Environmental ReportMessage from the President

Hiroshi Takeda, President
April 2003:	Dean of Kobe University Faculty of Science
Director of the Biosignal Research Center
April 2007: Director of Kobe University Library
April 2009:	Executive Vice President of Kobe University
April 2015: President of Kobe University

Since the opening of Kobe University's predecessor Kobe
Higher Commercial School in 1902, the university has
evolved from its roots in social sciences into a comprehensive university with the philosophy of "harmony between
science and reality."
We believe that the "cultivation of capable individuals
through education and research and the inheritance andcreation of knowledge" form the foundations of the rolethat a university should play. One of the defining characteristics of a university is that education and research havean inseparable relationship, and it is this sense of unity in
education and research that is the essence of fostering
capable individuals. Therefore, we believe that it is the university's mission to thoroughly deepen academic and basic
research.
On the other hand, there are many problems in this modern
global society that need to be solved on a worldwide scale,such as global warming, lack of water resources, infectious
diseases, and other such "global issues". To this end, it isnecessary to promote efforts related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are universal goals for theentire international community including both developed
and developing countries, as well as Japan. In January
2019, the university announced its plans to contribute to-wards the SDGs. This was followed by the establishment of
the "SDGs Promotion Office" in February 2020, which will
carry out these practical activities. Then in April 2020, weestablished the Kobe University Value School (commonly
known as "V.School"); an organization that aims to realize
cross-disciplinary research, education, and social contribution with "value" as its keyword.
Solving environmental problems not only requires scientific and technological approaches. Approaches from thehumanities and social fields, as well as economic analyses
and policy-related approaches are also necessary. We will
promote efforts aimed at attaining the SDGs across various
fields throughout the university and strive to advance research into environmental conservation that integrates thehumanities and the sciences.
Kobe University will also continue to promote environmental
conservation activities that limit our environmental impact,
such as 3R activities and using energy efficiently. We will
also make continuous efforts to enhancing environmental education and promote research projects on the environment.
To all members of the university, related enterprises, andthe local community, we ask for your long-term and widespread support in assisting with Kobe University's environmental activities.

Environmental Charter
Kobe University established an Environmental Charter on September 26, 2006 and carries out various environmental conservation activities based on these basic principles and policies. The environmental and energy-saving efforts of the university aresummarized in an annually publicized environmental report.

Basic Philosophy
As a world-class center for research and education, Kobe
University endeavors to advance initiatives that address
two crucial modern-day issues: environmental conservation and the creation of a sustainable society.
The university is committed to building pathways towards
the realization of a sustainable society, something thatremains a shared goal for humanity. To do this, we are utilizing the local mountains and oceans to cultivate capable,
environmentally aware individuals. We regularly publicize
academic information from the cosmopolitan city of Kobe to
the rest of the world, and we are leading the way in environmental conservation efforts.

Basic Policies
1. Cultivate and Support Environmentally
Aware Individuals
2. P romote Research to Maintain and Support the Global Environment
3. Take a Leading Role in Environmental
Conservation
Established September 26, 2006

Kobe University Environmental Performance
Environmental Management

Basic Policy to Encourage Environmental
Management During the Third Mid-Term Goal Period
To achieve the "Kobe University Vision" as the world's highest-level education
and research center, we will do our utmost to conserve the global environmentand create a sustainable society, which are the most important issues of ourtime, through all activities at the university. Based on the Kobe University Environmental Charter and the Kobe University Basic Policy on Environmental andFacility Management, which summarizes the basics of the university's environmental and facility management, we established the following environmental
management policy during the third mid-term goal period.

Environmental Management Policy
Conservation of the global environment and the creation of sustainable societies are themost important issues of our time. In working toward the "Kobe University Vision", we will

I. Promote the 3Rs

do our utmost, as an institute for education and research which meets the highest interna-

By promoting the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) among all university members, we will take assertive action to reduce waste while simultaneously
reducing resource consumption.

tional standards, to tackle these issues through all our activities at the university. In March
2016, we established the Basic Policy to Encourage Environmental Management During theThird Mid-Term Goal Period (FY2016 to FY2022), which was based on the Kobe University

II. Sensible Energy Usage Initiative

Environmental Charter and the Kobe University Basic Policy on Environmental and Facility

By promoting effective energy usage practices, we will work to reduce theaverage yearly energy consumption rate* by more than 1%, and reduce
CO2 emissions throughout the university.

Management. Our environmental conservation activities are based on this policy.

(*) Consumption rate measured according to the total floor area of buildings.

III. Execute and Maintain Environmental Management Cycles
To encourage environmental management, we will develop an ongoingaction plan and implement a PDCA cycle.

Paper Waste Reduction Initiative
The results of an investigation into trash can garbage and garbage collection sites by a group of environment surveyors found that paper which could
have been recycled was in the mixed garbage. To encourage environmental management, we promote the 3Rs for paper and trash sorting. Posters
on trash separation and recycling are put up in each department in order to spread awareness on the proper separation and disposal of recyclables(cans, glass, PET bottles), combustible trash, non-combustible trash, miscellaneous trash, and confidential documents. In addition, uniform stickers on
separated bins were designed and distributed across the university.

PleaseRecycle Leftover Paper
Recyclable Paper

Magazines, pamphlets,
catalogs, posters

Garbage investigation

Unseparated garbage

Calendars, sketchbooks, paper files(remove metal components)

Paper boxes, wrapping
paper (for candy, condiments, medicine, etc.),
tissue boxes (not including
cellophane and othernon-paper parts)

Envelopes (not including
cellophane from window
envelopes), money envelopes, gift envelopes,
postcards, business cards,
letters, DM (not including
vinyl)

Paper bags (notincluding non-paper handles)

Used books (paperbacks,
pocket books), dictionaries(not including vinyl
coverings or other non-paper items), catalogs,
posters

Shredded paper(if recyclable)

Cardboard tubes (toilet
paper and wrapping paper
tubes as-is), paper egg
cartons

Copy paper, memo paper(not including thermal
paper)

Textbooks, notebooks,
school printouts,
origami, Japanesewriting paper, drawing
paper (including paperwith ink or paint)

Card stock for mounting shirts or stockings,
paper clothing tags

*Cellophane, vinyl, and plastic are burnable trash.

Collection Methods
Distribute trash bins
and bags in rooms tocollect recyclable
paper in the course of
everyday use.

Place unneeded
paper bags,
envelopes, etc.
inside.

Stack magazines and tie
with a cord.

Wrap up any
unneeded
paper with a
cord.

etc.

*Illustrations are taken from Kobe City pamphlet entitled “Did You Know? Leftover Paper Can Be Recycled.”！
Trash can setup(stickers indicate waste separation)

Container for recycling paper(separated into old paper and magazines)

The items on
the right dissolve in water,
so they cannot
be recycled!

●Water-proof or specially processed paper(vinyl-coated paper, paper cups, waxed
paper used for detergent boxes, etc.)(items with a lot of attachments)●Thermal paper (fax paper, etc.)●Carbon paper (shipping slips, receipts,
etc.)●Photos●Paper with adhesives (stickers, photo
albums, etc.)●Synthetic paper (Braille books, etc.)●Iron-on transfer paper●Paper soiled with food●CDs and DVDs included with magazines

Center for Environmental Management

Created November, 2016

Material BalanceMaterial balance refers to the amount of energy and resources used for conducting business activities ("input"), and the environmental impact
generated by those activities ("output"). Kobe University promotes the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) as part of our basic policy for environmental management, and we are actively working to reduce both consumption and waste of resources.
INPUT
Total energy

GJElectricity consumption MWh
Gas consumption

1,000m3

Heavy oil consumption kL

FY 2019

University Overview

851,370

Student body (undergraduate)

People11,577

CO2 output volume

68,644Student body (graduate)

People

4,649

4,053

Study body (affiliated institutions)

People1,363

Waste material (OA paper, newspaper,t
cardboard, confidential documents, etc.)

Foreign student body

People1,399

0.8

FY 2019

188.4

Students on academic scholarships

People11,131City and other water usage 1,000m3

345.5

Teaching faculty

People5,167

Miscellaneous water usage 1,000m3

72.1

Foreign exchange programswith overseas universities

Institutions

367

Paper usaget

OUTPUTFY 2019t-CO2

33,272
305.5

Waste material (raw garbage) t

4.6

Waste material (combustible waste) t

558.9

Waste material (non-combustible waste) t

1.6

Waste material (large items) t

318.3

Sewage1,000m3

384.3

Kobe University Environmental Performance
Energy Conservation and Climate Change Prevention
Energy Consumption

Electricity Consumption

In FY 2019, energy consumption from electricity, gas, and heavy oil
totaled approximately 851,000 gigajoules (※1).
CO2 emissions from this energy totaled approximately 33,300 tons.

In FY 2019, the electricity use at our 11 main building complexes
decreased 1.7% from the previous fiscal year as a result of energy
conservation activities.

(※1 Converted calorific values for electricity, heavy oil, gas, etc.
based on Article 4 of 'Regulations on Rationalization of Energy
Use, etc.')
Energy consumption decreased by 1.2% from FY 2018. Energy
consumption per total floor area of each building also decreased by
2.6%.
To date, we have worked to conserve energy across all university
campuses, and will continue to work to conserve energy going forward.

(1,000kWh)(ＧＪ)

900,000

866,306

800,000

229,554890,869

880,038

861,934

600,000

24,172500,000

40,023400,000

482,855

０

FY 2015228,070

221,549

217,865

27,531

28,594

27,17527,30942,08540,66039,58438,426495,596

493,824

488,539484,257

FY 2016

FY 2017

FY 2018

2.6% Reduction

70,15370,646

139.3

140.1

FY 2019

Rokkodai 2
PortIsland 3
Akashi,Okubo,
Sumiyoshi 1
Fukae
Myodani
Tsurukabuto 2
Tsurukabuto 1
Rokkodai 1
Kusunoki

FY 2016

FY 2019
1,665 GJ/1,000m2

sions (33,272 t-CO2) per total floor area in FY 2019 (511,444 m2)
compared to the base level set in FY 2004 (the year the university
became a "national university corporation").
t-CO2

Total
Consumption rate

35,354t-CO2/1,000㎡(Consumption rate)

34,680FY 2018
136.5 kWh/m2

68.8

33,272
67.4

65.1

32,00031,00030,0000

FY 2016

FY 2019

1.7% reduction

FY 2019134.2 kWh/m2

In FY 2019, city gas usage at our 11 main building complexes decreased 3.9% from the previous fiscal year as a result of energy
conservation activities.
(1,000㎥)

Total(1,000 kWh)

4,600

4,420
8.77

4,200

4,081
8.10

Consumption rate (㎥/㎡) （㎥/㎡）
10

4,385
8.70

4,155
8.24

4,053
7.92

3,000

6

2,600

5
0

65.0
65
60.0

FY 2017

FY 2018

FY 20190

Figure 2: CO2 emissions

FY 2004
20.6% reduction
81.94 t-CO2 /1,000m2

FY 201965.1 t-CO2 /1,000m2

FY 2016

FY 2017

FY 2018

FY 2019

Figure 4: Gas consumption
3.9% reduction

FY 20197.92m3/m2

Heavy Oil Consumption
Heavy oil consumption for FY 2019 decreased 50.0% from theprevious fiscal year. This is a result of the FY 2017 demolition of anabsorption type water cooler/heater's fuel tank in the Fukae region,changing to gas sources, and adopting electric heat pumps.
50.00

70.0
70

8
7

（kL）

75
75.0

9

3,400

85.0
80

55.0
FY 2015

FY 2018

City Gas Consumption

85
90.0

80.0

33,962

34,00070.1

FY 20170(CO2 emissions)

135

0

FY 2015

FY 2018
8.24m3/m2

69.7

140

0

sources have increased as a result of activities necessary for
new education and research projects, and initiatives to provide
advanced medical treatment. Despite this, energy conservation activities have allowed us to achieve a 20.6% reduction in CO2 emis-

33,00068,644134.2

FY 2015

35,00068,82864,000Initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions involving students and faculty
have been implemented throughout the university. CO2 emission

35,112

138.9

136.5

3,800

CO2 Emissions

36,000145

70,021Figure 3: Electricity consumption

Figure 1: Energy consumption

FY 2018
1,710 GJ/1,000m2

68,000Consumption rate (kWh/㎡) （kWh/㎡）

Total (1,000 kWh)

851,370

233,805

700,000

72,000

44.49
0.088

Total（kL )

49.92
0.099

Consumption rate（L / ㎡ ） （L/㎡）

0.10

40.00

0.08

30.00

0.06

20.00

12.10
0.024

10.00
0.00

FY 2015

FY 2016

FY 2017

0.04

1.11
0.002

0.76
0.001

FY 2018

FY 2019

Figure 5: Heavy oil consumption

FY 2018
0.002 L/m2

50% reduction

FY 20190.001L/m2

0.02
0.00

Kobe University Environmental Performance
Implementation of Electronic Manifest Information Sessions

Resource Conservation and Recycling
Water Usage
Water usage for FY 2019 decreased by 20,000 m3 (4.7%)
compared to the previous
fiscal year.
In Rokkodai, we plan to conserve resources by using
river water from Mt. Rokko
for toilets and experiments.
We will continue striving to efficiently use water resources
going forward.

Miscellaneous water
Well water

1,000m3
500

456

444

82

74

133

115

241

254

FY 2015

FY 2016

450
400
350
300

City water
Total

438

415

72

94

117

250

418

74

77

120

200
150
100

270

221

225

50
0

FY 2017

FY 2018

FY 2019

Figure 6: Water usage

Waste
Recycling rate (%)
Waste volume from FY ■Waste volume (t) ■Recycling volume (t)2015-2019 is shown. The
volume of waste in FY
2019 increased by 14.6%
compared to FY 2018.
The university's recycling
efforts resulted in an increase in the recycling ratefrom 22.6% in FY 2015 to
25.8% in FY 2019.
The FY 2019 recycling rate
FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019by waste type is shown in
Figure 7: General waste
Figure 8. According to thisgraph, the recycling rate for OA paper, newspapers, magazines, andcardboard has not improved. If the recycling rate for paper reaches
90%, the total recycling rate for all waste will increase from approximately 25.8% to 35.7% (calculated according to FY 2019 waste volume). Kobe University will follow its basic policy to encourage environmental management, and work to further improve the recycling rate.
■

Other

Non-combustible
waste

Large items

PET bottles

Bottles

Cans

Combustiblewaste

Raw garbage

Other paper

Confidential
documents

Cardboard

Magazines

Newspaper

OA paper％100.0 100.0 100.0
95.7
100
90
80
70
60
50 44.5 45.0 42.7
40
32.2
30
20
10
0.0 0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0 0.0
0Figure 8: FY 2019 recycling rate by waste type

Office Consumption Across Departments
Changes in consumption of
office paper from FY 2015
to FY 2019 are shown in the
figure below.
Consumption decreased
3.47% (6.77t) from the previous fiscal year.
Going forward, we will work
to reduce our paper usage
by making conferences andlectures paperless, and will
make double-sided printing,aggregate printing, andreusing the reverse side ofprinted paper the norm.

（ｔ）

250

211.45206.84200

195.16185.73

188.39The following types of waste are generated by universities: generalbusiness waste such as paper and empty cans, and industrial waste
including liquids left over from experiments and other waste generated by research facilities. Although the amount of industrial waste may
be relatively small in quantity, it encompasses various kinds of waste
due the university's involvement in a wide range of research fields.
Even a small amount of this waste is required to be properly treated inaccordance with the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law (Waste
Management Law).
In principle, industrial waste is outsourced to an outside contractor for
disposal, but the law requires that the waste generator be responsible up until the final stage of disposal; this includes after the waste ishanded over to the contractor.
There are various aspects that must be considered when disposing ofwaste, including its classification, storage, the consignment contract,
and the handling of management forms. According to the Waste Management Law, it is the responsibility of the waste generator to oversee
the management forms (manifest) that are issued to outsourced waste
disposal contractors until they are returned by the contractor uponcompletion of disposal. The waste generator is then responsible for the
storage and general management of the manifests.
Recently, we have shifted from paper to digital manifests, and believethat it is necessary to continue with digitization from the perspectiveof storage security and operational efficiency within the university.
Therefore, we held an electronic information session for the people in chargeof each department on September 3,
2019. The session focused on the implementation of this electronic manifest
system, in addition to important points in
the revised Waste Management Law.
Electronic manifest information session
Regarding the manifests, we plan
(Takigawa Memorial Academic
to continue our efforts to promote Exchange Hall Conference Room)
digitization from the perspective ofSeptember 3, 2019
strengthening both environmental and
16:00-17:00
risk management.

Green Purchasing and Procurement, and Environmentally Friendly Contracts
Green Purchasing and Procurement
The Act on Promotion of Procurement of Eco-Friendly Goods andServices by the State and Other Entities (Green Purchasing Law)
was implemented in April 2004. This law prescribes the necessary
procedures for the promotion of environmentally friendly goods
procurement by the national government, provides information
on increasing the demand for such goods, and aims to realize asociety capable of sustainable development with less impact on
the environment. It was established with the aim of contributing topeople's health and cultural life both now and in the future, with thegovernment and other organizations taking the initiative in stimulating the purchase of environmentally friendly goods.
Based on this Act, Kobe University creates a policy for procuringeco-friendly materials every year. It also provides reports to the
Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology on the procurement of materials
based on this policy.
The university conducted a study on procurement results for 281
items across 21 fields. A selection of these results from 9 major
fields are shown in Table 12. In FY 2019, we achieved a 100%
procurement rate for the designated items.
We will continue to create procurement policies based on the Green
Purchasing Law, and proactively work to source eco-friendly materials.
Table 12: Green purchasing and procurement achievements in FY 2019
Category
Paper

150

Stationery100

FY 2015

FY 2016

FY 2017

FY 2018

FY 2019

Figure 9: FY 2015-2019 university-wide
paper usage

Office furniture
OA equipment
Lighting
Interiors
Work gloves
Other textile products
Services
Average

Item
Copy paper
Toilet paper
Other
Ballpoint pens
Envelopes (paper)
Other
Chairs, desks
Copy machines, printers
Fluorescent tubes
Curtains
Blue sheets
Printing

Total procurement volume Procurement rate for specific items
187,528kg
100%
53,668kg
100%
1,525kg
100%
8,330
100%
196,488100%
72,990
100%
2,208
100%
4,776
100%
13,045
100%
77
100%
4,616
100%
46
100%
596
100%
100%

Environmental Education, Research and Topics
Research

PDF p.13

Research

PDF p.16

Research on measures against extreme
high temperature in Kobe City

Research on carbon dioxide separation
using membranes

Hideki Takebayashi, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering

Eiji Kamio, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering

In order to obtain the necessary knowledge to formulate a basic
plan for Kobe City towork on measuresagainst extreme hightemperature, we
analyzed the resultsof an environmental
survey on summer
heat in the central
part of Kobe City andsummarized the recommendations for abasic countermeasures plan basedon a simulation of
the thermal environ- Thermal environment index at 13:00 on a sunny day in summer
ment.
SET* distribution map (August 5, 2019)

Research

PDF p.14

A CO2 separation membrane can be made by using a special
material that absorbs CO2 but hardly absorbs any other gas components. We are developing a CO2 separation membrane using
別紙１－１（画像データ）"ionicliquid" as
this special material.
Gel network

Ionic liquid

Conservation Activities

PDF p.17

Studies in dietary environmental science from an interdisciplinary perspective: Environmental issues caused by eating habits

Cooperative activities to solve the problem offecal E. coli contamination in the Toga River (2)Naoko Shirasugi, Professor, Graduate School of Human Development and Environment

Graduate School of Science: Toshinobu Suzaki, En Kitagawa, Wataru Inoue
Center for Environmental Management Chisato Yoshimura
Graduate School of Health Sciences: Minato Nakazawa, Katsumi Shigemura
Hideyuki Iriko, Norina Horiguchi
Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation: Koichi Kitagawa
Local activity group "Toga River Protection Society"

In order to reduce nitrogen pollution from farmlands by excessive
fertilizer input, we are trying to find clues to solve environmental
issues by weighing environmental issues in tea plant cultivation ina balance against the food culture.
Nitrogen input reduction
Environmental issues
Quantitative analysesof eluted NO3- and Al
in Soil Solutions

Green tea quality
Quality evaluations of green tea
and its processed foods :quantitative analyses ofcomposition of taste components,
sensory evaluations, andphysiological activities assays

Conflict
betweenfood culture
and environmental
Confl
ict between
food culture
and environmental
issues in teaissues
cultivation

About four years ago we began cooperating with the Toga
River Protection Society, a
local activity group in Nada
Ward, to carry out water quality
conservation activities for the
Toga River system that flows
near the Rokkodai Campus.

in tea cultivation

Research

PDF p.15

Mr. Hiroshi Hyodo, director of the Toga
River Protection Society, explains how
to use handmade water sampling tools.

Conservation Activities

PDF p.18

Research on thermoelectric conversion of"waste heat" to "Electricity"

Research and development of environmentallyfriendly concrete using crushed stone by-products

Kenji Ishida, Professor, Graduate School of Engineering

Mariko Suzuki, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Agriculture

The technology to harvest wasted energy, convert it into elec-

We are aiming to expand the use of crushed stone powder,

tricity, and use it is called "energy harvesting", and is consideredwhich is one of the by-products of crushed stone, by conducting

to be a renewable energy source. Energy harvesting has great

research to clarify the various characteristics of concrete thatsi gni f i c a n c econtains it.

from the perspective ofeffectively
utilizing energy that would
otherwise be
wasted.

Flexible thermoelectric conversion materials

Crushed stone powder

Concrete specimens*For more details, see the Environmental Report 2020 on the Kobe University website. (The page number at the top indicates the page number in the PDF version.)

Environmental Education, Research and Topics
Topics

PDF p.7

Practical evidence-based efforts by industry-government-academia to reduce food waste
Risa Kojima, Project Associate Professor, Graduate School of Economics(Director of NPO Gomi Japan)
Since the usefulness of the food waste diary for reducing household food loss has already been demonstrated, we are supporting local governments nationwide in the application of this policy,
as well as promoting corporate food waste prevention efforts.

PDF p.10

Sumiyoshi River estuary environmental survey experience (KU "try-al")
Kobe University Research Center for Inland Seas
Toshimasa Asahi Specially Appointed Assistant Professor , Mitsuru Hayashi Associate Professor
The purpose of this program is to help people understand,through work experience, environmental issues that they areunaware of in their daily lives, and to have them reconsider
these problems.

Survey on the Sumiyoshi River

Home screen of the food waste diary app

Topics

Education

PDF p.8

A flock of ducks around the mouth of the Sumiyoshi
River with Rokko Island in the background.

Education

PDF p.11

Report on the 2019 Co-op Student Committee (GI) environmental activities

Marine plastic waste in Kobe City: riverarea survey (ESD exercises I and II)

Yuka Nishimura, 2nd year student, Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine

Risa Kojima, Project Associate Professor, Graduate School of Economics

We carried out an initiative called Candle Night with candles
made with waste oil from the cafeteria, which attracted the interest of many Kobe University students, as well as collecting usedpaper.

based on a social science approach. We begin by discussing

We are conducting action research into marine plastic waste
where there are30

rine plastic, letting

20

the students from10

their own hypoth-0
Food packaging (ice cream)

conduct field sur-Food packaging (box lunches, rice balls)

Food packaging (sweets)

Candles made with waste oil from the cafeteria

PDF p.9

Using Environmental Reports to Educate
on the Environment

Shioyatani River Toga River Rokko River

Food packaging

final reports.

TopicsIkuta River Ishiya Rivereses, design andveys, and create
Collecting used paper

Number of food packaging waste items foundissues with ma-

Food packaging (others)

Breakdown of the types of discarded foodpackaging found near each river

Education

PDF p.12

ESD exercise & theoretical ethics exercise: next-generation energy workshop

The Environmental Report has been issued by the university

Tsuyoshi Matsuda Professor, Graduate School of Humanities

every year since 2011, in order to make our efforts widely known

We tackled the issue of how to form a social consensus on theto people on campus. It also enables us to take into accountbest methods for next-generation energy generation, taking into

students' opinions in both the preparation of future reports andenvironmental conservation activities.

account factors such as the social conditions and values of the
別紙２
region,including trends in science and technology, the political

economy, and population decline.

(Material from a student's proposal presentation)*For more details, see the Environmental Report 2020 on the Kobe University website. (The page number at the top indicates the page number in the PDF version.)

Outside Opinion
First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to write the third-party comment on the Environmental
Report. This Environmental Report 2020 is very interesting because it contains many fascinating educational research caseson Kobe University's environment, detailed data on environmental performance, and the ambitious activities of the Environmental Conservation Promotion Center.
Of the presented cases, I was particularly interested in the research on carbon dioxide separation using membranes in thefield of applied chemistry. The Advanced Membrane Engineering
Research Center at Kobe University produces various outstanding studies in this field. I believe that this particular technology
will evolve further and help solve the CO2 emission problem,
which presents a serious challenge. I also sincerely hope that it
will be an important step towards achieving the SDGs.
Looking at the data on environmental performance over the past
five years, the overall environmental footprint has decreased formost items such as energy, CO2, and electricity consumption,and the continuous energy conservation promotion activities are
steadily bearing fruit. Even though universities' administrational
governance (especially that of national universities) has recently
grown stronger, I think it is still very difficult to achieve definitive
results with regard to energy conservation at the workplace. In
addition, air conditioners and electric lights have already beenchanged to energy-efficient ones, so energy conservation promotion activities themselves are not as easy as they were a longtime ago. Under such circumstances, it must be presumed thatthe steady reduction trend is maintained by the constant efforts
of all concerned parties. On the other hand, as pointed out by
the Outside Opinion (by Professor Shigeo Fujii, Kyoto University)
in last year's Environmental Report, there is a need to consider
the scale university to determine whether or not each value isappropriate as an absolute amount. I think it is very difficult tojudge whether there is still room for reduction. I felt that it would
be easier to understand if there were some absolute indicatorsand their comparisons.
In addition, I thought that the section on the digitization of waste
management forms (manifests) was also very important. You
may have noticed a delay in digitization at the university during
COVID-19. We, as faculty members, also struggled with remotelearning via the web, but more than that, I was reminded of thereality that the university's administrative organization is still
mainly paper-based (perhaps it is only our university). I verymuch hope that these efforts toward digitization will continue.
I feel that it is becoming more and more difficult to work on
environmental conservation and management within the very
limited budget of the university. Kobe University has inherited
nearly 120 years of tradition from its beginnings as Kobe Higher
Commercial School, and is well-known both in Japan and overseas as a comprehensive university with strengths in economics
and management. How can you tackle environment-related
challenges without spending money? In the future, it may be
worthwhile to introduce some thought-provoking initiatives fromthe perspectives of university management and environmental
conservation.
Name: Seiji Suga
Current position: Vice President of
Okayama University(in charge of science and engineering reform)
Professor, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology
Director, Environmental Management Center
ProﬁleCompleted doctoral program at Nagoya University Graduate School of Science
Postdoctoral fellow, Oxford University, UK (as a JSPS Overseas Research Fellow)
After working as an assistant, lecturer, and associate professor at Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering, became a Professor at Okayama University
Graduate School of Natural Sciences in 2008
Okayama University Director/Vice President (in charge of finance & facilities)(2017-2019)■ Awards: Synthetic Organic Chemistry Encouragement Award, Organic ElectronTransfer Chemistry Encouragement Award, BCSJ Award, Nagase Research Promotion Award, Okayama Engineering Promotion Association
Yuzo Uchiyama Science & Technology Award■ Research fields: Synthetic organic chemistry, electron transfer chemistry

About the CoverIn order to further publicize this Environmental Report to our students (who comprise the majority of the university population), we
created the cover by soliciting photos from undergraduate and graduate students at the university, along with students at our affiliatedschools. The cover photo was selected by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Committee, with the photo below receiving the
grand prize.We would like to express our thanks to all those who submitted photos.
Kobe University Graduate School of Economics 2nd year master's program student Kazushi Ikeuchi[Photo Comment]
Due to the impact of COVID-19, entering the grounds of the university is prohibited, but graduate
students are allowed to use the library if their instructor permits it. I went to the library with permission, but there was no one around from the Main Gate to the Main Building, and there was not one
cloud in the sky. I was able to take a picture like this because there were no people. COVID-19
has had a bad effect on the students, but when I looked at nature, I felt that it was full of life. I
thought that when we begin our activities as usual after the pandemic, we need to cherish nature.

■Report year: FY 2019 (April 2019 - March 2020)■Date of issue: September 18, 2020
■Created by the Center for Environmental Management■Inquiries:Kobe University Facilities Department, Equipment Division,
Environmental Management Group
1-1, Rokkodaicho, Nada-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Prefecture 657-8501
E-mail: shis-kankyo@office.kobe-u.ac.jp
URL: https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/about_us/charter/environment.html

Photo location: Rokkodai 1st Campus(Photograph of Main Building from Main Gate stairs)