Homepage: http://www.nies.go.jp/social/index-e.html

This Division targets the linkages between human activities and the natural environment, as well as the relationships between socio-economic systems and environmental issues. The work of this Division results in proposals for environmental policies. It covers a broad area, from global environmental issues like global warming, to issues around us like recycling, to research focusing on the natural environment such as observation and analysis of forests using satellite data.

Primary habitat of the white stork (Ciconia ciconia) identified by using satellites to track their migrations. Using satellite imaging, we analyze their habitat environment, and study the relationship between the bird's behavior and its habitat.

Japan imports vast amounts of natural resources from around the world, as shown in the map of timber sources. NIES identifies trends in resource flows connected with trade (see http://www.cger.nies.go.jp/publications/report/d022/mateflow.html), develops assessment techniques for the environmental impacts associated with resource production and consumption, and suggests indicators of resource productivity.

The Environmental Economics Section conducts studies relating to the economic and policy-related aspects of environmental conservation. It analyses the economic impacts of environmental policies such as carbon taxes and the effectiveness of international environmental policies.

The Resource Management Section studies the status of natural resource consumption and the generation of environmental impacts (e.g., life cycle assessments), as well as the development and application of techniques to assess the effectiveness of measures.

The Environmental Planning Section is working on planning and evaluation techniques and applications relating to environmental conservation. For example, it is considering local goal-setting, as well as prediction and assessment methods for global warming impacts, using geographic information systems.

The Information Processing and Analysis Section uses satellite data, geographical and statistical information in an integrated way to conduct analyses as well as modeling and assessments of global, regional and urban environments.

The Integrated Assessment Model Section develops "integrated assessment models" that assess environmental conservation policies such as those to mitigate global warming; and studies the integrated assessments of policies for environmental conservation and economic development, etc.

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