Regional Environment Conservation Division

Regional Environment Conservation Division HP

Director

Director of Regional Environment Conservation Division
SYUTSUBO Kazuaki

Greetings

The Regional Environment Conservation Division, in its predecessor, conducted research on pollution issues such as air, water, and soil contamination. While serious pollution problems have decreased in Japan, numerous challenges threaten our lives, including excessive aerosol and oxidant concentrations, eutrophication of enclosed waters, oligotrophication of some marine areas, and the increasing difficulty of maintaining wastewater treatment infrastructure due to population decline. The air, water, and soil support the survival of all living organisms, including humans, and are the foundation of human social activities. This will remain true in the past, present, and future. In recent years, factors affecting the regional environment, such as climate change and uneven population distribution, have become more diverse. In the Regional Environment Conservation Division, research is now being conducted from a broader perspective, encompassing not only the preservation of air and water quality but also ecosystem conservation, healthy water circulation, and regional sustainability.

We will understand the processes of generation, transport, accumulation, reaction, and dissipation of diverse substances in the air, water, and soil, and will conduct surveys, research, and technological development with the aim of preserving the air, water, and soil in better conditions and sustaining healthy social activities. The word "region" that is the prefix to our field can be applied to various scales, from municipalities to international regions such as the Asia-Pacific region, but whatever the scale, it implies that it is closely related to our lives. We will continue to support the development of a sustainable society and aim to solve various environmental issues closely related to the local community.

Outline of Research

The Regional Environmental Conservation Division covers a wide range of regions, from cities and towns to the Asian region, and aims to elucidate the dynamics of substances in the atmosphere, water, and soil, which support the survival of all living organisms, including humans, and are the foundation of human social activity, as well as their impact on human health, ecosystems, and the water cycle. It also develops fundamental measurement and analysis methods, develops and evaluates technologies for reducing environmental impacts, restoring, regenerating, and preserving the environment, and develops assessment methods for managing regional environments and planning for the future.

As policy-responsive research, we are working in cooperation with Shiga Prefecture to conduct research on the water quality and ecosystem conservation of Lake Biwa and its basin. We are also collaborating with the Ministry of the Environment and other organizations to develop air emission inventories and simulations, develop integrated coastal environment and ecosystem assessment models. Furthermore, we will continue to monitor the local air environment and the water quality of Lake Kasumigaura and Lake Biwa, and will also work to maintain and strengthen the air pollution information system.

Organization

Regional Atmospheric Modeling Section
We conduct research on the development and improvement of atmospheric simulation models, emission inventories, and forecast systems for the establishment of countermeasures against air pollution.
Regional Atmosphere Research Section
To elucidate the phenomena of transboundary air pollution across Asia and domestic air pollution primarily in urban areas, and to develop countermeasures and impact assessments, we will advance research centered on ground-based and remote sensing observations, as well as laboratory experiments.
Lake and River Section
We conduct research on lake and river environments, focusing on assessment, management, and conservation based on observations, experiments, and modeling.
Marine Environment Section
Our research focuses on evaluating and predicting the impacts of terrestrial inputs, climate change, disasters, and marine development on water quality and ecosystems, aiming to conserve, restore, and create healthy coastal and shallow-water environments.
Soil Environment Section
We conduct research on the interactions between the soil environment and the water, atmospheric, and biological environments, as well as biogeochemical cycles, and on elucidating the causes of environmental impacts and developing countermeasures.
Environmental Management and Technology Section
To contribute to water quality conservation and safe water use both domestically and internationally, we will evaluate wastewater treatment infrastructure, and conduct research on the development of energy-saving wastewater treatment technologies and the sanitation risk assessment of water pollution.
Lake Biwa Branch Office
It is a joint laboratory under the Regional Environment Conservation Division and the Biodiversity Division and is based at the Lake Biwa Environmental Research Institute (Shiga Prefecture). We conduct research on the lake environment, mainly on Lake Biwa.

Research Staff

Research Staff - Regional Environment Conservation Division