National Institute forEnvironmental Studies, Japan

Driving environmental research in Japan and overseas, working with society tomaximize the impacts of the R&D outcomes, and contributing to environmental policy
The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) is the only national institute in Japan conducting abroad range of interdisciplinary, integrated environmental research. Since its establishment in 1974, NIES has
played the pivotal role in solving various environmental problems.
For our Fourth Medium-and-Long-Term Plan, which covers the five years from April 2016, we have been
applying four keywords to our activities: bundle a wide range of research across all fields of environmental
science; integrate to pursue comprehensive research connecting basic science to social implementation;
network to expand and enrich domestic and overseas research networks; and drive high-level research thathelps us to understand and solve various environmental issues. More specifically, we established five IssueOriented Research Programs for the current Term and are pursuing integrated research that transcends
individual disciplines. Also, in 2016 we started our Fukushima Branch to run the Disaster Environment Research
Program, and in 2017, our Lake Biwa Branch Office to research protection of the aquatic environment. In
December 2018, we started the Center for Climate Change Adaptation to research and promote adaptation
to climate change. Furthermore, we maintain and develop infrastructure for broad range of environmental
research activities through basic research on environmental protection, environmental data collection andanalysis, and preservation and provision of environmental samples. We play a central role in research networks
too, for example GOSAT satellite observations and the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (a large-scale
environmental epidemiology survey). Also important among our tasks is actively disseminating environmental
information in easy-to-understand formats, including the outcomes of our research efforts and projects.
Bearing the four keywords in mind, we are committed to pursuing environmental research, maximizing
the outcomes of environmental research and development throughout Japan, serving as a bridge between the
research community and society at large, and helping to advance national and global environmental policy. We
appreciate your generous support and understanding.

WATANABE, Chiho
President

NIES Charter
The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES)
strives to contribute to society through researchthat fosters and protects a healthy environment
for present and future generations.
Proud to work at NIES andkeenly aware of our individual responsibilities,
we will pursue high level researchbased on a firm understanding of the interaction
between nature, society and life on our planet.

NIES Timeline
July 1971
November 1971

Establishment of the Environment Agency
Establishment of the National Institute for Environmental Studies(NIES) Founding Committee

March 1974

Establishment of NIES

April 1985

Visit of Emperor Showa to NIES

July 1990

Restructuring of NIES to include global environmental research

October 1990

Establishment of the Center for Global Environmental Research

January 2001

Environment Agency becomes Ministry of the Environment.
Establishment of Waste Management Division at NIES

April 2001

Establishment of NIES as an Incorporated Administrative Agency.
First five-year plan (2001-2005) commences

April 2006

Second five-year plan (2006-2010) commences

August 2010

Ceremony to mark the inauguration of NIES as an Incorporated
Administrative Agency

Visit of the Japanese Emperor and Empress to NIES

April 2011

Third five-year plan (2011-2015) commences

March 2013

Amendment of the third five-year plan (2011-2015)

April 2015

National Institute for Environmental Studies relaunched as a
National Research and Development Agency

April 2016

Fourth five-year plan (2016-2020) commences
Fukushima Branch established

April 2017

Lake Biwa Branch Office established

December 2018

The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) at thetime of establishment

Amendment of the Fourth five-year plan (2016-2020)
Center for Climate Change Adaptation established

Fukushima Branch staff

1

Research Structure of the National Institute for Environmental Studies
Issue-Oriented Research Programs

Building Environmental Research Infrastructure

1 Low-Carbon Research Program

1 Strategic monitoring of the global environment, global environment
database development, and support for global environmental research
2 Establishment of informational research fundamentals about resource
circulation and waste management
3 Development of the environmental certified reference materials, andestablishment of reference laboratory for environmental measurement
4 Long-term storage of environmental specimens (specimen banking)
5 Collection, preservation and distribution of strains of microalgae
and endangered algae
6 Preservation of the genetic resources of rare wild animals
7 Development of biodiversity and ecosystem information infrastructure
8 Long-term monitoring of regional environmental change anddevelopment of joint observation site infrastructure
9 Long-term monitoring of inland waters, and provision of data todomestic and international monitoring networks

2 Sustainable Material Cycles Research Program
3 Harmonization with Nature Research Program
4 Health and Environmental Safety Research Program
5 Environment-Economy-Society Integration Research Program

Environmental Emergency Research Programs
1 Environmental Recovery Research Program
2 Environmental Renovation Research Program
3 Environmental Emergency Management Research Program

Research Projects

Environmental Research Fields

1 Satellite Observation Center
2 Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office

1 Global Environmental Research Field

3 Risk Assessment Science Collaboration Office

2 Material Cycles and Waste Management Research Field

4 Environmental Emergency Management Office

3 Environmental Risk Research Field

5 Social Dialogue and Co-production Office

4 Regional Environment Research Field
5 Environmental Biology and Ecosystems Research Field
6 Environmental Health Research Field

Climate Change Adaptation Services

7 Social and Environmental Systems Research Field

1 Center for Climate Change Adaptation

8 Environmental Measurement and Analysis Research Field
9 Environmental Emergency Research Field

Overview of NIES Initiatives
Environmental Emergency
Research Programs

Issue-Oriented Research Programs

Low-Carbon

Sustainable
Material Cycles

Harmonization
with Nature

Health andEnvironmentEnvironmental Economy-Society
SafetyIntegration

Environmental
RecoveryEnvironmental
Renovation

Environmental
Emergency
Management

Research Projects
Satellite Observation

Japan Environment
and Children’s Study

Environmental
Emergency Management

Social Dialogue

Risk Assessment

Collaboration with Domestic and Overseas Institutions and Concerned Stakeholders through Platform Development

Building Environmental Research Infrastructure
Global Environmental
monitoring

Regional Environmental
Change Monitoring

Preservation and Provision
of Environmental Specimen
and Genetic Resources

Developing Reference
Laboratory Functions

Obtaining andBuilding Databases
for Environmental Data

etc...

Basic Studies
GlobalEnvironmental
Research Field

Environmental
Social andEnvironmental
Material Cycles
Environmental
Regional
Biology and Environmental Environmental Measurement Environmental
and Waste
Risk
Environment
HealthEmergency
Ecosystems
Systemsand Analysis
Management
Research Field Research Field Research Field Research Field Research Field Research Field Research Field Research Field

Climate Change Adaptation Services

Collection, Processing, and Dissemination of Environmental Information2

Issue-Oriented Research Programs
In its Promotion Strategy for Environmental Research and Environmental Technology Development (August, 2015), the Central
Environment Council set forth research and technology development priorities for the next five years in the fields of low carbon,
material cycles, harmonization with nature, safety, and integrated research to help create a more ideal society over the medium tolong term.
NIES established five issue-oriented programs corresponding to these priority fields, and is conducting research accordingly.
The five programs are Low-Carbon Research Program to contribute to measures for creating a low-carbon society and mitigating/
adapting to global warming; Sustainable Material Cycles Research Program to contribute to sustainable material cycle policy
formulation and environmental innovation at both local and national levels; Harmonization with Nature Research Program to help
achieve the 2050 goal of building a society that lives in harmony with nature; Health and Environmental Safety Research Program
to help build a safe society by contributing to the achievement of WSSD 2020 targets, atmospheric pollution control measures anda sound water cycle; Environment-Economy-Society Integration Research Program to help build sustainable society at all levels fromlocal, rural and urban communities up to global society. NIES is conducting research in all five programs to develop feasible andeffective solutions to the environmental issues facing society.
NIES is seeking to maximize the outcomes of this research and development through promoting partnership and collaboration
between participants from previously independent research fields, and through developing links with relevant domestic andoverseas institutions, researchers and other stakeholders.

1 Low-Carbon Research Program

Low-Carbon Research Program

With the idea of building the scientific foundation that society will use
to tackle the goal of keeping the global mean surface temperature
increase below 2°C relative to pre-industrial levels, this program willconduct observations mainly in the Asia-Pacific region to assess thebalances of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, and will
implement assessments of impact and control measures. To accomplish
that, the program will use surface, oceanic and aerial observations
along with satellite observations to develop a highly reliable threedimensional global-scale greenhouse gas monitoring system.
Furthermore, climate change projection models, impact assessment
models, and integrated socioeconomic assessment models will be
combined and used to discuss the need for and feasibility of building
a sustainable, low-carbon society following the path indicated by thiscomprehensive research program.

A global-scale approach aimed at achieving a low-carbon and climate-resilient society

Project 1
Observation
Research

Project 3
Policy assessment research

2. Flux
Evaluation

1. 3D observations
GOSAT

Verifying response
measure effectiveness

Carbon cycle

Project 2
Risk research
Determining andunderstanding emissions
and cycles of carbon
and other substances

1. Assessment by
quantitativemodel

3. Assessing change
and response
measures

Modeling

2. International
institution
designLow-carbon
and climateresilient
societies onnational andsub-national
scalesIntegrated scenarios

2. Integrated
terrestrial
modeling

Path to a low-carbon
society

3. Human andsocial aspects

1. Projecting andunderstanding
the climate

Integrated
research
program

Integration
with otherpolicyobjectives

The need for a low-carbon society

Policy-makers, research community
International organizations (IPCC etc.), other stakeholders, citizens

3

Sustainable Material Cycles Research Program (FY2016-2020)
Research on sustainable resource use and the creationof sustainable material cycle-based societies

Social systems

To help materialize the future vision for an international resource use
strategy, this program will elucidate supply chain structures and thefactors that shape those supply chains. Measures toward sustainable
material cycle-based society shall be proposed based on the assessmentof the effects of resource and environmental conservation throughout
the life cycles of products and services.
The program will also develop and evaluate measures for theadvancement of sustainable, integrated waste management systems inJapan and in Asian region.
Fundamental technologies and social system needed for waste
prevention/minimization, reuse, and recycling in harmony with a lowcarbon footprint society and other initiatives shall be also proposed.

Focus on upstream

Focus on downstream,

PJ1: Designing a sustainability
strategy for global
resource networks fromthe consumption-based perspective

PJ2: Assessment of resource
eﬃciency and environmental
impact in the cycles of recyclable
materials and accompanying substances

Sharing evaluation package and data
within program
PJ3: Proposal of transition paths andadaptation measures for a circularsociety

Technological

2 Sustainable Material Cycles Research Program

Focus on Asia
PJ4: Advancement of sustainable andintegrated waste management system
in Asia

Focus on advanced
domestic technology
PJ5: Development of next generation
technologies for“3R”

3 Harmonization with Nature Research Program
Assessing impacts of threats to biodiversity,
determining mechanisms,
establishing conservation measures
Project 1

Project 2

Project 3

Overexploitation,
development, cropland
abandonment

Invasive alien
species,
pollution

Large-scale
environmental
changeDeployment/
assistance

Project 4

Development and implementation of
biodiversity conservation and support system

Project 5

Implementation

Assessing ecosystem functions and services
to achieve sustainable use of ecosystems

4 Health and Environmental Safety Research ProgramThis program will conduct systematic research on methods ofassessing and managing health- and environment-related risks such astransgenerational effects and risks to higher-order biological functions,
new systems for assessing ecological impacts, more comprehensive
analyses and improved understanding of environmental dynamics ofchemicals, research on PM2.5 and other air pollutants, and on regional
water environment conservation. This research will be accomplishedby means of eight research projects: health impacts of chemicals onchildren and future generations; comprehensive analyses of multiple
and unknown chemicals; ecological risk assessment based on ecologicalmodels; comprehensive assessment of ecological impacts; multi-scalechemical dynamics; the state and impacts of PM2.5 and other air
pollutants; development of methods for improvement and assessmentof regional water quality; and building a comprehensive system toassess and manage risks. By these means the program will establish
systems to assess health and environmental risks, for which there iscurrently no established approach, monitoring and prediction systems,
or comprehensive and effective management framework.

5 Environment-Economy-Society Integration Research Program
Taking the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change as its departure point,
this program develops multilayer models that quantitatively analyze the solutions
to both issues on socio-economic activities and environmental problems including
those of sustainable material cycles, harmonization with nature, and healthand environmental safety, on a variety of scales including global, Asia, Japan,
municipality/local, and livelihood. Its aim is to table proposals for both longterm vision formulation and short-term initiatives based on qualitative descriptive
scenarios and quantitative scenarios derived from results assessed by models. The
following three projects (PJs) are being pursued under this program: PJ1 for making
analysis from a global or Asian perspective; PJ2 for presenting roadmaps for Japan
from a regional community perspective; and PJ3 for assessing sustainability fromthe perspective of policy evaluation. In cooperation with the other programs, thisprogram conducts quantitative and qualitative analyses pertaining to the future
vision for each scale from the perspectives of environmental, economic, andsocietal sustainability, and also designs and evaluates international and local/urban
policies needed to realize the intended future vision. Additionally, the program
will build systems to assist the implementation and realization of proposed
policies, response measures, and technologies.
4

Implementation

Transition to society that sustainably benefits from ecosystems

Developing basic information on biodiversity

This program will shed light on the mechanisms by which the four major
factors (overexploitation/development, cropland abandonment, invasive
alien species/pollution, and climate change) affect biodiversity. It will
also assess and project their impacts as well as develop biodiversity
conservation measures and adaptation strategies. Additionally, theprogram will assess the ecosystem functions and services generated bybiodiversity, and propose strategies, such as watershed management inharmony with nature, for sustainably benefiting from ecosystems.
The program will moreover contribute to the formulation andimplementation of management and conservation strategies, consensus
building, quarantine policies and related legislation, and to achieving
the 2050 target of building of a society in harmony with nature
through implementing actions for achieving the 2020 Aichi Target ofhalting the loss of biodiversity.

Health and Environmental Safety Research Program
Systematic development of risk sciences to achieve the goal of safe and secure society

Research project
on comprehensive
environmental
monitoring methods
and networks

Center forJapan Environment
Environmental Biology
and Children'sand Ecosystem Studies
Study Programme Office

Epidemiological study
Exposure research

Research projecton the healtheffects of chemicals
in children andfuture generations

Center for Regional
Environmental
ResearchResearch projecton ecologicalmodel-basedrisk assessmentand management

Research project
on comprehensive
assessment
system forecological impactsof chemicals

Research project on risk
assessment and management
framework

Research project
on atmosphericprocesses, toxicity,and healtheffects of air
pollutants
including PM2.5

Research project
to develop
technologies
and assessment
methods
for water quality
conservation

Center for
Environmental
Measurement
and Analysis

Research projecton multi-scale
dynamics ofchemicals• Facilitate task achievementof Promotion Strategy for
Environ. Res. and Environ.
Tech. Develop.
• Facilitate achievement ofa safe and secure society
Risk Assessment Science
Collaboration Office• Ecotoxicity Reference Laboratory• Environmental Risk Assessment
Task Office
Center for Socialand Environmental
Systems ResearchCenter for Material
Cycles and Waste
Management Research

Environmental Emergency Research Programs
NIES has undertaken environmental emergency research from immediately
after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima nuclear disaster,
providing scientific knowledge and disseminating information to aid policy
formulation and contribute to environmental recovery and environmental
renovation in the devastated areas. Based on the accumulated researchoutcomes, NIES continues to conduct environmental emergency research at its
Fukushima Branch, which was established in 2016 in the Fukushima Prefectural
Centre for Environmental Creation in the town of Miharu in Fukushima
Prefecture, in collaboration with NIES Tsukuba Headquarters.
More specifically, this research is divided into three programs—theEnvironmental Recovery Research Program, Environmental Renovation
Research Program, and Environmental Emergency Management Research
Program—that are being conducted in collaboration with Fukushima
Prefecture, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, other related institutions in Japanand abroad, stakeholders, and other entities. In addition to contributing toenvironmental recovery in the devastated areas, these programs point the way
to environmental renovation within reconstruction processes and reconstruction
community development, and contribute to creating a disaster-resilient society
better equipped to face future disasters from the environmental perspective,
based on the lessons learned from previous major disasters.

1 Environmental Recovery Research ProgramThis program is conducting research and development for volume reduction and othertechnologies for the purpose of intermediate storage and final disposal of radioactively
contaminated off-site waste, which is an urgent task of the highest priority for thenation. It will also carry out research and development for technological solutions
to problems related to the treatment and disposal of designated wastes and othercontaminated wastes. Additionally, the program will conduct studies and researchfrom a long-term perspective on the environmental fate of radioactive substances
remaining in forests, bodies of water, and other environments. Further, it will
perform long-term environmental impact assessments in places where residents havereturned, develop living environment risk-management methods to secure a livelihood
platform where people can live safely and free of concern, and implement ecosystemassessments that include ecosystem services.

2 Environmental Renovation Research ProgramThis program will carry out research to support community reconstruction and development mainly
in Fukushima Prefecture and its municipalities. For this purpose, the program will build an integratedsocial monitoring system that quantifies the effectiveness of reconstruction in terms of livelihoods
and the environment, and it will propose systematic measures aimed at achieving sustainablecommunities. Through means including support for the design of locally-optimized distributed energy
systems in central districts, the program will carry out research that supports community development
and matches it well with the overall regional reconstruction plan. The program will also develop an
integrated assessment model for considering future visions and concrete policies for municipalities,
and methods for building future scenarios in which industrial development, community development,
environmental conservation, and other efforts are harmonized with one another. Further, theprogram will develop methods for communication among stakeholders for restored communities,
which incorporate diverse local needs including livelihoods and a sound environment.

3 Environmental Emergency Management Research Program
To contribute to the development of a strategy to improve disaster resilienceof material cycle and waste management system, this program will devise
technologies and systems for integrated disaster waste management aimed atachieving smooth and appropriate management of disaster wastes. Additionally,
with the aim of creating a strategy to manage the environmental and health risks
associated with disasters, the program will investigate approaches for setting risk
management targets when disasters strike and the methods and organizationalarrangements for emergency environmental surveys. Further, for the purposeof building a research hub for the environmental emergency research network,
the program will design and develop an information platform and capacity
development system for the environmental emergency. This research will be
pursued in collaboration with the Environmental Emergency Management Office.
5

Environmental Emergency Research Programs

1

Environmental recovery researchRadioactively contaminatedwaste management system

Environmental
recovery from Great East
Japan Earthquake, andenvironmental creation

Assessments of environmental
fate and impacts ofradioactive substances

Responses preparedfor future disasters
PrepareCreate2

3

Environmental
renovation research

Environmental emergency
management research

Environmental recovery
and revival in disaster areas

Renovation of environmental
security systems
for disaster mitigation

Research Projects
1 Satellite Observation Center
The Center contributes to improved
scientific understanding of the carbon
cycle, more accurate prediction of the
future climate, and climate-changerelated policy making by the Ministry of
the Environment (MOE) through activities
that use data from the Greenhouse
Gases Observing Satellite (Ibuki/GOSAT,
launched in 2009) and the satellite thatsucceeds it (GOSAT-2, launched in 2018).
Activities include developing and operating data-processing systems for GOSAT and GOSAT-2. These systems are being used to calculate the concentrations
and fluxes of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and to verify, archive, or distribute GOSAT or GOSAT-2 products. The Center will also conduct a scientific review of
the Earth observation satellites to succeed GOSAT-2, including GOSAT-3. GOSAT and GOSAT-2 projects are jointly promoted by MOE, the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA), and NIES.

2 Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office
The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) is a large-scale birth cohort study aiming
to investigate the impact of chemicals on children’s health and development. The National
Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) serves as the JECS Programme Office in co-operation
with the 15 Regional Centers and the Medical Support Center (National Center for Child
Health and Development). Recruitment of participants began in 2011, and was completed in
March 2014 resulting in registering over 100,000 mother-child pairs. Children will be followed
until they reach 13 year of age (Main Study). Questionnaires have been administered every
6 months to collect the information about children’s health. Biological samples have beencollected from mothers during pregnancy and at birth, children, and fathers for clinical tests
and exposure analysis. The Sub-cohort Study consists of 5,000 randomly selected children
from the Main Study. In the Sub-cohort Study, performed are environmental monitoring byhome visits and psychoneurological development and medical examinations. The Programme
Office collaborates with domestic and international research institutions for better conduct of
the study and harmonization of study protocols and data. The findings of JECS will be sharedwith the Ministry of the Environment to aid in policymaking.

3 Risk Assessment Science Collaboration Office

The Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Hokkaido Regional Center

Koushin Regional Center
Toyama Regional Center
Miyagi Regional Center

Kyoto Regional Center
Fukuoka Regional Center

Fukushima Regional Center

Tottori Regional
Center

Programme Office
Chiba Regional Center
Kanagawa Regional Center
Medical Support Center
Aichi Regional Center

Osaka Regional Center
Hyogo Regional Center
Kochi Regional Center
South Kyushu Okinawa Regional Center

Ecotoxicity Reference Laboratory

Environmental Risk Assessment Task OfficeCore institution for ecotoxicity testing
standardization

Tasked with providing domestic leadership for regulatory science initiatives aimed at realizing
safe and secure society, the Risk Assessment Science Collaboration Office coordinates andpromotes research and other projects on environmental risks through its two sections.
The Ecotoxicity Reference Laboratory conducts ecological toxicity research; cooperates
internationally to develop or standardize new testing methods to ISO or OECD; oversees thestable supply of experimental animals; holds seminars and other events to inform and educate
relevant parties about testing methods; and otherwise supports the building of ecotoxicity
testing infrastructure and regulatory policymaking. The Environmental Risk Assessment
Task Office contributes to administrative policy by conducting researches on testing andrisk assessment methods, and assesses environmental risks scientifically by working withgovernment agencies and relevant organizations to support risk assessment. Our Task Officealso contributes to step-wise risk assessment and setting of risk assessment guidelines andregulation or target values based on the Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances
and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc and other relevant laws, as well as collecting andreleasing information on environmental risks to enhance fundamental knowledge for public
policy.

Basic
research

Standardizing aquatic
ecotoxicity testing
Developing
aquatic ecotoxicity tests

Core institution for supporting government
assessment

Research
program

Scientific risk assessment
Accumulation ofenvironmental
information

Standardizing Cooperation
analytical methods(GC/MS,
LC/MS/MS, etc.)
Publiceducation

Standardizing
and supplying the organisms
for ecotoxicity testingStandardizing
biostatistical methods

Step-wise risk
assessment

Review of risk
assessment procedures

SupportRefining and standardizing
ecotoxicity data

Promoting regulatory science

Regulations

Construction and releaseof chemical databases

Informationfrom MOE

Original results
Web release

Contribution to environmental
policies through risk assessments anddevelopment of assessment procedures

Environmental
risk assessmentof chemicals

Sharing information with the government,
researchers and the public

Daphnia magna

4 Environmental Emergency Management OfficeThrough research collaboration with organizations in Japan and other countries, this office
implements projects aimed to support effective and efficient environmental emergency
management by respondents. This includes building and operating institutional andinformation network systems that serve as a foundation for developing environmental
emergency management strategies, training personnel to develop practical expertise inenvironmental emergency management, providing on-site support for disaster responses,
setting up international research hubs for environmental emergency management, andtraining researchers.
More specifically, this office is establishing a new platform for enabling domestic and overseas
institutions to cooperate in collecting and organizing experiences and lessons gained fromtackling environmental issues caused by past disasters, and in efficiently and effectively
organizing new knowledge derived from environmental emergency management research. It
will focus in particular on the smooth management and operation of the central government’s
Disaster Waste Treatment Support Network (D.Waste-Net), and on building emergency
environment monitoring systems centered on regional environmental research institutions.

6

Improving response capability(3) Implementation
training based onincident action plan

Evaluation, Substantiation,and Learning (experiences
and lessons from past disasters)c(2) Developing incident
action plan based on
action plan
Table-top exercises,
Command post exercise
Full scale exercise

D

A+ Preparedness, Policies,
Action, and Facilities improvement(1) Action planning andupdating and Disaster andDamage estimates

P

c

D

Exercise
Action plan fordisaster waste

Do(4) Review, improvement,
and revising ofaction plan

Incident action plan fordisaster waste

A

Check

P
D

c

P

A
Plan

Learn

ActionResearch Projects
5 Social Dialogue and Co-production Office
The office encourages dialogue between society and NIES about awareness ofenvironmental problems and the current state of environmental research.
We will plan and hold events such as stakeholder meetings and science cafés, and provide
feedback from society to research activities. We also use social media to interact withmany more members of the public on the Internet. By supplying timely information in
response to social topics via social media, we can encourage a greater diversity of people
to get interested in NIES’s activities. Further, we will compile and analyze staff members’communication experience at NIES to create guidelines for good social dialogue.
By means of these efforts, the office will endeavor to build a relationship of mutual trust
between society members and environmental researchers.

Building Environmental Research Infrastructure
1 Strategic monitoring of the global environment, development of a global environment database and support for global environmental research
NIES investigates the circulation of GHGs in relation to climate change by using aircraft,ships, terrestrial monitoring stations, forest observation sites and other facilities to
conduct long-term broad monitoring of the Asia-Pacific region and Siberia. To identify the
impacts of global warming on natural ecosystems, NIES also conducts strategic, cuttingedge long-term climate change monitoring, including sustained monitoring of alpine
vegetation and the northward movement of coral. NIES provides collected observational
and inventory data along with information on global environmental issues and theoutcomes of its research to the general public in an easily understandable form, andpromotes open access to scientific information by maintaining a global environmental
research database that includes tools for processing and analyzing data.
NIES also supports global environmental research based on domestic and international
cooperation by serving as a regional office for the Global Carbon Project (GCP) and landbased Asian monitoring networks, and hosts the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Office ofJapan (GIO) that is responsible for compiling the national inventory of GHG absorption
and emission in accord with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC). In addition, it supports global environmental research by providing
access to its supercomputers.

2 Establishment of informational research fundamentals about resource circulation and waste management
NIES has established a material cycle and waste management information and research
infrastructure to promote research and decide policies and initiatives for ensuring the
responsible use of resources and appropriate treatment of waste. It organizes the datarequired for these purposes in the four major categories of material flow data, facility
data, Asia and international data, and data on the physical properties and compositionof recycled materials and waste. NIES will continue to develop and share this information
and research infrastructure as befits an age of open science, also cooperating withresearch projects that collect physical properties/composition data and encouraging theaccumulation of data.

1) Material flow data

2) Facility data

3) Asia waste data4) Physical properties
and composition data7

Building Environmental Research Infrastructure
3 Development of the environmental certified reference materials, and establishment of reference laboratory for environmental measurement
To help control the quality of measurements of chemicals in the environment, NIES
prepares and supplies environmental and joint analytical reference materials that meetinternational standards according to the needs of society, and improves the utility ofexisting environmental reference materials by adding certified and reference values. It
also considers ways of improving environmental analysis precision management methods
and performs environmental chemical measurement reference laboratory functions bycrosschecking and other means as required. More specifically, over the current Mediumand-Long-Term Plan period, it aims to start preparing and distributing at least twoenvironmental reference materials related to organic compounds or inorganic elements,
and to add certified or reference values of stable isotopes for at least one type of existing
environmental reference material.

4 Long-term storage of environmental specimens (specimen banking)
NIES stores bivalves, fish and other environmental specimens in its Environmental
Specimen Time Capsule Building, a long-term storage facility in which specimens are
cryogenically ground, homogenized and stored at –150 °C in low-temperature storage
containers for future uses. NIES collects and stores specimens in line with its own andother long-term monitoring projects, including international cooperative initiatives. It alsoendeavors to further enhance the value of stored specimens by developing and applying
measurement methods for extracting environmental information from them, examining
their condition, and reviewing storage technologies. More specifically, it divides Japan
into seven blocks, and systematically collects bivalve specimens each year at 10–15
locations, adjusting the homogenized specimens to create a bank of long-term storage
specimens from coastal regions nationwide. It also publishes specimen data such as thedata on the homogeneity of stored specimens at the start of storage.

5 Collection, preservation and distribution of strains of microalgae and endangered algae
Microbial Culture Collection at NIES (MCC-NIES) maintains strains of environmentally
important microorganisms, microalgae, and the endangered algal species in facilities
designed for stable long-term preservations, providing those as research materials to
Japanese and overseas researchers. In addition, deposition of scientifically importantstrains has been accepted for further development of various research. MCC-NIES aims
to provide approximately 800 strains per year to researchers, and to accept approximately
20 new deposit strains each year. To promote further utilization of the strains, MCCNIES compiles various additional information on strains (e.g. DNA barcoding and wholegenome data, morphological and geographical information, published papers, etc.),
and opened successively to public. MCC-NIES also has developed sterilization andcryopreservation techniques with the practical applications to improve the efficiency andstability of routine works in the culture collection.

6 Preservation of the genetic resources of rare wild animals
NIES collects for long-term cryopreservation genetic resources (somatic cells, germ
cells, organs, etc.) of wildlife species designated under the Law for the Conservation ofEndangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Endangered Species Law) as endangered
species of wild fauna and flora. In particular, it has designated as priority species the 15
avian and 4 mammal species for which plans for the rehabilitation of natural habitats andmaintenance of viable populations have been drawn up under the Endangered Species
Law. NIES is also building a system for cooperating with local overseas researchers andboth Japanese and overseas zoos and other facilities to collect and preserve the genetic
resources of wild fauna of the Asian region that have been designated as internationallyendangered species of wild fauna and flora. More specifically, over the next five years it
aims to collect 20,000 storage specimens from 1,000 individuals of 50 species of fauna.

Domestic endangered speciesof wild fauna and flora-

8Building Environmental Research Infrastructure
7 Development of biodiversity and ecosystem information infrastructure
NIES promotes development of an information infrastructure to assess, predict,conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystems.
We have released biodiversity and ecosystem databases that address individual
issues such as the classification and description of environmental microorganisms,
the conservation of endangered species, and the management of invasive species.
We plan to further expand the databases as well as develop a cross-reference
system for multiple databases. Our data will be published through an internationaland domestic data portal such as Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

8 Long-term monitoring of regional environmental change and development of joint observation site infrastructure
The deterioration of air quality in East Asia as a result of the region’s economic
growth and associated increase in atmospheric pollutants in recent years is causing
concern. To carry out long-term observation of changes in East Asia’s atmosphericenvironment on a continental scale, the Regional Atmospheric Environment Sectionof NIES’s Center for Regional Environmental Research has monitored air quality (gases
and aerosols) at NIES’s Cape Hedo Atmosphere and Aerosol Monitoring Station(CHAAMS) in Okinawa since 2004. CHAAMS uses both traditional and state-ofthe-art measuring instruments to investigate the chemical, optical and physicalproperties of particulate matter (PM2.5 and other aerosols) suspended in theatmosphere. In the belief that researchers throughout East Asia should cooperate
in monitoring East Asia’s atmosphere, NIES contributes to the development ofenvironmental research in East Asia by providing access to CHAAMS as a joint
monitoring facility. CHAAMS is currently focusing on monitoring PM2.5 massconcentration, vertical concentration distribution of particles (by lidar), ultraviolet
radiation, and atmospheric mercury concentration.

9 Long-term monitoring of inland waters, and provision of data to domestic and international monitoring networks
NIES is carrying out long-term monitoring of Lake Kasumigaura and compiling theobservational data into a database that can be broadly accessed by researchers andothers worldwide. It also contributes to building the domestic and international
monitoring networks by serving the Japan office for the United Nations’ Global
Environment Monitoring System/Water Programme (GEMS/Water), and providing
the data to the Japan Long-Term Ecological Research Network (JaLTER). It also helps
to drive progress in research on freshwater environments by developing monitoring
methods and conducting long-term ecological research. More specifically, itpublishes a constantly updated online database of water quality monitoring datafor 24 parameters at 10 locations, and aquatic organisms data for 10 species at two
locations. In the future, we will expand the database over the Medium-and-LongTerm Plan period by deploying additional sensors and loggers that supply many
thousands of additional data.

9

Climate Change Adaptation Services
1 Center for Climate Change Adaptation
The Climate Change Adaptation Act (Act No. 50 of2018) promulgated on June 13, 2018 provided for newroles of NIES to collect, organize, analyze and provide
information related to the impacts and adaptation on
climate change and the implementation of technicalassistance to local governments and Local Climate
Change Adaptation Centers (LCCACs) in Japan. For the
purpose of fulfilling these missions steadily, Center for
Climate Change Adaptation (CCCA) was establishedin NIES on December 1, 2018 when Climate Change
Adaptation Act came into force. The CCCA is carryingout the following services related to climate change
adaptation.

Each region (prefectures, etc.)

Government
National research institute

Local government
University

National Institute forEnvironmental Studies

Climate Change Adaptation Center

Establishment of a system forcooperation with research
institutes

Collection, organization and analysis
of information
Research/study and technologicaldevelopment
Construction of information
platforms and provision of
information on adaptation

Technical advice, etc.

A-PLAT

Climate Change Adaptation
Information Platform

Regional Climate
Change Adaptation
CenterEstablishment of asystem for cooperation
with regional research
institutes

Collection, organization andanalysis of information

Sharing of informationand outcomes

Provision of information on
adaptation

Regional
research
institute, etc.

University, research
institute, etc.

Citizens

Enterprises

Residents

Local enterprises❶Services for promoting climate change adaptation
The CCCA provides technical assistance to Prefectures and Municipalities on
the formulation and promotion of Local Climate Change Adaptation Plans,
providing technical assistance to LCCACs established in each region andexplaining scientific knowledge, as well as presenting opinions at the requestof Regional Councils on Climate Change Adaptation that are organized byregional stakeholders. Furthermore, CCCA works on development of humanresource for research on climate change impact analysis and adaptation
measures through joint research and trainings with local research institutes suchas LCCACs.
In order to understand climate change and resultant impacts, the CCCA
promotes the dissemination and enlightenment of research outcomes byconsidering measures, particularly in the field of global warming research on
the aggregation of observation needs, preparation of implementation plans,management and reporting of implementation plan progress and the promotionof data sharing.
The CCCA provides scientific knowledge related to climate change information,observation and monitoring climate change impacts, future impacts assessment
and adaptation strategies to respective stakeholders such as the local
governments, businesses and individuals who need them to promote climatechange adaptation in an easy-to-use form via the portal site “Climate Change
Adaptation Information Platform (A-PLAT)”.
In addition, the CCCA will establish “Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation
Information Platform (AP-PLAT)” as a basis for providing information on climatechange impacts and adaptation to developing countries in the Asia-Pacificregion by 2020 to contribute to international cooperation for climate change
adaptation.

http://www.adaptation-platform.nies.go.jp/en/

A-PLAT website❷Research on climate change impacts and adaptation
In order to scientifically support the promotion of climate change
adaptation, the CCCA promotes research and technological developmenton observation and monitoring of climate change impacts, methods ofassessing climate change impacts and adaptation strategies by organizing
adaptation research programs. This research program’s outcomes willcontribute to policy making by the government, such as making changes to
National Adaptation Plan, and will also assist local governments and otherstakeholders to make efforts towards climate change adaptation throughthe provision of outcomes on A-PLAT and AP-PLAT.
This research program consists of the following three projects:● Research on constructing system to observe and monitor climate change
From the A-PLAT website - National and prefectural information (WebGIS)
impact, analyzing the relationship between long-term climate change
trends and the resultant impacts, as well as establishing the theory andits method to identify the causes;● Improving climate change impact assessment method in multiple fields, implementing climate change impact assessment utilizing thelatest climate and socioeconomic scenarios, and constructing systems capable of providing global and domestic climate scenarios;● Organizing knowledge on climate change impacts and adaptation options in multiple sectors, clarifying gaps that may exist between
adaptation plans or scientific knowledge and practice of adaptation measures, and studying measures necessary for effective
adaptation strategies.

10Environmental Research Fields
1 Global Environmental Research Field

http://www.cger.nies.go.jp/en/Contributing to the Solution of Climate Change and Other Global Environmental Problems
In this field our researchers are determining the current state of the global environment and the physical, chemical, and biological processesof long-term change. Based on those findings, they predict global environmental changes and assess the impact risks associated withthose changes, and also conduct studies and research on measures to protect the global environment. Especially in relation to climatechange, they assess the long-term changes in atmospheric composition, gauge climate change risks and adaptation measures, and work on
problems such as depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.

2 Material Cycles and Waste Management Research Field

http://www-cycle.nies.go.jp/index-e.html

Contributing to the Cyclical and Efficient Use of Resources, and to Decreasing the Environmental Burden of Wastes
On scales from local to international, researchers in this field determine the state and elucidate the mechanisms of resource use and therelated environmental burdens arising from socioeconomic activities. We conduct research on assessment methods and proposals fortransition strategies for sustainable material cycle-based societies. Researchers also develop and evaluate technologies for the appropriate
treatment, disposal, and recycling of wastes and recyclable resources as well as the fundamental technologies needed for resource recycling
and material management.
More specifically, research in this field is focused on the following five areas: 1) institutional and policy research for building sustainable
material cycle-based societies; 2) research on the dynamics of global material cycles and assessment of their environmental, economic, andsocial impacts; 3) development of technologies required for resource recycling and materials management; 4) using waste as construction
materials, and building more sophisticated systems for testing, assessing and managing landfills; and 5) basic research on the domestic andoverseas application of waste management technologies. NIES aims to organize and share the findings of these researches as a scientificand policymaking platform for supporting the building of sustainable material cycle-based societies.

3 Environmental Risk Research Field

http://www.nies.go.jp/risk_health/index-e.html

Contributing to the Achievement of a Safe and Secure Society by Reducing Environmental Risks
Studies in this research field include improvement of ecological toxicity testing to develop a new ecological risk assessment system andmethods to evaluate exposure and impact of environmental chemicals, effects of environmental hazards on the ecosystem throughfield studies and laboratory experiments, exposure measurements, and systematic risk management for chemicals with reference toenvironmental fate and exposure assessment of those substances. These findings are to be applied to the development of risk sciences.
More specifically, researchers develop sophisticated ecotoxicity tests ranging from molecular up to organism levels, elucidate impacts ofchemicals on ecosystems in the rivers, perform laboratory experiments and field surveys in enclosed bays and other coastal areas, and finallyaim to establish new systems for assessing the ecological impacts of chemicals and propose measures for restoring a sound ecosystem.
We also improve methods to evaluate environmental exposure of chemicals and the effects using new methods such as identification ofsubstances that cause mutagenesis and other health effects, binding assays using ecotoxicity-related receptors, detection of high molecularweight biomolecules, analysis of correlation between exposure and impacts, develop environmental fate and emission models for chemical
substances, and study ecological risk assessment of environmental disturbances and systematic risk management. Researchers of thisresearch field group work in collaboration with the Environmental Health Research Field regarding human health, conducting studies thatlead to establishment of a comprehensive and precautionary scientific foundation. Finally, we contribute to regulatory sciences to evaderisks of human health and ecosystems.

4 Regional Environment Research Field

http://www.nies.go.jp/chiiki/en/index_en.html

Contributing to Solutions for Regional Environmental Problems Focusing on Japan and Asian Countries
This field concerns itself with a variety of spatial scales from transboundary to individual city. Researchers are investigating environmental
problems including the environmental burdens caused by human activities and the impacts on humans and ecosystems via the atmosphere,
water, soil, and other environmental media and are seeking solutions to reduce and control these problems. By integrating their work,
researchers conduct studies for finding, applying, and implementing comprehensive and effective solutions for regional environmental
problems.
Research outcomes have been used for purposes such as alerting the public about particulate matter forecasts generated by air quality
models; introducing a Water Environmental Soundness Index based on ecological functions; recommending concrete policies for improving
tidal flats, shallows and other coastal environments; recommending measures and scenarios for resolving or mitigating regional-scalepollution, supporting domestic and Asian aquatic conservation initiatives through proposing and testing site-specific aquatic environment
conservation technologies; proposing methods for countering nitrogen saturation in forest and other soil zones; and establishing efficient,
low carbon purification systems that make use of microorganisms. NIES is committed to playing a major role in resolving regional
environmental issues in both Japan and Asia through integrating and sharing the outcomes of the above research initiatives.

11

5 Environmental Biology and Ecosystems Research Field

http://www.nies.go.jp/biology/en/index.html

Helping Establishment of a Society in Harmony with Nature that Conserves Biodiversity and Ecosystems, and Enables Future
Generations to Benefit from Ecosystems
Researchers carry out studies and research at various temporal and spatial scales to determine the structures and functions of the ecosystems
comprised by the diverse organisms on the Earth, the relationships between those structures and functions, the benefits that humans receivefrom ecosystems, and the impacts of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystems. They also pursue projects related to this body of research.
By sharing the fruits of this research with society, NIES contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of ecosystem services.

6 Environmental Health Research Field

http://www.nies.go.jp/risk_health/index-e.html

Preventing Adverse Health Effects Caused by Environmental Factors and Reducing Health Risks for Future Generations
Scientists of this research field perform animal studies, epidemiological research, and exposure analyses to evaluate effects of various
environmental factors including chemical substances that may cause adverse health effects to humans, especially to future generations,and also to elucidate the mechanisms of these effects. We investigate the impacts of exposure to atmospheric pollutants, flame retardants,
metal/metalloid elements, and other substances through airways, gastrointestinal tracts, and skin on the immune responses, nerve system,
reproduction, development, and metabolism. We use genetic information, cells, and laboratory animals. We also conduct epidemiologicalstudies on susceptible populations by measuring exposure to environmental pollutants and other factors, searching for appropriate
biomarkers, and investigating impacts of these factors on human health. We promote environmental health sciences and contributeto maintaining sound health into the future through developing methods to reduce health risks, compiling findings of health sciences,publishing the results in both domestic and overseas research reports and journals, and sharing information on health risk assessment withregulatory bodies and stakeholders. We advance health risk assessment as a risk science through a joint-research with researchers of theEnvironmental Risk Research Field.

7 Social and Environmental Systems Research Field

http://www.nies.go.jp/social/en/index_en.html

Assisting the Transition to a Society and Economy in Harmony with the Environment at Scales Including the Global
Environment, Nations, Regions, and Cities
Environmental issues are closely connected with various human environments. They adversely affect our everyday lives, but they are also
the outcome of the impacts of human activity on the natural environment. As such, human society needs to be positioned as a vital aspectof research on environmental conservation.
Researchers in this field focus on the development of theory, methods, and tools that will serve as infrastructure for research on various
aspects of the interactions between the environment and society. Key research topics in this field include methods for presenting future
visions for a sound society and economy that benefits from the environment’s bounty, scenarios and roadmaps for achieving that vision,
policies and plans for implementing those roadmaps, and methods for assessing those policies and plans that take into account a broad rangeof both direct and indirect impacts. These activities benefit society through supporting public policy, participatory processes, and other means
for transforming social systems from the environmental perspective, with researchers themselves also actively engaging in dialog with society.

8 Environmental Measurement and Analysis Research Field

http://www.nies.go.jp/sosiki/analysis-e.html

Continuing Assessment of Current and Future Environmental Concerns through Exploratory Science, Continuous Development
and Deployment of Scientific Methodologies and Strict Management of Measurement Data Quality
Tackling environmental concerns requires early detection of environmental issues and changes. By exacting measurements and carefulmonitoring, we provide invaluable scientific input for the implementation of domestic and international policy. We further assess theeffectiveness of these technological and political measures in mitigating environmental risk. We achieve this through the continuous
development of measurement methods, deploying these in the natural environment and extracting information from the measurement datawhilst striving to ensure the highest standards of data quality.
During the current Medium-and-Long-Term Plan period, research in this field is focusing on the measurement of chemicals, including thedevelopment of new methods for measuring chemicals present in the environment and improving analytical methods according to needs;
development and application of methods for monitoring the biogeochemical behavior of chemicals in the environment and tracking any
changes they undergo; and on the application of methods to environmental monitoring, including the development and combined use ofactive and passive spectroscopic measurement methods, application to environmental research of noninvasive measurement of biologicalsystems, and ecosystem monitoring that makes use of image data captured by terrestrial live cameras and other devices. Researchers in thisfield gather information and work with other research fields and organizations both within NIES and other institutes to ascertain the needsof various environmental research fields, uncover future needs, and lay the ground for further innovation.

9 Environmental Emergency Research Field

http://www.nies.go.jp/fukushima/index-e.html

Contributing to the Environmental Recovery and Reconstruction of the Disaster-Stricken Region from the Great East Japan
Earthquake and to Building a Sustainable Society Resistant to Future Disasters
Based on the experiences of the Great East Japan Earthquake and other disasters, researchers in this field conduct research and develop
environmental technologies that will contribute to the environmental recovery, reconstruction and renovation in devastated areas, andthe creation of sustainable regional environments capable of withstanding major disasters. The outcomes of this research are utilized inenvironmental emergency research programs and shared with researchers and others worldwide. NIES Fukushima Branch is also leading
efforts to build a structure for collaboration between government, industry, and academia in the field of environmental emergency research.
12

Networking and building bridges with domestic and overseas institutions
NIES has long conducted joint research with various institutions and promoted cooperation through networking with research personnel inuniversities and other institutions in Japan and overseas, and will further strengthen its capabilities as a core environmental research hub
for networking and building bridges between institutions in Japan and worldwide during the Fourth Medium- and Long-term Plan period.
AsiaFlux
AsiaFlux was established as an international observation network for the Asian
region in 1999, in order to systematically observe the exchange of greenhousegases between terrestrial ecosystems (forests and arable land, etc.) and theatmosphere (carbon flux).
Many research bodies both in Japan and overseas are members of this network.
NIES contributes to this network not only with its observational activities but also
by acting as the main administrative office for the operations of the network.

Liaison for Environmental Research Institutions
In order to effectively promote the regular exchange of information on
environmental research, and with the aim of expanding further researchcollaboration, we have established ties with 13 research institutes in thesurrounding area. Since its establishment, NIES has played a central role as a
hub environmental research institution for the Tsukuba area, in the “Liaison forEnvironmental Research Institutions”.

Domestic Cooperation with Local Environmental Research Institutes
We are actively engaged in various collaborative research with environmental
research institutes with an intimate knowledge of regional circumstances and theenvironmental issues which are closely tied to particular environments throughout
Japan.
Moreover, NIES hosts the “All-Japan Environmental Research Institutions Symposium”
every year, which gathers environmental research institutes from throughout Japanto report on their research outcomes. NIES acts as the administrative office for the
symposium and assists in summarizing the various opinions exchanged.
Contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The IPCC has had great success in assembling scientific knowledge in relation
to climate change, and is foundational in the intergovernmental study andassessment of its impacts and related policy. Many of our researchers collaborate
as authors of the report which the IPCC produce. The IPCC Report, as a means
to summarize scientific knowledge in relation to global warming, is currently
the most globally influential report and contributes to the policy formation of
governments in every country throughout the globe.

Participation in UNFCCC-COP
In 2004 NIES was admitted as an NGO observer organization, for participationin the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Conferenceof the Parties (UNFCCC-COP) of that year. In December of the same year it
participated as an observing NGO and hosted a booth as part of the side-eventof COP, by which means it was able to positively convey its research outcomes inthe environmental research field.

Tripartite Presidents Meeting (TPM)
In order to further promote research collaboration in the Asian region, NIES, theChinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES; China), and the
National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER; South Korea) have regularly
met since 2004. The three Presidents and representatives of these institutions,which all play a leading role in environmental research in their respective
countries, have exchanged views on research fields for collaboration at theannual meeting.

13

Actively sharing research outcomes and contributing to policymaking and society
NIES Public Symposium
To facilitate the dissemination of our research outcomes and promoteawareness of our activities, we hold a public symposium to coincidewith June Environment Month every year, in Tokyo and other areas.
Here, visitors can learn about NIES through a number of lectures.
They also have the opportunity to communicate directly with NIES
researchers during the poster session, which has around 20 displays
on research activities. Every year people from all walks of life takeadvantage of this opportunity.

NIES Open House
Along with giving the general public the chance to fulfill theircuriosity about environmental issues, and gain an understanding ofenvironmental research, science and technology, twice a year during
Science and Technology Week (April) and the summer holidays (July)
we open our doors to the public and introduce the activities of NIES.
At the Open Houses, we hold lectures on the environment, displays
and interactive activities, with many different attractions each year.

NIES Website
We provide information on our current research activities andoutcomes via NIES website. Besides information on the respective
research centers and programs, the website also contains a database
populated with research results.
It is also possible to download a large spectrum of publications fromthe website including NIES Annual Report and the research booklets“Kankyo-gi”.
NIES Website http://www.nies.go.jp/index-e.html

Collection, Processing, and Dissemination of Environmental
Information
The Environmental Information Department collects and processes
various kinds of environmental information, and provides it to the
public through the website “Kankyo Tenboudai”.
The site helps users to understand the status of the environment
easily, and promote wider involvement of the public and related
institutions in environmental conservation.
“Kankyo Tenboudai” http://tenbou.nies.go.jp

14

NIES in the Field: Active in Japan and throughout the Globe
Major Research Fields in Japan[As of October 2018]

Teshio biomass surveyL ake Mashu long-term environmental
monitoring eshio Carbon Cycle andT
Larch Growth (CCLaG)
Experiment Site

 ape Ochi-ishi Global
C
Environmental
Monitoring Station

Research Fields
Branch and Branch Office
Global Environmental MonitoringL ake Biwa Branch Office(Inside Lake Biwa Environmental ResearchInstitute)Fukushima Branch(Inside Fukushima Prefectural Centre forEnvironmental Creation)

 ape Hedo Atmosphere and Aerosol
C
Monitoring Station (CHAAMS)

L ake Kasumigaura longterm environmental
monitoring ateruma Global Environmental
H
Monitoring StationF uji Hokuroku Flux Observation
Site, Monitoring for carbon dioxide
absorption levels15

 iological and environmentalB
surveys in Tokyo Bay

Global Environmental Monitoring
Greenhouse Gas Observation

Ibuki / GOSAT

Altitude 666km
Solar radiation

IFOV: 10km
Monthly global map of the CO2 column-averaged volume mixing ratio as of September
2018 (Level 2 data product)

Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite Ibuki / GOSAT

GHG observation in Siberia using tower network
and aircraft

GHG observation using commercial airlines

Status of International Research Collaboration

EuropeanSpace Agency

Germany

NorwayNetherlands

SwedenGHG observation using regular cargo vessels[As of October 2018]

Finland
RussiaUnited Kingdom

CanadaBelarusFranceMongolia
Italy
South Korea

China

United States

Vietnam
MyanmarPhilippines

ThailandUN Agencies(United Nations Environment Programme)Indonesia

Singapore
Malaysia
Australia

Number of research projects under bilateral agreements
Number of Memorandums of Understanding
Number of research agreements utilizing GOSAT data (Postings)(In addition to the above, we conduct surveys and research in every region of the globe)

16Organization chart
President

Budget for FY2018
Contract revenue
3,557

AuditorOperatingexpenses grant
13,370Administration Departments
Vice
Presidents
Advisers

Facility
maintenancesubsidy370

Planning Department
General Affairs Department
Environmental Information Department

Total

17,298million yen

Research Centers
Center for Global Environmental Research(Unit: ¥1 million)

Center for Material Cycles and Waste
Management ResearchCenter for Health and Environmental Risk ResearchCenter for Regional Environmental
ResearchCenter for Environmental Biology
and Ecosystem Studies

Lake Biwa
Branch Office*1

Staff Breakdown
Persons

Center for Social and Environmental Systems Research

Permanent staff

Center for Environmental Measurement and Analysis
Fukushima BranchContract staff

Center for Climate Change Adaptation*2
Executives and Advisers
Research Project Collaboration Division

Total

Satellite Observation Center

Research

205

Administrative

71

Research

153

Administrative/
technical

514
5
948

as of October 1, 2018

Japan Environment and Children's Study
Programme OfficeEnvironmental Emergency Management OfficeSocial Dialogue and Co-production Office

Risk Assessment Science Collaboration Office

Audit Office*1 Lake Biwa Branch Office is co-managed by Center for Regional
Environmental Research and Center for Environmental Biology andEcosystem Studies.
*2 Center for Climate Change Adaptation is co-managed by Center for
Global Environmental Research; Center for Regional Environmental
Research; Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies; andCenter for Social and Environmental Systems Research.

17

Fukushima Branch
Fukushima Branch was established in April 2016 in the Fukushima Prefectural Centre for Environmental Creation located in Miharu Town,
Fukushima Prefecture. Its objective is to promote and maintain rigorous scientific research activities focused on the areas devasted by
the Great East Japan Earthquake. The Fukushima Branch conducts the Environmental Emergency Research Programs for contributing toenvironmental recovery and environmental renovation in the devastated areas, in collaboration with not only NIES' Tsukuba Headquarters
but also Fukushima Prefecture, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, other related institutions and stakeholders.

N

Miharu Town

JR Ban-Etsu East Line
(Yuyu Abukuma Line)

Miharu Station

Miharu Town

Kanameta Station

Fukushima Branch
Fukushima Prefecture

Funehiki Station
Miharu Town Hall

Funehiki Miharu IC

288

Tamura City Hall

Fukushima Branch
Miharu Bypass

Ban-Etsu Expressway

40

0

2km

N

Town
Address:Miharu
10-2
Fukasaku, Miharu, Tamura
District, Fukushima 963-7700, Japan
JR Ban-Etsu East Line
(Yuyu Abukuma Line)(Inside Fukushima Prefectural
Centre for Environmental Creation)

Miharu Station

Miharu Town

Kanameta Station

Telephone: +81-247-61-6561
E-mail:fukushima-po@nies.go.jp
Funehiki Miharu IC

Miharu Town Hall

Fukushima Branch
Miharu Bypass

Fukushima Branch
Fukushima Prefecture

Funehiki Station
288

Tamura City Hall
Ban-Etsu Expressway

40

0

2km

Lake Biwa Branch Office
Address:

10-2 Fukasaku, Miharu, Tamura District, Fukushima 963-7700, Japan

Based on the Basic Policy
on Fukushima
the TransferPrefecturalof Authorityof Government-AffiliatedInstitutions determined by Headquarters for Overcoming(InsideCentrefor Environmental Creation)
Population
Decline andVitalizing Local Economy
in Japan, NIES establishedthe Lake Biwa Branch Office in April 2017 within Lake Biwa
Telephone:+81-247-61-6561
N
Nishioumi-ji Road
01km

Omi-jingu-mae Station
Environmental
Research
Institute in Shiga. As leaders in freshwater environmental research, NIES and Lake Biwa Environmental ResearchE-mail:fukushima-po@nies.go.jp
Nishi-otsu Bypass

161

47

Lake Biwa Branch OfficeInstitute is working together on projects that involve local universities and private industries in Lakeadvancingfreshwater environmental
Biwa
Otsukyo Station

research and utilizing161research outcomes to benefit local vitalization in the region.
Keihan Ishiyama-sakamoto Line

Shiga Prefecture

Lake Biwa

Lake Biwa Branch Office

JR Kosai Line

kaido

JR To

Main

Line

Otsu Station

1
Nishioumi-ji Road 0

Omi-jingu-mae Station

161

N

Lake Biwa Branch Office

5-34 47
Yanagigasaki, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture 520-0022, Japan

Nishi-otsu Bypass

Address:

1km

Otsukyo Station

Lake Biwa(Inside Lake Biwa Environmental Research Institute)161
Keihan Ishiyama-sakamoto Line
Telephone: +81-77-526-8561

E-mail:biwako@nies.go.jp

Shiga Prefecture

Lake Biwa

Lake Biwa Branch Office

JR Kosai LineJR

Address:

ido
Toka

Main

Line

Otsu Station1

5-34 Yanagigasaki, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture 520-0022, Japan(Inside Lake Biwa Environmental Research Institute)

Telephone: +81-77-526-8561
E-mail:biwako@nies.go.jp
18

Tsukuba Station

Kenkyu-gakuen Station

Gakuen-higashi Odori

TX (Tsukuba Express)

Tsuchiura Station

Joban Expressway
354

Gakuen-nishi Odori

Lake
Kasumigaura

19
55

408

244

Sakura Tsuchiura IC
125

National Institutefor Environmental Studies

Tsukuba Chuo IC

6
354

6

125

Tsukuba JCT

Arakawaoki Station
Tsukuba Ushiku IC

Tsukuba City

274

JR Joban LineN
Metropolitan Intercity Expressway

Hitachinoushiku Station

0

1

2

3km

Access Routes
Akihabara Station

Tsukuba Express (Rapid, approx. 45 mins.)

Tsukuba Station
Tsukuba Center(Bus stop 4)

Tokyo Station(Yaesu South Exit)

Haneda Airport

Ueno Station

Highway Bus (Approx. 70 mins.)

Tsukuba Center

NIES

Bus (Approx. 10 mins.)
Bound for "Hitachinoushiku Station"

Highway Bus (Approx. 90 mins.)

JR Joban Line (Approx. 60 mins.)

Hitachinoushiku Station

Bus Terminal,
East Exit

Bus (Approx. 20 mins.)

NIES

Bound for "Tsukuba Center" or "Tsukuba University Chuo"

Tsukuba Ushiku IC

Car (Gakuen-nishi Odori Exit of National Highway 6 Bypass; Approx. 5km/7mins.)

NIES

National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan
Address: 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, JAPANWeb:

http://www.nies.go.jp/index-e.html

E-mail:www@nies.go.jp

R70 Utilizing 70% post-consumer
recycled paper pulp

201901/2000