#How to address climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in the face of increasingly severe weather-related disasters

Basic Knowledge of CCS Plants and the Role of Construction Consultants

One technology that is currently attracting significant attention as Japan aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 is CCS, which involves capturing and storing CO2. CCS is an extremely important technology, especially for industries where decarbonization is considered very difficult, such as thermal power plants and steel mills, and is said to be a key to achieving carbon neutrality in Japan. We talked to Toyomitsu KANAI from Facility Engineering Dept., Transportation Infrastructure Div. at PACIFIC CONSULTANTS, who is working on CCS projects.

Use of SAR Satellites in Disaster Prevention

The "Long-Term Assessment of the Probability of Earthquakes" by the government's Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion predicts a high probability of a massive earthquake, and as natural disasters become more severe and frequent due to climate change, the efficiency and sophistication of disaster prevention and mitigation measures through DX are becoming an urgent issue. As an important tool for this, commercial SAR satellites are attracting attention because of their ability to observe the ground at high frequencies regardless of time of day or weather conditions. We interviewed Mr. Toshiki YANAGIMACHI, Technical Manager of the Resilience Promotion Sec., Mr. Tsukasa MITOGAWA, Assitant Manager of the Disaster Prevention DX Promotion Sec. of Disaster Prevention Dept., Digital Service Div. and Mr. Nobukazu SASAKI, General Manager of Technology Development Sec. of Advanced Technology Center of PACIFIC CONSULTANTS, who are working on satellite applications in the field of spatial information technology.

What is Floating Offshore Wind Power Generation?

In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the Japanese government has set a target of 40-50% of renewable energy in the energy mix by fiscal year 2040. Wind power, particularly floating offshore wind power, is expected to play a major role alongside solar power. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS has a proven track record in the wind power field since the early 2000s. We spoke with three people about the current state and future outlook for floating offshore wind power: Takehiko SANO, General Manager of the Wind Power Promotion Project Sec. in the Project Management Dept. of the Project Management Div.; Katsuhide FUJISHIMA, Chief Engineer; and Aya IWANAMI, Assistant Technical Manager at the Earthquake Resistance Center in Structural Dept., Transportation Infrastructure Div.

Energy-related Project in Rankoshi Town, Hokkaido

Rankoshi Town in Hokkaido is known nationwide as one of the best producers of delicious rice. It is a beautiful town blessed with abundant nature. However, like many local municipalities, it faces many challenges due to a declining population and an aging population with a low birthrate, and it also needed to take immediate action to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS noticed that Rankoshi Town was considering utilizing "Energy Structure Advancement and Conversion Understanding Promotion Project" of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and supported its efforts, such as developing solid fuel using rice husks and utilizing wastewater heat from hot springs, which have produced many results. Katsunori AMEJIMA of the Regional Energy Sec., Hokkaido Social Innovation Department, looks back on the project.

Climate Change Adaptation Measures in Ports and Harbors

With rising sea levels and larger typhoons due to climate change, how to protect ports from flooding damage has become a major issue. However, because ports are spread across a wide area and involve a variety of public and private entities, no single entity can take effective measures alone. What is needed is "collaborative protection," in which all stakeholders work together toward a common goal. The government has also published "Guidelines for Creating Collaborative Protection Plans," and in the future, each port will begin full-scale efforts. We spoke with Takayuki Ooie, General Manager of Section of Ports and Harbors and Coast Sec. in the Port Ports and Harbors Dept. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS, and Ryunosuke Kanno Chief Project Manager of Ports and Harbors Planning Sec. about the latest trends in collaborative protection efforts.

Introduction of Perovskite Solar Cells to Public Infrastructure

In February 2025, the government approved the 7th Basic Energy Plan, setting a goal of "The ratio of renewable energy to the power supply mix in FY2040 to be about 40% to 50%". Solar power generation is expected to be at the center of this. In particular, perovskite solar cells, which are being developed, are very thin and flexible, so they are expected to expand their installation locations at once. The Prime Minister, TAKAICHI, also called for domestic energy, including perovskite solar cells, to be important as energy security, and called for immediate implementation of measures, and we talked to Tetsuo KOMORIYA, the General Manager of  Renewable Energy Promotion/Development Sec., Basin Structural Dept., Land Infrastructure Div. and Chisato KAWAI, General Electricity Sec., Facility Engineering Dept., Transportation Infrastructure Div. of PACIFIC CONSULTANTS, who are considering the introduction of solar panels to existing public infrastructure.

What does Carbon Neutrality for Roads mean?

Extreme weather events such as heat waves, torrential rains, and forest fires are causing increasingly frequent and severe disasters that threaten people's lives around the world. To halt the progression of global warming, which is the cause of these disasters, the steady implementation of measures toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is essential. Efforts are also being made urgently in the road sector, which accounts for approximately 18% of Japan's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The government included "promotion of road decarbonization" in the revised Road Act, which was enacted in April 2025. What will be required of road managers in the future? We spoke with four people: Hiroyuki WADA, General Manager of the Transportation Infrastructure Div. Transportation Planning Dept., Social Innovation Div.; Sayo SAITO, Urban Mobility Sec., the same department; Nobuo TAKAHASHIi, Road Promotion Office, Road & Highway Dept., Transportation Infrastructure Business Headquarters; and Naohiro UCHIYAMA, Urban & Disaster Prevention DX Office, Osaka Digital Services Business Department, Osaka Osaka Headquarters.

<Mongolia> Data Collection Survey on Promoting Energy Transition

Mongolia, a signatory to Paris Agreement adopted in 2015, has set long-term goal for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is working to achieve it. However, given the country's abundant coal resources, it will be difficult to break away from its dependence on coal. JICA launched an Data Collection Survey Project in 2024 to determine what kind of assistance Japan could provide and to formulate guidelines. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS served as the prime partner of the joint venture responsible for the project, and Hironori KOBAYASHI of International Facilities Sec., Facility Engineering Dept., Transportation Infrastructure Div., worked on-site as an assistant to Project Manager.

Corporate's Climate Change Countermeasures

In recent years, extreme weather events such as extreme heat waves and torrential rains have been occurring frequently in many parts of the world, causing severe damage such as floods and landslides. These weather disasters are believed to be caused by global warming in addition to the effects of natural variability. It is "beyond doubt" ("IPCC 6th Report") that human activities have caused global warming mainly through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and how to reduce GHG emissions has become an important issue not only for governments and local public organizations but also for private companies and individual citizens. We interviewed three people who are involved in the formulation of guidelines for national climate change countermeasures and at the same time provide a wide range of support for local public organizations and corporate carbon neutrality, from strategic planning to on-site implementation: Kimiko KAJII, Chief Technical General Manager and General Project Manager of ESG Sustainable Smart City, Ryota II, General Manager of GX Promotion Dept., Social Innovation Div., and Keizo IKEDA, General Manager of Climate and Resources Policy Sec., who is also a member of this department of PACIFIC CONSULTANTS, about how companies should promote climate change countermeasures.

Protecting Corporate Facilities and Factories from Landslides

In recent years, there have been many landslides caused by short periods of heavy rain, and the number of casualties per disaster has been on the rise. Protecting corporate employees, their families, facilities, and factories from landslides is a major issue for business continuity. However, when it comes to deciding specifically where to start, many people say they don't know where to start. We spoke with Takahiro Igarashi, who is in charge of supporting companies in formulating disaster prevention plans, business creation, and the development and operation of the landslide information service "Doshaburu®" in the Disaster Disaster Prevention Dept. of PACIFIC CONSULTANTS 'Digital Service Div. Headquarters, and Tatsuki Hirano of the Resilience Promotion Office in the same department.

Why is it Regional Decarbonization Now? Toward Promotion of the Regional GX

In October 2020, the Japanese government declared its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 with zero emissions of greenhouse gas overall. A major key to achieving this goal is the "local area," where small and dispersed emission sources, such as small and medium-sized businesses and households, are concentrated. We asked Gen IKEMOTO of Social Innovation Div., GX Promotion Dept., Executive Consultant; Junichiro SAITO of Climate and Resources Policy Sec.; and Toru TSUNEOKA, also of Regional Decarbonization Sec., about how far regional decarbonization has progressed, what the challenges are, and how it should be promoted in the future.

What is Green Infrastructure?

The term as green infrastructure is becoming more common. Green infrastructure is the term refers to the idea and initiatives to utilize various functions and mechanisms of nature to create rich living spaces and prepare for disasters. However, the areas covered are extremely broad, ranging from urban areas to mountainous areas, and the content of the initiatives is diverse, making it not easy to get a concrete image of what it means. We interviewed Shogo OGASAWARA, Environmental Symbiosis Dept., Social Innovation Div. about what green infrastructure is and how it can be used.

When Should You Review Your BCP Measures? Introducing Examples by Company Sizes

"Is the current BCP really useful?" Anxiety is growing against the backdrop of the worsening and frequent damages caused by floods and typhoons, and the increasing urgency of large-scale earthquakes and so on. However, there are many companies that have not even reviewed their BCP since they were formulated. What and how should be reviewed to make it more practical, and what should companies consider when formulating their BCP in the future? We talked to Gou YAMAMURA, General Manager of the Resilience Promotion Sec., Disaster Prevention Dept., Digital Service Div.

What is GX (Green Transformation)?

Efforts towards GX are accelerating in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We spoke with Kumiko KAJII, Chief Technical General Manager and General Project Manager of ESG Sustainable Smart City about what the national and local governments, private companies, and citizens should each do to promote this goal, as well as the current status and challenges of the initiative.