![[Policy Research] Water Minfra: A New Strategy for Water-Centric Social Infrastructure](/files_thumbnail/changeImg/files_research_2023_Oki_PG_Mizuminhura.jpg)
- Policy Research
- Economy, Fiscal Policy, Environment, Resources, Energy
[Policy Research] Water Minfra: A New Strategy for Water-Centric Social Infrastructure
September 18, 2024
Japan has long benefited from abundant water resources, owing to the diligent and strategic efforts of previous generations, allowing us to live our daily lives without worrying about water-related issues. However, in recent years, concerns have arisen about global climate change-driven intensification of floods and droughts, increased risks of storm surges. Furthermore, as Japan leads the world in population aging with a falling birth rate, we are witnessing the ongoing deterioration of forests, an increase in abandoned paddy fields, the decline of rural communities, and long-term reductions in tax revenue, which, in turn, strain the organizations and resources needed for public management. Unfortunately, this sense of crisis is not yet sufficiently recognized or shared among relevant stakeholders, including the government, local authorities, politicians, businesses, and the public.
As a responsibility to future generations, the Future Vision for Sustainable Water Management program has researched issues of concern from broader contexts, such as water and regional revitalization, and water and sustainable development. Through discussions with experts and professionals from diverse fields, we have compiled a set of recommendations titled “Water Minfra: A New Strategy for Water-Centric Social Infrastructure.” We have coined the term “Minfra” (in Japanese, short for “infrastructure of all, by all, and for all”) to describe the tangible and intangible social infrastructure systems that support our prosperous, safe, healthy, and culturally rich lives. “Water Minfra” specifically refers to the entire social system for managing water, with the intention of supporting it as a society-wide effort. We hope this document will serve as a catalyst for more robust and actionable discussions.
Download the "Water Minfra" Mandala Poster here (PDF: 1.9MB)
Full text of the recommendations
Water Minfra: A New Strategy for Water-Centric Social Infrastructure (PDF: 7.6MB)
Click here for reviews of the Future Vision for Sustainable Water Management program
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- RESEARCH DIRECTOR
- Taikan Oki
- Taikan Oki
- Areas of Expertise
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- Global hydrology
- global water resources
- climate change
- sustainable development
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- RESEARCH DIRECTOR
- Junji Hashimoto
- Junji Hashimoto
- Areas of Expertise
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- Water environment
- water infrastructure
- climate change and disasters
- environmental education
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- RESEARCH DIRECTOR(–FY2023)
- Michio Murakami
- Michio Murakami
- Areas of Expertise
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- Risk science
- sanitary engineering
- urban engineering
- Research Program
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- SENIOR FELLOW
- Michiru Sasagawa
- Michiru Sasagawa
- Areas of Expertise
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- Water circulation
- rainwater utilization
- landscape design
- environmental education
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- SENIOR FELLOW
- Shinichiro Nakamura
- Shinichiro Nakamura
- Areas of Expertise
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- Land and infrastructure design
- water resources manegement
- hydrology
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