Beyond the Limits to Growth

Prominent Japanese academic addresses Clark on the problems and solutions of the future

“I believe we live now in a period of very great transition for human civilization,” said Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama as he began his presentation to a full Gaiser Student Center on October 28.

Titled “Beyond the Limits to Growth: New Ideas for Sustainability from Japan,” the far-reaching lecture began with the premise that the Industrial Revolution had triggered a massive increase in the gap between developed and developing countries—a gap that is now beginning to shrink, as developing countries begin to have access to the same technology and goods as developed nations, and developed nations begin to hit economic and environmental limitations to their growth. Japan, Dr. Komiyama said, began to encounter those limits earlier than other developed countries due to its limited size and natural resources.

“Japanese problems are the future problems of the world, I believe,” he said, going on to map out strategies he considered successful for combatting those problems, including aggressive pollution control measures; increased fuel efficiency; a focus on renewable and re-used resource; and social and technological changes to help keep older members of society active.

Dr. Komiyama is a prominent academic, scientist, engineer, and leading authority in global sustainability. President Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, his major fields of research include environmental engineering, advanced materials science, and knowledge sharing. He is also an advisor to the Japanese Government on subjects ranging from education to aging. In 2010 he founded the Platinum Society Network, dedicated to achieving a sustainable society that solves environmental, aging, educational, and economic issues.

A video of Dr. Komiyama’s presentation will be available on Clark’s YouTube channel by the end of November.