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Project outline

Project outline

Project title	Comprehensive Research on Projection of Climate Change Impacts and Evaluation of Adaptation
Project Leader	Nobuo Mimura (Ibaraki University)
Period	FY2020-2025

Background and objective

With the emergence of the impacts of global climate change and the need to deal with its adverse effects in Japan, the Climate Change Adaptation Act (Act No. 50 of 2018) has been in effect since 2018. In 2025, the Japanese government will conduct an extensive review of the national impact assessments and adaptation plans in the Climate Change Adaptation Act. Local governments and companies are also required to formulate and implement adaptation measures in response to the intensification of meteorological disasters, such as typhoon events. Scientific contributions to international efforts, such as the Paris Agreement, are also required. To meet these domestic and international challenges, the S-18 project aims to:”create comprehensive scientific information that supports climate change adaptation efforts in Japan”. We will conduct comprehensive research on projections of climate change impacts and evaluation of adaptation based on the latest scientific knowledge.

Overall goal

The overall goal of the S-18 project is to create new scientific information on climate change impacts and adaptation measures to support adaptation efforts under the Climate Change Adaptation Act through contributions to the impact assessment of climate change in 2025, the review of national adaptation plans, formulation of regional adaptation plans by local governments, and international efforts.

Individual goals

Creating a framework for the entire research in S-18 project and arrangement of latest climate and socioeconomic adaptation scenarios for impact projection and evaluation of adaptation.
Developing high-resolution climate change impact prediction methods that contribute to adaptation plans and measures by local governments.
Implementing a nationally unified prediction of climate change impact for six sectors (Agriculture, Forests/Forestry, Fisheries, Water Environment/ Water Resources, Natural Disasters/ Coastal Areas, Human Health, Industrial Industry/Economic Activity, and Life of Citizenry and Urban Life) using common scenarios.
Constructing an integrated database, and developing an integrated evaluation model that summarizes the results of the S-18 project to support adaptation planning of local governments.
Conducting an economic assessment of climate change and adaptation measures.
Understanding the regional characteristics of the climate change impact and extraction of vulnerable areas by sectors/items.
Creating adaptation scenarios assuming multiple adaptation options and assessment of adaptation measures.
Contributing to international efforts such as the IPCC AR7 and the Paris Agreement.
Promoting active research exchanges with other research projects and related ministries and agencies in Japan.
Incorporating diverse knowledge based on information exchange with private companies engaged in climate change adaptation operations, and the media.

Project structure

In the S-18 project, the following five themes will collaborate closely to promote research, with the aim of a unified prediction of climate change impact and adaptation evaluation:

Contribution to environmental policy

The results of the S-18 project aim to contribute to the following items:

National/regional levels

Contribute to the revision of the adaptation plan scheduled for 2025.
Contribute to local government efforts, such as understanding vulnerable areas and formulating adaptation plans.

International level

Contribute to international efforts such as the IPCC AR7 and the Paris Agreement.
Recommendations on a future direction of our society that is resilient to climate change.