Shuzo Nishioka

National Institute for Environmental Studies of Japan
(16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, 305 Japan)

Abstract

Prevention of global warming implies global scale treatment of waste such as greenhouse gases from human activities. Basic concepts to deal with the problem should include total material flow as well as energy flow, which means huge potential contributions from research activities in waste treatment field. Recent Worldwide research efforts in recent decades suggest that human beings are influencing the global climate system. Such research has also indicated that specific nature of the phenomena which must be considered to mitigate climatic change, and for human beings to adjust to such change. The response strategy should consist of both the long-term reformation of human society system and short-term technological developments as the matter becomes increasingly urgent. Quantitative identification of gas components and development of technologies for emission prevention of greenhouse gases has been carried out in many places in Japan. However, greenhouse gases related specifically to waste treatment depend very much on local conditions, and more research is essential to cover a wide range of potential countermeasures.

Key words: global warming, material flow, greenhouse gases, , emission reduction technologies, emission characteristics