Japanese universities and research institutions are stepping up efforts to tackle climate change and build a sustainable future. Kyoto University, the University of Tokyo, and the National Institute for Environmental Studies have established new research centers focused on climate change prediction and social adaptation, each advancing unique research in their respective fields.
New Climate Research Hubs Led by Kyoto University, the University of Tokyo, and the National Institute for Environmental Studies
As climate change, including global warming and extreme weather, significantly impacts lives and ecosystems, Japanese universities and research institutions are at the forefront of climate action.
1.Kyoto University Disaster Prevention Research Institute Climate Change Adaptation Research Center
Established on July 1, 2024, this center promotes research on forecasting and societal adaptation to weather and water-related disasters, which are expected to intensify with climate change. The center focuses particularly on developing a “Hazard Integrated Prediction Model,” which enhances process models for wind and water-related disasters and water resource issues, enabling predictions of future extreme events. In alignment with the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) reports, the center is also advancing Event Attribution (EA) research, analyzing past extreme weather events to quantify the impact of climate change on disasters, with the goal of providing climate information for disaster prevention.
http://www.castr.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/
2.University of Tokyo Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Division of Global Climate Dynamics
Associate Professor Kosaka’s research team at the University of Tokyo has demonstrated that the “teleconnection” mechanism—interactions between the atmosphere and oceans that affect distant regions—plays a role in the occurrence of abnormal and extreme weather events. By distinguishing between anthropogenic and natural variations in climate change factors, the team is contributing to understanding the cause of the global warming hiatus.
https://www.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/research/kosaka_lab.html
3.National Institute for Environmental Studies Climate Change Adaptation Center
The Climate Change Adaptation Center detects the impact of climate change based on observational data from past to present, predicts impacts according to climate and socio-economic scenarios, and proposes measures to strategically advance adaptation policies. By monitoring impacts on ecosystems, atmospheric conditions, and public health, the center provides scientific insights to support the adaptation planning of government agencies, local governments, and private companies.
https://ccca.nies.go.jp/ja/index.html
4.University of Tokyo Climate and Society Initiative
The University of Tokyo Climate and Society Initiative conducts interdisciplinary research by integrating natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to improve understanding and forecasting of climate change, evaluate its impact on ecosystems, design future social systems, and promote behavior change toward carbon neutrality. As part of a long-term project led by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the initiative uses the Japanese climate model “MIROC” to conduct global warming simulations, contributing data that is highly regarded internationally and utilized in IPCC reports.
https://utccs.u-tokyo.ac.jp/