Outline of the Center

A truly convenient and comfortable lifestyle has gradually been realized through the development of scientific technology and economy. On the other hand, mass production with a 'consume and dispose' type social economy has increased the environmental load and caused worldwide environmental issues , such as global warming, acid rain , destruction of ozone layer, over and above the pollution found in cities including public nuisance by automobile traffic and river pollution, as well as waste disposal related problems. Recently, environmental pollution caused by chemical substances such as dioxins and endocrine disruptors (so-called environmental hormones) has become a notable and major issue.

Under such circumstances, measures based on comprehensive and interdisciplinary 'environmental science' are required for wide ranging targets from the living environment that surrounds us to real natural environments without sticking to the existing structure. Furthermore, international cooperation has never been more important. In order to cope with the demands of our times and appropriately handle such diverse and ever more complicated environmental issues, Saitama prefecture established the Center for Environmental Science in Kisai-machi in April 2000.

This center is a multi-functional comprehensive core institute for environmental science to support people in the prefecture who are dedicated to resolving environmental issues, to carry out tests and researches and to offer environmental education to cope with the environmental issues that Saitama prefecture is facing, while to strive for international cooperation on environmental issues. Furthermore, 'priority on the environment' has been defined as the prefectural administration's basic philosophy, and thus this is a symbolic facility of the prefecture's aim to be at the forefront on environmental issues.