For Japan to do its part as a member of the international community in the construction of a socioeconomic system that promotes dematerialization and addresses global warming, we must work to lighten not only the environmental burden we impose domestically, but also, through trade, that we impose internationally as well. This said, it is not easy to quantitatively determine/assess the overseas component of our environmental burden. Important here are an establishment of a scientific methodology and an elucidation of the true situation at hand. In our research, we conduct the following so to better determine the comprehensive environmental burden imposed by our global trade activities.
(1) Establish a method for analyzing the comprehensive environmental impact of trade-related activities
(2) Develop an analytical assessment model that makes use of statistical data from countries around the world. Also, with regards to Japan, quantify CO2 emissions associated with our import/export activities and of the major raw materials consumed within same
(3) With regards to major technologies pertaining to biomass and metal resources, we establish multiple scenarios and identify optimal import/export structures for each. In addition to our affiliated researchers, we welcome the participation of colleagues from Waseda University and Kyushu University. We also invite knowledgeable specialists in such areas as international trade and international economy to our research coordination meetings, and, as appropriate, seek reviews and comments on specific issues for inclusion into our research program.