Sustainability and System Analysis Research Group
Sustainability and System Analysis Research Group
7 Researchers:
Manabu Utagawa, Masaharu Motoshita (concurrent), Ryosuke Yokoi (concurrent), Kamrul Islam (concurrent), Keitaro Maeno (concurrent), Slim Mtibaa (concurrent)
2 Contract Employees
Outline
The aim of our group is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable society through the provision of the two key technologies: 1) models and indicators for sustainability assessment, and 2) system analysis for sustainability.
We promote the development of environmental impact assessment models, environmental carrying capacity indicators, risk assessment methods in Environment, Social and Governance (ESG), and assessment methods of individual energy technologies on which to base sustainability assessment. We are also advancing fundamental methods to design sustainable societal systems through system analysis techniques such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA). Using these methods, we support the practical implementation of promising technologies and systems through studies of actual social implementation.
Research Highlights
Sustainability assessment models and indicators
Assessment of environmental impact and carrying capacities
We develop environmental impact assessment models and environmental carrying capacity indicators as a basis of sustainability assessment by collaborating with international experts towards global consensus and world standardization.
Potential impacts of water consumption in watersheds |
Production capacity of geological resources under water availability constraints |
ESG risk assessment methods
We develop methods to assess risks that may impede sustainable resource use from ESG perspectives.
Causes of mineral supply disruptions |
Natural disaster risk for resource exporting courtiers |
Energy technology assessment
We assess a variety of energy technologies from environmental and energy efficiency aspects based on Life Cycle Assessment and cost benefit analysis.
Comparison of energy technologies |
Cost benefit analysis of climate mitigation technologies |
System Analysis for Sustainability
Risk assessment of resource supply chains
We develop and implement methods and databases for the analysis of risks associated with resource supply chains of freshwater and mineral resources.
- Natural disaster risks
- Future changes (supply and demand)
- Diversity of supply sources
- Exceedance of environmental carrying capacity
etc.
We also develop methods for designing sustainable global supply chains that can reduce the risks associated with use of sustainable natural resources.
Estimation of CO2 emission reduction potential through improving global supply chain structures of mineral resources
System analysis on resource management and strategy
We aim to construct systems and strategies for achieving a stable resource supply to domestic industry, through the assessment of supply risks and recycling potentials of various materials.
Some upper limits of resource self-sufficiency achievable through recycling