Publications

Trade-offs in nature’s contributions to people (NCP), particularly in material NCP versus regulating and non-material NCP, continue to rise. Socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS) represent harmonious human-nature interactions resulting in positive outcomes for both biodiversity and human well-being, thus implying synergies...

Information about cultural landscape settings and characteristics is essential for understanding and finding solutions for their sustainable management. In the Gurage socio-ecological production landscape of Ethiopia, “Jefoure” refers to a traditional grass-covered road with households on either side. This study aims to map and characterize Jefoure...

Highlights • The analysis indicated a positive correlation between socioeconomic factors and agricultural land change in Asia. • A negative correlation between agricultural land and urban population signified an agricultural land decline in Asia. • Higher agricultural productivity gains contributed to the farmland decline in some countries in Asia...

This publication aims to promote local climate actions by disseminating information on the announcement by 31 local governments in the Kyushu region of Japan on their commitment to be “Zero Carbon Cities” by 2050. It compiles the background, current situation and challenges, along with domestic and international trends on a net zero carbon society.

This briefing note considers the prospects for the Biden administration’s climate policy. It surveys the main elements of the Biden administration’s climate policies in his first month in office, as well as what is not included, and it speculates on the potential for these policies to be adopted and implemented. Key personnel and the overall...

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management, particularly final disposal as open dumps has become a global issue. Worldwide, dumpsites are the third largest anthropogenic source of methane, accounting for 11 percent of estimated global methane emissions or 881 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The 50 largest dumpsites affect the daily lives of 64...

The summary reports present the results of the technical analysis of biennial update reports of Antigua and Barbuda, Uganda, and the Republic of Korea, conducted by a team of technical experts in accordance with the modalities and procedures contained in the annex to decision 20/CP.19. The author at IGES (Chisa Umemiya) served as one of the...

While calls for interdisciplinary research in environmental contexts are common, it often remains a struggle to integrate humanities/qualitative social sciences insights with those of bio-physical approaches. We propose that cross-disciplinary historical perspectives can open new avenues for collaboration among social and natural scientists while...

This presentation was given at the JCM Global Partnership meeting on Feb 17-19 2021. It provides the sustainable development under Art 6 and JCM; linkages between the JCM and SDGs; and future potential contributions to the achievement of SDGs. In addition, it briefly explains JCM potentials to the COVID-19 recovery plan in the partner countries...

Water is of vital and critical importance to ecosystems and human societies. The effects of human activities on land and water are now large and extensive. These reflect physical changes to the environment. Global change such as urbanization, population growth, socioeconomic change, evolving energy needs, and climate change have put unprecedented...