Sustainability Science

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1 I n s t i t u t e f o r G l o b a l C h a n g e A d a p t a t i o n S c i e n c e Adaptation to Climate Change Safe and Prosperous Society Contribution to Sustainability Institute for Global Change Adaptation Science Sustainability Science

2 Living with Global Warming Small islands in the South Pacific face a crisis. They may be inundated as sea level rises due to global warming. The amount of greenhouse gases these countries emit is so small that they cannot stop this global warming by themselves. And yet raising their voices loudly about how global warming is threatening their islands is not providing a sustainable solution for their inhabitants. So how can people in these developing countries meaningfully address the challenges of global warming? The answer lies in adaptation. Global warming is a transnational challenge. Countries need to cooperate to meet this challenge through both mitigation and adaptation. For future generations. Securing sustainability and contributing to a safe and wealthy society Modern societies are faced with complex and global issues such as environment, energy, water, food and population problems. Enabling global society to become sustainable requires large-scale changes in economic systems, production and consumption as well as the development of revolutionary technologies with little environmental impacts, national and local policies and even the lifestyle of individuals. It was for these aims that The Integrated System for Sustainability Science (IR3S) was initiated by the of Tokyo, together with Ibaraki as a participating university. In 2010, the IR3S was succeeded by the newly incorporated Sustainability Science Consortium (SSC), which aims to develop a vision for securing sustainability and creating a safe and wealthy society by addressing these problems that humanity faces in the 21st century. In response to the program, Ibaraki established The Institute for Global Change Adaptation Science (ICAS) in By targeting the Asia-Pacific, a region experiencing staggering population and economic growth facing and devastating damages from climate change and natural disasters ICAS will carry out research and education in sustainability science by focusing primarily on adaptation to climate change. Through this, the ICAS aims to set out to forecast the effects of climate change, propose adaptation technologies and policies, and develop a local sustainability vision for Ibaraki through comparative analysis with other regions in Asia. Furthermore, ICAS will educates Japanese and foreign students together in hopes of fostering human resources that can flourish internationally and challenge each of the various problems the current generation faces with a comprehensive, sustainability point of view.

3 What is Sustainability Science? Current environmental and social problems are becoming increasingly complex Sustainability science has been proposed in recent years as a foundation for developing road maps and methods to realize a sustainable society. Sustainability science, as defined by the SSC, consists of three components the Global system comprised of climate, resources/energy and ecosystems that provide the foundation for the existence of humanity; the Social system comprised of political, economic and technological systems as well as industrial structures that characterize each country; and the Human system comprised of the lifestyle, health, and value standards of individuals. If a functional interrelationship exists among the three systems of Earth, society, and humans, a sustainable society, in which humans and nature coexist in harmony, can be realized and maintained. However, in reality the interrelationships appear to be frayed. Sustainability science aims to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the collapse of the three systems and their interrelationships as represented by issues facing global environment and security, to re-construct the systems and to propose measures and visions for mending the interrelationship. Low-Carbon Society Social System Politics Economy Industry Technology Global System Climate system Resources/energy Ecosystem Global warming Wide-scale air pollution Poverty Expansion of infectious diseases Recurrent natural disasters Problems increasing in complexity Mass production Mass consumption Mass disposal Sound Material-Cycle Society Systems comprising sustainability science Society in Harmony with Nature Safe and Secure Society Human System Lifestyle Health Value standards Current environmental and social problems are increasing in complexity Three Goals Research network in the Asia-Pacific region Networking Educational program on sustainability science Education 1. Forecasting the effects of climate change and decision-making support adaptation technologies/policies 2. Development of human resources from the standpoint of sustainability science 3. Leadership through an international network platform for research and education in sustainability science Research 1. Development of engineering methods for adaptation 2. Development of climate change-adaptive agricultural technolo 3. Livelihood plans and policies for adaptation 4. Plans for safe and secure societies in the future

4 Research s 1. Development of engineering methods for adaptation Climate change is being felt by frequent localized heavy rains and increases in the size of typhoons in recent years. In reality, the number of natural disasters believed to be caused by climate change is on the rise. It is crucial to review the ability of social infrastructures to support our lives against future climate change so that we can improve our capacity to prevent disasters. In 1, we aim to construct sustainable technologies that utilize engineering methods, such as those in civil engineering and information technology, to realize adaptation to climate change. Integrated impact assessments and adaptation technologies in Japan Investigation for adaptation measures using information technology Development of technologies that simultaneously achieve reductions in environmental impact and disasters 3. Livelihood plans and policies for adaptation With urban living areas as our focus, we analyze and assess the anticipation and adaptive behavior of local people toward climate change and natural disasters, the influence of climate change on the functions of urban environments and scenic/tourism resources, the potential of local systems to use recycled resources renewable energy, localized energy consumption and CO 2 emission structures, and local-level mitigation/adaptation measures such as land use plans and traffic policies. Based on the assessment we plan to support urban plans and policies to adapt to climate change. 2. Development of climate change-adaptive agricultural technologies In 2, we carry out research on building the foundation for climate change-adaptive agriculture. Our focuses include sustainable land use as well as agricultural and pastoral systems under climate change, the development of adaptive cultivation technologies, and conservation of soil and water material circulation in agricultural ecosystems. Specifically, will we analyze the influence of drying pastures and artificial disturbance on plant populations as well as investigate the causal factors of crop damage due to abnormal high temperatures in summer and the relationship between agricultural techniques, such as cover crops, no-till farming, and greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable land use for climate sensitive farming communities Development of climate change-adaptive cultivation technologies Conservation of soil and water material circulation in agricultural ecosystems under climate change Adaptation plans for climate change Analysis and assessment of local renewable resources and the development of renewable energy Proposals for local adaptation measures gies 4. Plans for safe and secure societies in the future We plan for safe and secure societies in the future. We investigate how to bring about social equity through research on the relationship between threats to security in countries prone to climate change and national security strategies as well as clarifying the actual situations of social inequity that tend to be exposed at the time of serious disasters. Furthermore, we also perform on-site investigations and hypothetical examinations on how to mitigate regional conflicts caused by war or disputes and to create wisdom of coexistence. Proposals for climate security policies Creation of wisdom of coexistence Research on social equity

5 Educational s on Sustainability Science At Ibaraki, Education on sustainability science is promoted to foster human resources that can take on the construction of sustainable societies. We have provided liberal arts courses such as Introduction to Sustainability Science in undergraduate programs since 2006, and initiated a master s program The on Sustainability Science in Ibaraki in The on Sustainability Science in Ibaraki is an interdisciplinary master s program that aims to foster sustainability science experts who can be active both locally and internationally to construct sustainable human societies. Under the slogan of education across the mind, skills and knowledge, this program aims to foster experts who have comprehensive understanding of the complex interrelationship between humans and the environment, advanced specialized knowledge and skills in specific areas, the ability to balance the interests of stakeholders including business organizations, governments, educational institutions, and civil activity centers. At the same time, students will gain skills to achieve mutual understanding and to facilitate problem solving through making changes in problematic behaviors. This program is administered in cooperation with other universities participating in the SSC. Features of the Educational The on Sustainability Science in Ibaraki is an educational program that traverses all graduate schools. It aims to foster specialists with knowledge in both a broad range of fields and specific disciplines to create sustainable societies, such as a low-carbon society, sound material-cycle society and a society in coexistence with nature. The program provides educational activities in cooperation with the SSC. Students in the program are entitled to benefit from the credit transfer system agreed upon among the universities participating in the SSC, including the of Tokyo, and to take part in the common international fieldwork education programs. Majors (courses) and minors (programs) In addition to the Sustainability Science Course (major program), which is provided by the Urban System Planning Course of the Science and Engineering, the Sustainability Science (minor program) is offered in each of the other graduate schools. The Sustainability Science Course is a major program that requires the completion of 30 units. The Sustainability Science is a minor program that requires the completion of 10 units. Certificate of completion s who earn the required units will receive a Certificate of Sustainability Science Course/ and a Certificate of the SSC Joint Educational in addition to the master s degree in the major field of study. Humanities Science Agriculture Education Engineering Departments Humanities Education Science and Engineering Agriculture Sustainability Science in Humanities and Sociology Sustainability Science Sustainability Science Urban System Engineering Sustainability Science Course Sustainability Science Schools (Master s Courses/First Two-Year Term of Doctoral Courses) Fostering specialists who can be active internationally to construct sustainable societies Human resources with comprehensive perspectives on the interrelationship between humans and the environment Human resources with specialized knowledge in specific areas Human resources with the will, and skills to solve global problems Practical education across the mind, skills and knowledge Educational in Sustainability Science Comprehensive classes on sustainability Specialized classes in each specific disciplines Lectures provided in English (some) Training sessions and master s thesis projects in an international environment Cooperation with the SSC Transfer of units with other participating universities ( of Tokyo etc.) Common international education programs Institute for Global Change Adaptation Science General Incorporated Association Sustainability Science Consortium

6 Organization and Management of ICAS Associations, foundations, NPOs, etc. Citizens Sustainability Science Consortium (SSC) of Tokyo Toyo Ritsumeikan Chiba NIES Osaka Research and Education Organizations Kyoto Hokkaido Waseda United Nations Tohoku Business organizations Municipalities General Incorporated Association Sustainability Science Consortium (SSC) External Evaluation Committee Contact info for inquiries Institute for Global Change Adaptation Science (ICAS), Ibaraki Environment Research Laboratory Building Bunkyo, Mito, Ibaraki , Japan Tel. & Fax President of Ibaraki Organization for Research Promotion Institute for Global Change Adaptation Science Humanities Education Steering Committee Science Engineering Agriculture Center for Information Technology Center for Water Environment Studies Institute of Regional Studies Gene Research Center Other inner-university Centers Research network in Asia-Pacific region Cooperation with the SSC Partnership and exchange with cooperative universities Partnership and outreach with local communities, business organizations and municipalities Community as A Partner s, Ibaraki