Chair's Summary of the Second Pew Whale Symposium

One hundred participants from 28 different nationalities met at the Headquarters of the United Nations University in Tokyo on 30-January 31, 2008, for the second Pew Whale Symposium. As suggested by the title of the symposium, “A Change in Climate for Whales: Is there a Common Way Forward?,” the symposium explored possible change and a way forward in the whaling debate. It brought together stakeholders with different viewpoints, perspectives and experience of the whaling issue, as well as other experts with a broader experience in international policy not specific to whales.

This symposium took place only five weeks before the intersessional meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to be held in London Heathrow on March 6-8, 2008, to discuss the future of the IWC. The Tokyo deliberations assumed particular significance in the light of this fortuitous timing.