The order has the shape of a rising sun with bundles of rays as symbol for the Japanese national flag "hi no maru", which shows a red sun disk on a white background. The rising sun is attributed special power, the order symbolizes courage and determination. A commemorating symposiums was organized along the conferment ceremony for Hans Joachim Schellnhuber. With contributions by the Ambassador of Japan, a keynote speech by Schellnhuber und further speakers like PIK Director Johan Rockström as well as experts from Japanese Institute for Global Environment Strategies (IGES), the participants discussed how Japan and Germany could take leading roles to realize carbon neutrality within one generation.
Schellnhuber has been engaged in an intensive exchange with important actors from Japan's political and scientific communities for several years already. In 2017 he was also awarded the most important international award for pioneers of sustainability research, the Japanese Blue Planet Prize, in recognition of his scientific research and its application that have helped provide solutions to global environmental problems.
