In the Regional Circulating and Ecological System Laboratory, we are studying efficient cyclical use of urban resources and developing regional energy management systems towards the future goals including decarbonization and circular economy.
The Laboratory aims to meet with the integrative research challenges for a sustainable future. Scientific implementation for the sustainable development goals to respond to the complicated socio-environmental landscape including national-scale material flow system as well as local energy and transportation system with regional circular economy system and strategic land use management system is investigated and the sustainable future such as among economic, social and environmental impacts is analyzed. We also develop a scientific process to design the feasible sustainable development goals for public governments at the city/region and national levels. Database and knowledge platform can provide the alternative pathways to the local stakeholders which are consistent with macroscopic future decarbonizing targets. Policy making approaches among engineers, professors, and stakeholders are also discussed for Sustainable Development Goals for public stakeholders. Demonstration research projects in Japan and Asia Pacific Region are also discussed. Possible research outcomes include strategic technology assessment, adaptive city and regional planning, and policy instruments for social transition toward climate change resilient Asia and Pacific Region. Macroscopic analysis of material flows and environmental impacts of resource circulation systems and local circular system analysis are shown as follows.
Related research articles:
Nakatani, J., Maruyama, T., & Moriguchi, Y. (2020). Revealing the intersectoral material flow of plastic containers and packaging in Japan. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(33), 19844-19853.
Yong Geng, Tsuyoshi Fujita, Xudong Chen (2010) Evaluation of Innovative Municipal Solid Waste Management through Urban Symbiosis: A Case Study of Kawasaki. Journal of Cleaner Production. 18, 993-1000