Leading International GX
A transformation of the global socioeconomic system is necessary to limit global warming to below 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial revolution levels, which will require cross-national high-level discussions. The Center for Global Commons (CGC) leads green transformation in Japan and the world, leveraging the international network maintained by UTokyo to pursue initiatives aimed at solving global challenges. The following are some of its main initiatives:
Global Commons Stewardship Initiative
The Global Commons Stewardship (GCS) Initiative aims to present and promote the implementation of pathways and tools for socioeconomic system transformation, with the goal of building a sustainable human society within the framework of Planetary Boundaries. Specifically, the Initiative is developing an Index to measure the extent and increase or decrease of the environmental impact of each country on the Global Commons, Modeling the pathway for socioeconomic system transformation for sustainable human society, and Monitoring of the progress of necessary system transformations by the middle of this century. And Framing, which integrates these four workstreams to envision a viable strategic framework for stewarding the Global Commons, and Data (cyberspace) workstream which is one of the foundations supporting the GCS Initiative. In each of the workstreams of the GCS Initiative, CGC is working closely with international partners.
ETI-CGC
In order for Japan to achieve decarbonization (net zero greenhouse gas emissions), a drastic change in the socio-economic system built upon broad discussions is necessary. Japanese companies and the University of Tokyo’s Center for Global Commons launched the ETI-CGC (Energy Transition Initiative – Center for Global Commons) on November 5, 2021, as a platform of industry-academia collaboration to develop Japan’s pathways to achieve decarburization. The ETI-CGC is driven by the following five principles:
1. We will safeguard the sustainability of our environment, the Global Commons. To this end, we will chart pathways to reduce Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050.
2. Capitalizing on findings and scientific insights across the world and in Japan, we will study pathways compatible with local circumstances in order to achieve carbon neutrality, while safeguarding well-being and wealth.
3. With these pathways, we aim to become an international model case for countries with unique local circumstances and subsequently make contributions to the carbon neutrality of the entire world.
4. We will consider the implementation of the pathways an opportunity to transform Japan’s industrial structure and economic/social system as well as our behavioral pattern towards the future. We will also discuss how we can take advantage of this opportunity.
5. We will make policy proposals and take a leadership role in stimulating discussions on a broader basis.
Creating Fundamental Academic Knowledge
The University of Tokyo, as one of the world's best educational and research centers, will contribute to the promotion of GX by creating fundamental academic knowledge. The following are some of its main initiatives:
Center for Climate Solutions
The issue of climate change or global warming is now beyond the realm of natural science. A transformative science is required that encompasses a variety of approaches, including understanding and predicting climate change and assessing its impact on ecosystems, designing future social systems, bridging social gaps as represented by climate justice, and changing behavior towards carbon neutrality. At the UTokyo Center for Climate Solutions (UTCCS) established in July 2022 with the participation of 13 collaborating departments and institutions across both natural and social sciences including the Atmosphere & Ocean Research Institute and Graduate School of Engineering, three research divisions corresponding to the IPCC’s sectional structure, namely Division for Earth System Change, Division for Climate Impact on Ecological System, and Division for Human System Response engage in research activities, based on scientific evidence, in search of social systems that will enable mankind to overcome climate change.
Collaborative Research Organization for Comprehensive Energy Sciences
Issues related to energy have a significant impact on our daily lives. For example, with the significant increase of renewable energy led by the legislation of the aim to realize a carbon neutral society, a wide range of scientific research is required to advance such technologies as battery cells, hydrogen, and forest absorption of carbon dioxide as well as fossil fuel and nuclear energy. The pursuit of solutions to energy issues not only requires deep understanding of technologies and legal and economic systems but essentially leads to philosophy and social ethics. The Collaborative Research Organization for Comprehensive Energy Sciences (CROCES), established in July 2021 with the participation of 10 departments from both liberal arts and natural sciences, pursues wide ranging research and development as well as design of energy policies and systems under the following five themes: “analyses and syntheses of total energy systems,” “Innovative renewable energy and storage technologies,” “Innovative energy conversion, transportation, utilization and CO2 reduction,” “Energy policy, energy economics and management of global resources,” and “Innovative materials and energy management to improve human comfort and health.”
LCA Center for Future Strategy
Drastic transformations of technologies and systems, such as transition to carbon neutrality and circular economy, are required to build a sustainable society. Various innovative and advanced scientic technologies are currently under research and development. These technologies need to be quantitatively assessed, while they are still in the development phase, for the effects they will have on society and the environment over their entire lifecycle when applied in future society, to clarify the required performance and other requirements and provide feedback to research and development. The UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy (UTLCA) established in April 2023 brings together researchers in advanced science and technology and lifecycle assessment (LCA) experts from 10 UTokyo departments to evolve conventional LCA for assessing technologies in the present society into preemptive LCA that contributes to designing future society. It aims to build new theories that go beyond conventional disciplinary distinction through the establishment of standardized methods to assess innovative technologies and research on integrated design of social systems with enhanced collaboration between consumption and production.
SDGs Projects
This website lists research projects at UTokyo that contribute to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with the aim of promoting synergies between research activities and ensuring the social impact of value created by these projects.
Presenting a Model for Future Society through Realization of a Carbon Neutral Campus
The University of Tokyo, as one of the world's best educational and research centers, will contribute to the promotion of GX by presenting a model for future society through the realization of a carbon neutral campus. The following are some of its main initiatives:
University of Tokyo Sustainable Campus Project (TSCP)
In April 2008, UTokyo launched the "University of Tokyo Sustainable Campus Project" (TSCP), which intended to present a model of a future sustainable society from the campus. The TSCP, an entire organization under the president's direct control (currently under the Environment Group, Facilities Department), was launched.
Forests
The University of Tokyo Forests (UTF) affiliated to the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UTokyo manages seven forests that spread across a total area of 31,000 ha (land area) in various parts of Japan as fields for practical research and education on forests and forestry and educate graduate school students through cooperative courses established in the Department of Forest Science and the Department of Ecosystem Studies. UTF is on a mission to be a “Forest to bridge science and the public.” Utilizing its strengths, such as the accumulation of long-term data that spans over 100 years and the practice of education and research in collaboration with local communities, UTF contributes to the green transformation of UTokyo through research on sustainable timber production and other efforts.
Campus Management Research Center
We will promote facility management, the adaptive reuse of historical spatial resources, and the use of information technology with regards to the buildings on the University of Tokyo campus. While mutually developing the following three perspectives, we will promote research, education, and practice with the goal of creating an ideal university space suitable for a future society.
1. Facility Management (FM)
2. Property Management (PM)
3. Information Management (IM)
Green University of Tokyo Project
The Green University of Tokyo Project (GUTP) will contribute to the practical delivery of Society 5.0 based on the Internet-by-Design, while establishing a practical and concrete system architecture, implementation, and demonstration of experimental and professional operation. The research outcomes have been and will be proposed to the relevant organizations for standardization and be delivered as public guidelines in related industries.
