Professor Akio Morishima was the first Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). He passed away on 26 May 2024 at the age of 89. The Wuppertal Institute would like to express its sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to his family.

The IGES was founded in 1998 at the suggestion of the Council of Global Environment in the 21st Century, an advisory body established by the Japanese Prime Minister in 1994. Professor Morishima laid the foundations for IGES to to thrive as a renowned international research institute through stimulating strategic research and establishing a network of international research institutes and organisations focusing on global environmental issues.

The passing of Professor Akio Morishima means not only the loss of an excellent scientist and inspiring thought leader in the field of climate and environmental policy, but also that of a special friend and supporter of Japanese-German scientific cooperation and the Wuppertal Institute. From 1998 to 2007, Professor Morishima was a member of the Wuppertal Institute's International Advisory Board, which supports the Institute as an important sparring partner and provides impetus for its annual research planning.

The Wuppertal Institute will keep Professor Akio Morishima in honourable memory as a source of inspiration and will endeavour to continue and deepen the impulses of his work for German-Japanese cooperation in his spirit.