Kick-off Meeting of the Research Center for Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (CAStr), Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University

To commemorate the establishment of the Research Center for Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (CAStr), the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, Japan held a kick-off meeting via zoom on 6 September 2024.  The kick-off meeting, introduced and shared results of climate change research conducted at DPRI which mainly focuses on natural disasters.  The speakers and the audience actively engaged in discussion and discussed on future developments and pathways. The meeting was attended by 189 participants, far exceeding expectations.

The Research Center for Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (CAStr) was established by the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University on 1 July 2024. The Center aims to conduct research on predictions of meteorological and hydrological disasters, which are expected to become more severe in the future due to climate change.  The Center will also focus on social adaptation, as well as promote collaborative research by researchers within and outside of the university and share the results with the society.

The kick-off meeting which started at 3 p.m., was followed by greetings by the DPRI Director, Prof. Tomoharu Hori,  and Prof. Norihito Tokitoh, Executive Vice-President, Kyoto University. The Opening Remarks were delivered by the Director, Mr. Akira Yamaguchi of the Environment and Energy Division of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; followed by the greeting of the Director, Mr. Masayoshi Hirose of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; and  Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism;  and the Director Mr. Yasuaki Hijioka of the Climate Change Adaptation Center of the National Institute for Environmental Studies.

The opening greetings and remarks were followed by introductory speeches by the members of DPRI, including the CAStr Director Prof. Eiichi Nakakita who introduced the “History of Climate Change Research”.  Other members of DPRI included Prof. Tetsuya Takemi, President of Meteorological Society of Japan who spoke on “The Future of Climate Change Predictions and Impact” and Prof. Nobuhito Mori on “The Current State of Prediction and Adaptation Strategies for Extreme Disasters”.   Dean Tachikawa Yasuto of the Graduate School of Engineering and Director Katahira Masato of the Institute of Advanced Energy discussed pathways “Toward Climate Change Research Collaboration at Kyoto University.” The discussion session was moderated by Prof. Hirokazu Tatano, Deputy Director, CAStr.

• Research Center for Climate Change Adaptation (CAStr), Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University