Editors’ Afterword On the Compilation of the “Environmental Management & SDGs Report of Mie University 2022”

The War in Ukraine and Energy Crisis

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the West European countries imposed economic sanctions on Russia, while Russia retaliated by reducing crude oil, gas, and other fuel supply, thus plunging the world into an energy crisis.

According to the U.S. Citigroup’s forecast, if the UK’s inflation rate continues to rise due to soaring energy prices, inflation will exceed 18% next year, a record high in 50 years. The maximum yearly energy cost of an average family will rise three times from the current 1,971 pounds (approximately 319,000 yen) to nearly 6,000 pounds by April next year. The last time inflation rate in the UK went up to 18.6% was in 1976, when the oil shock plunged the world economy into chaos, and the British government had to seek rescue from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Like in the UK, energy prices are also rising in Japan. This is more than evident from the prices at gas stations. A new power company founded under the policy of deregulation of electric utilities went bankrupt last March, seriously affecting Mie University, which had signed a contract with that company. We had to pay for electricity at the much higher rate for last-resort power. Subsequently, although the university was able to sign a new contract with a regular electric company, the utility bill this year is expected to be some 200 million yen higher than in FY 2021. The university has had to cut its budget by 8% and spread the shortfall to all departments and divisions. There is concern that this may continue to affect education and research activities.

In addition to this energy crisis, waves of global warming have inflicted major damages on the international community, with half of the EU and the UK suffering from drought, and abnormal heat waves and isolated torrential rainfall occurring frequently in Japan. It is truly of great significance that we were able to compile the “Environmental Management & SDGs Report of Mie University 2022” as the international community is undergoing tremendous changes due to energy and environmental issues. The report summarizes Mie University’s efforts as an advanced environmental university. We hope that as many people as possible will read this report.

Mie University’s Social Responsibility (USR) and SDGs

The “Environmental Management & SDGs Report of Mie University 2022” was compiled with the aim of improving Mie University’s education, research, social contribution, and operational efforts based on its Environment and SDGs Policy. By summarizing and publicizing the results of Mie University’s partnership with domestic and international stakeholders, the report aims at fulfilling Mie University’s Social Responsibility (USR) as the top runner in the creation of a sustainable carbon neutral society.

The report consists of a cover page, a message from the President, the Environment and SDGs Policy, and nine chapters. The design of the cover page features the 17 SDGs and 169 targets arranged against the background of an aerial photo of the University and the surrounding areas. It represents the image of Mie University as the top runner in environmental management and SDGs which projects its impact to Mie Prefecture, Japan, Asia, and the world.

The “Environmental Management & SDGs Report of Mie University 2022” has five distinguishing features:
(1) Substantial contents on Mie University’s education, research, social contribution, and operations.
(2) Environment and SDGs activities through cooperation with Mie University’s faculty and staff members, students, foreign students, affiliated educational institutions, Mie Prefecture, and domestic and international stakeholders.
(3) Notation of the 17 SDGs for each theme and content.
(4) Publicity both inside and outside Mie University and active domestic and international PR with the web version, synopsis, and video(YouTube).
(5) Can be used as educational materials for cultivating next generation human resources for the environment and SDGs.

We hope that you will view the web version, synopsis (with sections translated into English), and video of the “Environmental Management & SDGs Report of Mie University 2022” and offer us your candid opinions.