Calling the young generation! Publication of environmental reports by Japanese universities

World-renowned climate research institution, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), will be publishing “Special Report on 1.5 Degrees” (SR 1.5) this October. The preliminary content consists of a report that by 2040, the increase in the earth’s temperature is expected to exceed that of the industrial revolution period by 1.5℃. That is to say, in about 20 years’ time, we will see how we fare in terms of global warming. 

Some readers of the higher age group might feel relieved because they may not be there to see the results. However, for the young generation who are still at school, they may be forced to be the witnesses (as well as victims) of the earth’s environmental change. In other words, all media materials and appeals about climate change should not be targeted on government officials or the decision makers. Instead, we have to instill in the young generation that “this definitely concerns you!”

Japanese universities’ environmental reports (image source: website of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan)

Environmental Communication Awards encouragesuniversities to respond to environmental issues

Let’s see how Japan encourages universities and research institutions to fulfill social responsibilities, develop their own environmental management system, and make the young generation concerned about environmental issues.

The first step is to encourage academic and research institutions to prepare environmental reports. The Ministry of the Environment of Japan has since 1997 been organizing “Environmental Communication Awards” to publicly commend outstanding environmental reports. In 2004, with the establishment of the “Act on Environmental Promotion”, independent administrative corporations and national universities are required to publish environmental reports on an annual basis. 

The reports have to be verified by a third party before being published in the website of the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. The obvious intention of the above measures is to hope that in the process of writing the environmental reports, universities will again review the yearly environmental impact generated by their organization, thereby establishing environmental management system and response mechanism, and communicating with external interested parties. A good example is the frequent winner of the “Environmental Communication Award”, Mie University, whose report comprehensively covers the campus’ environmental management system, research statistics, response actions, communication strategies, external certification, third party evaluation, etc. 

Through these reports, we can see the energy usage, resource consumption, waste recycling and disposal status of every university for the year. The universities also disclose the proportion of their self-produced energy or green energy purchase, and convert them to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental accounting indicators. The reports are open for public evaluation.

Mie University’s 2017 Environmental Report

Students’ participation,showing concern for their own university

Making a presentable environmental report is only the first step. Most importantly, it increases students’ participation and awareness. For example, Mie niversity’s students form the “Environment ISO Student Committee” to take turns to organize monthly seminars, second-hand goods recycling and sharing, bicycle repair, campus greening and beautification, and even coastal research and beach clean-up. They also make use of the “Yokkaichi Asthma” (at the north of Mie Prefecture) incident as environmental education materials. In addition, Chiba University of Commerce near Tokyo makes use of thermal imaging statistical techniques developed by their teachers and students in planning energy-saving projects and proposing improvement recommendations for public area’s lightings or electrical appliances power consumption.

Besides universities and colleges, Japan government also encourages research institutions to publish environmental reports(image source: website of the Ministry of Environment of Japan)

The above practices are not exceptions. In fact, the environment ISO committees and students’ environmental clubs of Japanese universities organize “National Student Conference on Environmental Management” periodically, and together exchange ideas on action plans and innovative approaches on campus environmental management. Several schools’ environmental reports often share environmental research results by the teachers and students, such as Iwate University’s long-term observation of the soil environment and biodiversity surrounding the disaster area of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. 

As for Taiwan, the Ministry of Education began to promote “University Social Responsibility Project” last year. We may refer to Japan’s over 20 years of practical experience to help our next generation recognize the issues of climate change and energy source at an early stage.