East Asian Low-Carbon Community: Realizing a Sustainable Decarbonized Society from Technology and Social Systems

This book presents new vision of regional de-carbonization with concrete scheme design and substantial quantitative demonstration from original interdisciplinary studies. It provides new horizon for not only climate change, environmental conservation but also for international cooperation and peace in East Asia. The chapters introduce diverse low carbon society principles from local to global level with best practices integrating technology evolution and social innovation.

While the book is designated for academics and the ultimate goal is to facilitate international climate regime making and environmental cooperation, local government and international organizations (United Nations, World Bank, and others) officers, researchers, international NGO/NPOs, consultants, students (particularly those studying environmental policy studies or international relationships), as well as reporters will find this book useful in broadening their understanding of low-carbon development in East Asia.

Weisheng Zhou, Ph.D., Professor of College of Policy Science, founding director of Research Center for Sustainability Science, Ritsumeikan University. Director of Research Institute of Global 3E; Secretary-general of the Belt and Road Initiative Japan Research Center; Served as Visiting Professor at Osaka University, Zhejiang University, Peking University, etc., and as Research Counsellor to the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE). Majored in energy systems engineering, environmental policy and policy engineering.

Xuepeng Qian, Ph.D., Associate Professor of College of Asia Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University; Vice Director of Research Center for Sustainability Science, Ritsumeikan University. Served as lecturer at Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Ritsumeikan University. Majored in urban and regional planning, resource recycling, social system and environmental system engineering.

Ken’ichi Nakagami, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Ritsumeikan University and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. Currently Senior Researcher of Research Organization of Open Innovation and Collaboration and Research Center for Sustainability Science, Ritsumeikan University. Honorary president of International Centre of Research and Information on the Collective Economy - Japan (CIRIEC-Japan). Majored in water management and sustainability science.