities,” said Masatoshi Ano, senior managing director of DENSO Corporation responsible for the Administration Center. “From the next fiscal year forward, we plan to expand the project to include more countries, beginning with additional nations in the Asian region and provide young people from around the globe an international environmental study program.” According to the company’s press release, the project’s purpose is consistent with the “Decade of Education for Sustainable Development” advocated by the United Nations.