Joint Operation by the Prefecture and a University! Gifu Prefecture Climate Change Adaptation Center
| Date of interview | September 8, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Establishing organization | Environmental Management Division, Environment and Living Department, Gifu Prefectural Government and Gifu University |
| Targets | Director Yoshiharu Inami and Assistant Section Chief Nobuhiro Takazawa, Environmental Management Division, Environment and Living Department, Gifu Prefectural Government Professor Shuichi Nonomura, Professor Hiroyuki Muraoka, and Associate Professor Morihiro Harada, Gifu University |
Background of establishment
Please tell us how the Gifu Prefecture Climate Change Adaptation Center came to be established.
Mr. Inami：Gifu Prefecture and Gifu University participated in the “Social Implementation Program on Climate Change Adaptation Technology (SI-CAT),” a program implemented by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as a model municipality for 5 years from FY 2015 to FY 2019. As the Climate Change Adaptation Act took effect in FY 2018, the “Gifu Prefecture Climate Change Adaptation Center” was established in April 2020 in a form of joint operation by the prefecture and the university by utilizing the cooperation system that was already established. The sign is installed at Gifu University, while the prefecture is responsible for the office operation. It was decided that one employee of the prefecture would be assigned to the university when the Center was established, and Assistant Section Chief Takazawa is currently there to be responsible for coordination and adjustments related to the Center. The policy of the Governor at the time of Center establishment was to utilize the findings and experience of the university, and he feels a sense of danger about the various impacts of climate change. The joint studies between prefecture sections (concerned departments) and the university are also part of the Center projects. There is a mechanism in which the prefecture can propose studies they wish to implement to the university.
Mr. Harada：The university and the prefecture concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement in the past, and the viewpoint of adaptation was newly added in concurrence with the establishment of the Center. All the research institutes within the prefecture participate in the activities of the Center. It is intended that the needs of the prefecture are matched with the research seeds of the university by having them provide the field findings accumulated in experimental stations, etc., to the university. As budget for the Center, we have acquired research funds from the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund, which was launched this year, Grants-in-aid for Scientific Research, etc., in addition to the funding by the prefecture.
Mr. Nonomura：Gifu University aims to “contribute to the community.” Besides the Governor and the president of the university, the prefecture and the university each have people called keypersons, who constructed a system in which they can approach each other. We have also established a mechanism in which the university provides consultation to administration and community and acquires compensation. The Gifu University Regional Adaptation Research Center, where Professor Harada is appointed the director, has a characteristic system in which they can conduct flexible activities including cooperation with other organizations.
Details of operations
Please tell us about the detailed operations of the Gifu Prefecture Climate Change Adaptation Center.
Mr. Harada：Our operations can be roughly classified into 6 categories, which are (1) Collection, organization, and analysis of information, (2) Joint research, (3) Human resource development, (4) Awareness raising, (5) Technical support, and (6) Others. More specifically, the prefecture organizes the information on predicted impact, etc., and the university supports the collection of study reports, etc., for preparation of the local climate change adaptation plan. In joint research, we work on evaluation of the impact of climate change on persimmon, and preparation of a map of suitable lands for cultivation which also includes possible substitute crops. Persimmon has been affected by the high temperatures in recent years, and we are examining suitable lands for cultivation, substitute items, etc. The basic data is shared by the prefectural research institutes, and the university develops the model to predict the impact, etc. In the human resource development project, we plan to develop teaching materials for elementary and junior high schools.
Mr. Muraoka：Takayama City has been conducting research on CO2 circulation in forests in cooperation with the National Institute for Environmental Studies. We are currently negotiating with the city regarding education on nature, including contribution in adaptation from this project.
Are there climate change impacts, etc. that the people of Gifu Prefecture are feeling? How are you going to promote the risks of the impacts of climate change and preparations for them while looking ahead for 20 or 30 years in the future?
Mr. Takazawa：Our prefecture conducted a questionnaire survey on prefectural administration monitors regarding the measures against global warming in July this year, and received responses from 744 people. One of the items specified was “efforts expected of the prefecture in relation to climate change.” The results showed that “measures against disasters,” “measures against heat stroke,” and “technological improvement and breed development for agriculture” ranked high.
Mr. Inami：Multiple areas in our prefecture recorded the largest amount of rainfall during the heavy rain that occurred in July this year, and sediment disasters and rise in water levels occurred in locations that had not been expected. In the joint message by the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of State for Disaster Management, an expression “adaptive restoration” was used for restoration from disasters. I assume that it requires an approach to implement flexible measures, including improvement in embankment or shore protection work that overlooks the entire basin, or control on land use, for example, instead of simple reconstruction of the original shape.
Future Prospects
Please tell us about what gives you the sense of satisfaction in working on climate change adaptation, and your future prospects.
Mr. Takazawa：: I feel the sense of satisfaction in being able to work to protect our living environment for the future. I hope to cooperate with the university to actively take in scientific findings, and work to properly implement the measures of the prefecture.
Mr. Inami：Adaptation is related to a wide range of fields. I feel the sense of satisfaction as I am able to broaden my horizons in the process of making comprehensive and cross-cutting adjustments while including not only the employees of prefectural government but also the residents, businesses, etc. Although our prefecture is one of the regions that are considering the goal of zero carbon emissions, it is not something that can be achieved quickly. I think it is necessary to come up with the appropriate adaptation measures for climate change in the future.
Mr. Harada：While my specialty is river engineering, I was able to learn much with SI-CAT. I also formed connections inside and outside the prefecture with those who I would call my fellows in the process. Considerable damages are expected in 2030 and 2040 if we implement no measures. I myself make it a point to actively participate in discussions not just within the university but also with people of the community. Although it will take time to establish the measures, I feel that changes are being made gradually over the last several years, with the Climate Change Adaptation Act taking effect. I hope to work so that I can bring even one or two good changes to the community. I also hope to reinforce our community activities to adapt to climate change while also ensuring measures against COVID-19.
Mr. Muraoka：: I work on monitoring, etc. in the ecological field with a special focus on forests. The ecosystems that are the foundations of the global environment of our living spaces and the organisms that inhabit them react sensitively to the changes in the climatic environment. To detect the changes in ecosystems and biodiversity therefore functions as a “sensor” to quickly elucidate the effects of climate change on our living environments. I consider that the data on our familiar environments and ecosystems are important basic findings for examination and evaluation of adaptation measures. I hope to contribute to the local climate change adaptation from this standpoint.
Mr. Nonomura：I conducted research on solar power generation during my doctoral course 35 years ago, and had a serious concern at the time that pathogenic bacteria would increase and affect infants if global warming continued. It has taken a long time since then for it to be actually introduced with the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s Climate Finance Impact Tool (Climate-FIT), etc. established as a mitigation measure. I worry that a similar situation may occur for adaptation in the future. I hope to collect, organize, and analyze information on climate change as a university member, and provide support so that the information will be utilized in the measures by the prefecture. We can no longer wait for the impacts of climate change. I consider it an important issue that we have to work on right now.
(Date of publication: December 10, 2020)
Related websites/articles
- Gifu Prefecture Climate Change Adaptation Center (Gifu Prefecture x Gifu University) “FY 2020 joint research project on climate change adaptation”
- Gifu University News “Press Release by Gifu Prefecture Center for Climate Change Adaptation”
- Gifu Prefecture Climate Change Adaptation Center press conference on FY 2020 joint research outcomes (YouTube)
