Description

Many cities in the world are undertaking initiatives to improve environmental performance. The ‘Smart City’ concept and approach are exactly in line with this challenge to make urban areas sustainable through innovative technologies and plans to promote efficient energy use, recycling and environmentally friendly traffic management. Yokohama and Kitakyushu are examples of cities that are actively working to become smarter. They are linking environmental policies with policies relating to economic revitalization, urban planning, health, and welfare, particularly post 3/11. They are also promoting cooperation with other Asian cities to share environmental management experience and knowledge.

Professor Imura will discuss shifts in Japanese perspectives on energy management and smart technology investment, not only for the creation of low-carbon cities and a green economy, but also for disaster recovery.

Hidefumi Imura is Professor at the Global Cooperation Institute for Sustainable Cities of Yokohama City University and Professor Emeritus of Nagoya University, and a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. He received his PhD in Applied Physics from the University of Tokyo, and has subsequently worked for the Japan Environment Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Yokohama Municipal Government.

Professor Imura has a wide range of expertise covering domestic and international environmental policy issues, environmental technologies and economics in Japan, China, and other East Asian regions. His research centers on energy and material flow analysis of human activities in cities, life cycle assessment of civil infrastructures, and modeling of human and environmental interactions.