We are involved in the climate change crisis. In order to reach the 1.5 °C target set forth in the Paris Agreement, it is necessary to reduce global anthropogenic CO2 emissions to virtually zero by 2050. In particular, there is an urgent need to reduce CO2 emissions from energy usage. In order to do this, it is necessary not only to introduce sustainable technology, but also to change the social system and people's consciousness. In addition, the destruction of ecosystems and the individual circumstances of each region must not be ignored in order to solve macro-environmental problems. In other words, we believe that not only top-down environmental policies centered on the world and nations, but also bottom-up environmental policies starting from the region are significant. Therefore, I moved to Kawasaki Town, which is next to Sendai City, and while living as a resident researcher, I am conducting research activities that contribute to the construction of bottom-up environmental policy. In order to solve environmental problems, we believe that (1) the development of sustainable technologies, (2) the conservation of secondary ecosystems, and (3) the transformation of social systems and consciousness need to proceed in tandem.
Therefore, I am conducting research to convert wood resources from Satoyama fuelwood forests into various carbon materials using the green process and apply them to energy device materials that contribute to electricity storage and electricity creation. Furthermore, I am trying to incorporate it into my own life. In order to achieve these, the cooperation of researchers in other fields, local people, and colleagues who work side-by-side (approved by Tohoku University) is indispensable. In particular, in order to create an eco-lifestyle, it is indispensable to carry out transdisciplinary research in which citizen scientists who are not vocational researchers and citizen practitioners who are vocational researchers jointly carry out research.
I believe that vocational researchers can build bottom-up environmental policies by joining in the community as local residents.