At the Social Systems Division, we consider that “research is meaningful only if it changes society,” and we are actively engaged in various activities to encourage society to make use of our research results.
In Order to Resolve Social Issues
As the climate crisis worsens, “systems change”—a transformation of the very structure of society—has become essential to protect future generations from environmental threats. Researchers in the Social Systems Division are collaborating with researchers in the Material Cycles Division and the Biodiversity Division to develop scenarios for achieving decarbonization, resource circulation, and natural restoration, as well as to construct new indicator systems that include the value of the natural capital. Through these efforts, we are conducting research aimed at building new social systems capable of addressing the climate crisis.
Communicating with Society
We are also engaged in research aimed at contributing to local communities, such as organizing the “Citizens’ Climate Conference”—where citizens selected by lottery discuss and propose measures to address climate change—and introducing a new system that utilizes steam emitted from waste incineration facilities as a source of energy.
In addition, many of our researchers contribute to their local communities by serving on committees related to environmental issues established by government ministries and local governments. Using models and other methods, we also present quantitative results and make concrete policy recommendations to the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
On the other hand, some researchers focus on individuals’ engagement with environmental issues. Believing that a shift in people’s environmental awareness and behavior is essential for realizing a sustainable society, they conduct ongoing surveys of Japanese people’s environmental awareness and have been involved in developing a web app that calculates users’ carbon footprints and suggests options for reducing them.
Also, we strongly emphasize holding events and delivering lectures for citizens, based on the idea that a carbon-neutral “society” can only be realized if all the individuals and organizations that comprise society think about their respective roles and take appropriate action.
Nurturing Young Researchers
In addition to conducting training workshops every year as a means of nurturing young researchers in Asia, we are focusing on cultivating researchers in Japan by leading seminars and other activities at the graduate schools of the University of Tokyo, Institute of Science Tokyo, and Nagoya University.
