Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
ences, environment and technology management and other relevant aspects. Special
features included were liaison offices in other regional universities (initially China,
Vietnam, Indonesia), international internships for doctoral students, and the inte-
gration of the environmental leadership components with the graduate student's
research discipline, involving double supervision by the student's research profes-
sor and the ELTP.
The proposal was accepted by JST and commenced in 2011 as the Tohoku Uni-
versity Strategic Energy and Resource Management and Sustainable Solutions
(SERMSS) program. It has developed new courses to train environmental lead-
ers capable of identifying problems and designing strategic solutions to energy, re-
source and water challenges, especially in Asia and Africa. Its mission is to foster
international and environmental leaders who have advanced expertise in the field
of energy and resources, water management and can apply their management skills,
practical ability, and overall knowledge to develop policy and international business
strategies for the next generation. It is anticipated that graduates from outside Japan
will return to their mother country with advanced research and strategy skills in
energy and resources. They will be able to apply not just their strategic knowledge
but also an international outlook, use their negotiating skills to contribute to policy
actions in governments, NGOs, and society, or in businesses (Tohoku University
2012
). Let us now consider some of these special aspects in more detail.
1.3
Tohoku University ELTP Course Design/Special
Characteristics
1.3.1
The Importance of Environmental Leadership in Asia
and Africa
Tohoku University's special focus is on Asia and Africa. Two of the most serious
concerns over environmental sustainability relate to the consumption of energy (and
its associated responsibility for the majority of anthropogenic CO
2
emissions), and
overall consumption of natural resources. Just a simple history showing how the
origins of these two drivers have changed in recent decades illuminates the increas-
ing importance of Asia now and Africa in the future.
CO
2
Emissions from Energy
Sources of energy-related CO
2
emissions from dif-
ferent countries are shown in Fig.
1.3
(OECD/IEA
2013
). These have grown from
below 3 Gt 100 years ago to 31.6 Gt in 2012—a rise of over 10-fold. However the
dominant source of the emissions of 100 years ago (Europe and USA) now only
accounts for ~ 40 % of global emissions, with the majority coming from China,
India, Middle East and other non-OECD countries including Africa.
Just in the 10 years from 2000-2010, the contribution of OECD countries to
global emissions has dropped from 54 % in 2000 to 41 %. Looking at Africa, its
