Recent research on climate change impacts assessment and adaptation policies in Japan
Summary of Presentation made at:
The 19th AIM International Workshop, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan: December 13-14, 2013

Yasuaki Hijioka (NIES)
Recently, comprehensive research projects tackling to assessment of climate change impacts and adaptation
have been conducted in Japan. Some ministries, such as “Ministry of Environment” and “Ministry of Education, Culture,Sports, Science and Technology” have provided large research fund which is over one hundred million yen per year. In
my presentation, I will introduce the outline of the “S-8” project”Not only research projects, Japanese adaptation policies have been promoted in recent years. In the fourth
basic environmental plan, Japanese government referred to “the necessity of adaptation” for the first time. In theinnovative Energy/environmental Plan, preparing national adaptation plan was decided. In order to summarize recent
scientific information about climate change in Japan, integrated report on observation, projection and impact
assessment of climate change was released on March, 2013. Now, national adaptation plan has been in preparation.
Quantitative analysis will be carried out until next summer and National Adaptation plan will be approved in summer,2015.
AIM impact team energetically tackling to the “S-8 project” which is supported by the ministry of theenvironment in Japan. Targeted area is whole and regional area in Japan and Asia-Pacific region and research fields
cover water resources, forests, agriculture, coastal zones and human health. The project has two main objectives. First
one is to assess climate change impact assessment focusing on whole Japan under different GHG concentration
stabilization scenarios and adaptation strategies. This project apply new climate scenario with high accuracy andresolution provided under CMIP5 and we develop advanced model for assessment of climate change impacts andadaptation strategy. Second objective is development of a planning method for adaptation strategy focusing on
Japanese local government and developing countries in Asia-Pacific region. AIM impact team has developed asimplified tool to assess the impacts of, and vulnerabilities and adaptation to, climate change considering uncertainty inthe assessment.
The project consists of three themes. Theme one provide the climate change impact assessment for whole
Japan considering the effects of adaptation and provide quantified information to the theme 2.
The theme 2 utilizes the quantified information to develop a planning method for adaptation strategy at thelocal government. The theme 2 involves some local governments into their collaborative research and has been
supporting the adaptation policy at local government. Based on the results of the research in Japan, in order to analyze
the order of priority and cost-effectiveness of implementing adaptation measures elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region,
there 3 has developed and standardized the indexes for the assessment of vulnerability, impacts, and adaptation effects
that are applicable to developing countries. This could contribute to the planning and implementation of adaptation
measures in those countries, where severer impacts are expected.
To integrate research outcomes developed by the theme 1 and provide the research outcomes to theme 2,
AIM impact team has been developing the AIM/Adaptation[Policy]. This tool helps the theme 2 utilize the quantified
information developed by the theme 1. This tool is a database including socio-economic scenarios, climate scenarios
and results of impact assessment. And user can easily see the maps at prefectural and municipal levels. This tool storesthe results of impact assessment and shows the map utilizing the GIS functions.
AIM impact team has been greatly contributing to Japanese local government and the process ofdevelopment of Japanese National Adaptation Plan.