Climate change is having multifaceted impacts on urban water environments. The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report assesses climate change impacts and risks for "Cities, Settlements and Key Infrastructure," indicating that coastal and low-lying cities and settlements may face severe impacts from sea-level rise and coastal climate hazards. Changes in precipitation and runoff are increasing uncertainty in water supply, while urban population growth and shifts in economic activity are altering water demand, making water-related challenges more complex.
As warming progresses, the climate system, including the ocean and cryosphere, may approach tipping points, potentially increasing disaster risks through sea-level rise, changing precipitation patterns and more frequent extremes. These impacts may appear as water scarcity, flooding, or inundation caused by heavy rainfall in urban areas, with their severity shaped by regional socio-economic conditions and adaptive capacity.
Against this background, this session examines how scientific knowledge on climate change and the water environment can support urban resilience and sustainable development. Through presentations by three experts and a panel discussion, the session will discuss future risks to water resources and urban flooding, and explore how prediction, assessment and cross-sectoral knowledge can support adaptation planning, risk-informed decision-making and resilience-building in cities and communities. By linking science, policy and local action, the session aims to contribute to sustainable and resilient cities in Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Programme
MC
AIZAWA Emi
Manager, Fund Management Division, Department of Environment Research and Technology Development Fund, Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (ERCA)
Opening Remarks
TOJO Junji
Executive Managing Direcor,Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (ERCA)
Moderator
HARADA Koh
Program Officer, Environment Research and Technology Development Fund Department, Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (ERCA)
Koh Harada is Program Officer of the Environmental Research and Technology Development Fund. He received his M.S. in Fisheries Chemistry from Hokkaido University and earned a Ph.D. in Fisheries Science. He previously served as Director of the Environmental Management Research Institute and Director General of the Tohoku Center at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and later as a Board Member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute (TIRI). His expertise includes geochemistry and marine chemistry, with research focusing on natural radioisotopes in marine environments, ocean carbon cycling, environmental impact assessment of marine industrial activities, and international standardization activities.
Presenter
KAWANO Natsumi
Senior Staff Member, Global warming countermeasures group, Center for Environmental Science in Saitama
Dr. Kawano is a researcher specializing in global warming countermeasures at the Center for Environmental Science in Saitama (CESS). She earned her Doctor of Engineering from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2018. Expert in urban meteorology, she has experience in simulating atmospheric phenomena, including urban warming, localized heavy rainfall, and photochemical oxidants. Currently, Dr. Kawano participates in research projects assessing climate-induced environmental changes.
Her wide-ranging research includes developing urban heavy rainfall prediction technologies, evaluating future climate impacts on agriculture, and projecting photochemical oxidant levels in a decarbonized society. Ultimately, she aims to perform high-resolution projections to propose actionable climate adaptation measures for local governments, collaborating actively with domestic and international institutions to enhance community resilience.
https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/cess/torikumi/kenkyuin-list/kawano-natumi.html
Presenter
HANASAKI Naota
Head, Climate Change Impacts Assessment Research Section, Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies
Naota Hanasaki is Head of Climate Change Impacts Assessment Research Section, Center for Climate Change Adaptation at National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES). Dr. Hanasaki earned a B.Eng./M.Eng./Dr.Eng. in Civil Engineering from the University of Tokyo. His research focuses on hydrology and water resources engineering, particularly developing a physically-based global hydrological model incorporating human water use and management, such as irrigation, water withdrawal, and reservoir operation. He applies the model to various global water issues, including climate change and sustainable development. He has authored or co-authored more than 180 peer-reviewed research papers. He is a recipient of Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher 2024-2025. He serves as Lead Author of the IPCC's Seventh Assessment Report, Chapter 16 (Water), and is a member of the Executive Editorial Board of Environmental Research Letters and Environmental Research: Water.
Presenter
HIRABAYASHI Yukiko
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology
Hydrologist and climate change impact researcher with over 20 years of experience in assessing global water cycles, flood risk, water resources, and climate change adaptation. Currently Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology. Past positions include Assistant Professor at the University of Yamanashi and Associate Professor at The University of Tokyo. Served as a Lead Author of the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Member of the Engineering Academy of Japan and Associate Member of the Science Council of Japan. Former Board Member of the Japan Society of Hydrology and Water Resources and the Japan Society of Civil Engineers. Obtained BE from Shibaura Institute of Technology and PhD in Engineering from The University of Tokyo. Recipient of the IAHS Tison Award in 2009 and the 17th JSPS Prize in 2021.
https://www.db.shibaura-it.ac.jp/~hirabayashi/hyukiko/indexJ.html
Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (ERCA): https://www.erca.go.jp/