National Institute for Environmental Studies

Center for Climate Change Adaptation

Climate Change
Adaptation for
the FutureOrganization and activities
Background
The Climate Change Adaptation Act (Law No. 50 of 2018) enforced in December 2018 specifies that the National Institute forEnvironmental Studies (NIES) shall be responsible to collect, organize, analyze, and provide information about the climate change
impacts and adaptation as well as offer technical advice to local governments and Local Climate Change Adaptation Centers(LCCACs) to support efforts to cope with climate change.
The Center for Climate Change Adaptation (CCCA) was established on December 1, 2018 to conduct such services and research on
climate change adaptation.

Missions of CCCA
CCCA helps formulate plans to adapt to climate change and implement adaptation measures by central and local governments.
Additionally, CCCA supports climate change adaptation efforts by major players, including business operators and individuals. These
are achieved by promoting the collection, organization, and analysis of climate change information and disseminating research resultson the impact and adaptation to climate change.

National
Government

Regions (prefectures, etc.)
Local governments

National research institutes

National Institute for Environmental Studies
Center for Climate Change Adaptation
Collect, organize, and analyze information
Research technological developments
Construct information platforms and disseminate
information on adaptation

Cooperation withresearch institutes

Universities,
research institutes, etc.

Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform

al
nic

h

Tec

Technical support

Local
Climate Change
Adaptation Centers

Cooperation with
regional research
institutes

Provide information
on adaptation

Sharing informationand outcomes
Technical support

Residents

Private sector

Citizens

Universities

t

por

sup

Local
research
institute, etc.
Local enterprises

Climate Change Adaptation Act

1. Comprehensively promote adaptation

The National Adaptation Plan aims to clarify the roles played by national and local public entities, businesses, and citizens to promote climate change adaptation.

The national government formulates a comprehensive climate change adaptation plan that promotes adaptation in diverse fields such as agriculture
and disaster prevention as well as develop methods to understand and evaluate progress.
The impact of climate change is assessed approximately every five years and the National Adaptation Plan is revised accordingly.
Effective adaptation measures are promoted based on reliable and detailed information in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, water
environment/water resources, natural ecosystems, natural disasters, health, industrial/economic activities, and the living standards of local residents.

2. Develop information platforms
The National Institute for Environmental Studies(NIES) is positioned at the core of information
platforms on adaptation and is responsible forthe following services:●Collect, organize, analyze, and provide
information on the impact and adaptation toclimate change●Provide technical advice to local governments
and Local Climate Change Adaptation Centers(LCCACs)

1 ｜ Center for Climate Change Adaptation

3. Strengthen adaptation at the local level
Prefectures and municipalities must make efforts towards formulating local climate change adaptation plans.
Systems to collect and disseminate information on adaptation are ensured at the local level(Local Climate Change Adaptation Centers).

4. International
expansion ofadaptation

Promote international
cooperation

Promote efforts and adaptation businesses, etc.

Key Activities
Development of information platforms
CCCA posts information on the climate change impacts and adaptation using the “Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform(A-PLAT)” . A-PLAT was launched as an information platform to promote efforts of local governments, businesses, etc.
In addition, to contribute to international cooperation in the area of climate change adaptation, CCCA constructs “Asia-Pacific Climate
Change Adaptation Information Platform (AP-PLAT)” as a platform to support the formulation and implementation of adaptation plans indeveloping countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

Support to local governments and LCCACs
The impact of climate change as well as the economic and social environments varies greatly by region. Therefore, regional efforts
are extremely important to implement effective adaptation measures to mitigate damage caused by climate change.
By disseminating information via A-PLAT and collaborating with research institutions on climate change, NIES provides the following
to support activities implemented by local governments and Local Climate Change Adaptation Centers (LCCACs):① Technical advice to local governments and LCCACs to formulate and promote climate change adaptation plans② Materials, information, and opinions at the request of Local Councils on climate change adaptation

Climate Change Adaptation Research Programs
To scientifically support initiatives that promote climate change adaptation made by stakeholders, CCCA implements Climate
Change Adaptation Research Programs on observations and monitoring of the climate change impact, assessment of climate change
impacts, and climate change adaptation strategies.

Outreach activities
The Center hosts symposiums, lectures, and workshops on climate change impacts and adaptation for businesses and individuals.
Additionally, the Center provides pamphlets and other materials to support initiatives related to climate change adaptation.

Greeting from the Director of CCCA
The "Center for Climate Change Adaptation (CCCA)" was established in conjunction with the enforcement of the "Climate Change Adaptation
Act" on December 1, 2018. It will celebrate its 5th anniversary in 2023.
The "Climate Change Adaptation Act" is comprised of four pillars: comprehensive promotion of adaptation, development of information
infrastructure, strengthening of adaptation at the local level, and international expansion of adaptation efforts.
Under this act, the role of the National Institute for Environmental Studies includes the collection, organization, analysis, and provision of
information on climate change impacts and adaptation, technical advice and assistance to prefectures and municipalities on the formulation andpromotion of local climate change adaptation plans, and technical advice and assistance to local climate change adaptation centers (LCCCAs).
Moreover, under a close collaboration among related research institutions, with the CCCA as the core, comprehensive efforts are made topromote technical assistance for adaptation by the national and local government, businesses, and the general public, as well as to advanceresearch on climate change adaptation.

Dr. Yasuaki HIJIOKA
Director

In the 5th the Mid-and-Long Term Plan, the " Office for Climate Change Adaptation Promotion " is collaborating with four other researchlaboratories to provide technical assistance, dispatch lecturers, strengthen and enhance the Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform(A-PLAT), engage in exchanges of opinions and hold training sessions with local governments and LCCACs, businesses, and others.
Additionally, the "Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Research Section," established in April 2021, is working to build partnerships with
relevant institutions in the Asia-Pacific region and expand and operate the Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform(AP-PLAT).
Regarding climate change adaptation research, the " Climate Change Impacts Monitoring Research Section" aims to detect climate change
impacts from the past to the present and elucidate their mechanisms. The " Climate Change Impacts Assessment Research Section" focuses on
advancing evaluation methodologies for climate change impacts in multiple fields and spatial scales. The " Climate Change Adaptation Strategy
Research Section" scientifically supports the development and strengthening of adaptation strategies considering social dynamics and regional
characteristics. These three sections serve as the core for strategic research programs such as the "Climate Change Adaptation Research
Program" and engage in collaborative research with LCCACs focusing on climate change adaptation, as well as intellectual research
infrastructure development projects.
Climate change adaptation is a preparation for an uncertain future. Implementing climate change adaptation in society is not easy. However,with a mission to achieve a sustainable future that overcomes climate risks, we are committed to moving forward without pause, exploring thepath of adaptation with passion.
Center for Climate Change Adaptation ｜ 2

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A-PLAT provides information on climate change and scientific knowledge based on monitoring the impact of climate change,
assessments of future impact, and adaptation strategies for a broad audience in an easy-to-use manner.
For example, A-PLAT provides data on future predictions in various fields such as meteorological information, the agricultural andhuman health sectors, databases on adaptation measures, interviews with local governments, and information related to scientificfindings about climate change impacts and adaptation. We plan to expand the A-PLAT to include information about adaptation
businesses and awareness-raising tools so that it not only supports activities for climate change adaptation initiated by local
governments and LCCACs, but also contributes to the initiatives of various stakeholders such as businesses and individuals.

Key Contents of A-PL AT
Japanese adaptation-platform.nies.go.jp
English adaptation-platform.nies.go.jp/en

A-PLAT Website
EnglishA-PLAT Website
Japanese

Other contents
References/statistics
Activity reports
National government

What is climate change

initiatives

adaptation?

Adaptation measure database
Adaptation businesses
Climate risk management
etc.

Local government
initiatives

Adaptation bybusinesses

Adaptation byindividuals

National and prefectu ral information (WebGIS)
We provide information on climate predictions (mean annual temperature, extremely hot days above 30 ° C, and the frequency ofhourly precipitation over 50 mm, etc.), agriculture (rice yields, etc.), water environments (chlorophyll-a concentration), natural
ecosystems (potential beech habitats, etc.), natural disasters (sandy beach erosion rates, etc.), and human health (number ofheatstroke patients transported to hospitals, etc.). The predicted impact of climate change on each sector at the prefectural level isdenoted by different colors on a map.

●“Annual precipitation” at the end of the 21st century, a comparison between RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 (S-8 data)

3｜ Center for Climate Change Adaptation●“Rice (quality-oriented)” at the end of the 21st century, a comparison between RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 (S-8 data)Adaptation measures database
We introduce examples of adaptation measures to combat the impact of climate change implemented by local governments, researchorganizations, businesses, etc. in each field and region in Japan and the world.

● The Adaptation Measures Database

Meteorological observation data
Meteorological observation data is graphed in cooperation with the Meteorological Agency of Japan to reveal long-term trends ofweather changes at the prefectural level (temperature, precipitation, hot days, extremely hot days above 35 °C, etc.).

●Observation data in the local government’ s page / Data provided by the Japan Meteorological Agency

Interviews on the topic of climate change adaptation
We post articles about the challenges encountered by local governments when formulating regional adaptation plans, theirinnovations to these challenges, and examples of characteristic adaptation measures implemented at the regional level.

●From left: Adaptation Plan Vol. 1, Tokushima Prefecture; Adaptation Measures Vol. 11, Yokohama City; andVol. 9, Saitama Prefecture

Awareness-raising tools
We provide awareness-raising tools such as pamphlets explaining “adaptation” to the impact of climate change that can be utilized
for awareness-raising activities initiated by local governments and other parties as well as for locally organized environmental events.

●Pamphlet example (PDF version can be downloaded from A-PLAT)

Center for Climate Change Adaptation ｜4

Climate Change Adaptation research programs
To provide scientific support of our mission, we engage in research and technological development of observations and monitoring of
the impact of climate change, improve methods to assess the impact of climate change, and promote climate change adaptation
strategies. Outcomes of the climate change adaptation research program contribute to policy decisions by governments such as reportson the comprehensive assessment of climate change impacts, changes to the National Adaptation Plan, and initiatives by other key
players, including local governments for climate change adaptation by publicizing the outcomes via A-PLAT and AP-PLAT.
These research programs address the following three issues:① Research to construct climate change observation/monitoring systems, establish theories (mechanisms) and methods to analyze
the relationship between long-term climate change trends and the resultant impacts, and identify the causes.
② Improve assessment methods of the impact of climate change in multiple areas, evaluate the impact of climate change utilizing thelatest climate change and socio-economic scenarios, and construct systems to provide global and national climate change scenarios.
③ Organize knowledge regarding adaptation options and the impact of climate change in multiple sectors/fields, identify gaps andinhibitory factors that exist between adaptation plans and scientific knowledge, implement adaptation measures, and consider
methods to formulate effective adaptation strategies.

Research programs on climate change adaptation

PJ 1

Research project for the observation,
monitoring and detection of climatechange and resultant impacts
Collect and develop medium andlong-term observational data on natural
ecosystems and air pollution
Research to clarify the mechanisms
behind the impact of global warming
Develop and implement monitoring
methods

PJ 2

Research project on improving
methods for predicting theimpacts of climate change
Develop climate scenarios
Assess the impact of climate change invarious fields (water resources, terrestrial
ecosystems, crop productivity, humanhealth, etc.) at different levels (frommunicipalities to the global level)

Related organizations in and outside Japan

PJ 3

Research project on adaptation
strategies in consideration ofsocial changes
Develop information platforms that
support the understanding of the social
impact of climate change and evaluate
adaptation measures
Research on concepts and applicationsof evaluation methods
Construct socio-economic scenarios

Related research projects in and outside Japan

Promote climate change adaptation
Scientific contributions on assessments of
the impact of climate change by the IPCC andnational government

Provide technical advice tolocal governments and LCCACs

Disseminate scientific findings to thegeneral public and developing countries via
A-PLAT and AP-PLAT

PJ 1 Research project for the observation, monitoring and detection of climate change and resultant impacts
We collect and organize long-term monitoring data in relation to natural ecosystems (terrestrial ecosystems, coastal-area/
enclosed-sea ecosystems, marine ecosystems, coastal ecosystems, and lake/watershed ecosystems), air pollution (ozone,
particle matter (PM), etc.), and associated meteorological factors (e.g. air temperature, precipitation, wind velocity, humidity, etc.)
to analyze the relationship between medium and long-term trends of climate change and its impacts.
We also strive to clarify the mechanisms behind the impact of climate change and develop effective monitoring methods toobserve the impact of climate change.
The results of these activities are publicized on A-PLAT and AP-PLAT to disseminate to a broad public audience and promote
the understanding of the impact of climate change.
5｜ Center for Climate Change Adaptationacts

PJ 2 Research project on improving methods for predicting the impacts of climate change
We assess the impact of climate change in diverse fields (e.g. water resources, terrestrial ecosystems, crop yields, and humanhealth) and at a variety of levels (from the global level to municipalities). We refer to the data and mechanisms behind the impact
of climate change from PJ1 and work to establish advanced means to assess the impact of climate change in considering of theresulting socio-economic changes and a range of climatic factors, including temperature changes, changes in the amount of
rainfall, sea-level rises, and ocean acidification.
Through these activities, we hope to contribute to adaptation methods such as improving the assessment of climate change
impacts, identifying priority areas, enhancing the understanding of climate change risks among society by publicizing establishedclimate scenarios, and disseminating impact assessment results via A-PLAT and AP-PLAT.

PJ3 Research project on adaptation strategies in consideration of social changes
This project investigates methods to accumulate and communicate scientific information related to adaptation, inhibitory factors
on the perception of climate change risks, and implementation of adaptation measures. In addition, we collect and consolidate
socio-economic scenarios currently under development. These are used to assess the impact of climate change andadaptation/mitigation measures by Japan and local governments.
We develop systems to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of adaptation measures that combine statistical analyticalmethods, including areal statistics based on statistical data, measured activity volume, and environmental data. We are alsobuilding a framework to assess the impact of climate change and adaptation measures based on Quality of Life (QOL) indices inconsideration of the knock-on effect to local communities and the economy as well as conduct analysis using such systems andframework. Moreover, we clarify the effect that the impact of climate change occurring outside Japan will have on the production
and consumption activities in Japan through international input-output analysis and applied general equilibrium model analysis, etc.
Through these activities, we hope to formulate effective adaptation strategies, promote the development of adaptation plans andimplementation of adaptation measures by local governments, and communicate with stakeholders by publicizing obtained scientificknowledge and innovative systems on A-PLAT and AP-PLAT.

Framework of the Center for Climate Change Adaptation

Office for Climate Change
Adaptation Coordination
Coordination of adaptation promotion measures
along with cooperation with local governments andLocal Centers for Climate Change Adaptation

Climate Change Impacts
Observation and Monitoring
Research Section

PJ 1
Research project for the observation, monitoring anddetection of climate change and resultant impacts

Climate Change Impacts
Assessment Research Section

Climate Change Adaptation
Strategy Research Section

PJ 2

PJ3

Research project on improving methods forpredicting the impacts of climate change

Research project on adaptation strategies inconsideration of social changes

Center for Climate Change Adaptation ｜6

AP-PLAT
Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform
In June 2019, we launched the AP-PLAT as an information platform to support the formulation of adaptation plans and adaptation
measures in developing countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region based on scientific findings. We post outcomes of the bilateralprojects implemented by Ministry of the Environment and other programs and information required to promote adaptation measures in
Asia and the Pacific.
We also provide support to launch an original platform that collects climate risk information provided by countries in the Asia-Pacificregion in collaboration with international efforts to share climate risk information.

Three Key Activities under AP-PLAT
1. Develop datasets on the projection of climate change impacts in the region
through bilateral cooperation & targeted studies
2. Develop supporting toolkits for officials and stakeholders engaged in
adaptation planning
3. Build capacity on the climate change impact assessments & adaptation planning

Key Contents of AP-PLAT
Climate Impact Viewer

Research application to support adaptation planningin the Asia-Pacific region.

Good practices, experiences andlessons learned frombilateral cooperation

Coastal hazard maps of Suva, Fijiusing satellite-based bathymetry,
digital elevation model andwave-surge-current model

Flood extent of different
land-use scenarios under
event-based precipitation in
Silang-Sta. Rosa
sub-watershed, Philippines

Integrating useful resources from our partners - Examples of collaboration with ADB1. Information developed under ADB's
technical assistance project"Regional Climate Projections
Consortium and Data Facility in
Asia and the Pacific"

Regional Climate Consortium for Asia and thePacific

Guidance for Climate Information
Development

Case Studies

2. Climate risk and vulnerability
assessments conducted within thecontext of ADB investment projects

CONTACT
Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies
Address 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba-City, Ibaraki, 305-8506 JapanPhone

029-850-2475

E-maila-plat@nies.go.jp

Websiteccca.nies.go.jp

CCCA
Website2023.6.30

AP-PLAT
Website