More frequent and intense fires are posing increasing challenges to ecosystems, communities and infrastructure around the world. This online lecture examines the drivers behind this, considers the ecological role of fire and outlines adaptive strategies that go beyond suppression—including prevention, landscape restoration, land-use planning, coordinated response systems and improved public understanding of fire risk. The session situates wildfire adaptation within broader discussions of climate change, land management and human–environment interactions.

The lecture is hosted by Tokyo College and is part of its ongoing public lecture series that brings global research into dialogue with contemporary societal challenges. The session is open to the public and is suitable for researchers, policymakers, students and anyone with an interest in climate adaptation, ecosystem resilience and disaster risk reduction.

Lecturer

Dr Thomas Elmqvist is an invited professor at Tokyo College and a professor affiliated with Stockholm University, specializing in resilience science, ecosystem dynamics and sustainable management of social-ecological systems. His work spans biodiversity, urban landscapes and adaptive solutions for environmental change.

Commentator

Dr Alexandros Gasparatos is a professor at the Institute for Future Initiatives at The University of Tokyo, where he works on sustainability science and ecological economics, with research interests in social-ecological systems, ecosystem service assessment and urban sustainability.

Moderator

Dr Oshima Marie is Deputy Director of Tokyo College and a professor at The University of Tokyo, providing interdisciplinary academic leadership and facilitating the discussion and audience engagement.