Human Activities Exceeding Self-Generating Capabilities

As a result of increased production and consumption activities enabled by dramatic advances in science and technology, our lives as human beings have become enriched and comfortable. Yet the price of this has been an unparalleled destruction of our natural environment, with the self-generating capabilities and natural functions of the Earth now pushed to their limit.

Expansion and Diversity

Climate change due to global warming; damage to the ozone layer; destruction of tropical rainforests; plant and animal extinction; pollution of the atmosphere and oceans; desertification; the movement of hazardous waste and chemicals across national borders—the expansion and increasing diversity of global environmental problems testifies to just how serious the degradation of the world environment has become. Moreover, these problems are predicted to worsen over the coming years with the emergence of developing nations striving to achieve economic development.

Unprecedented Challenges for Humanity

The future of mankind depends upon how rapidly we as a species are able to solve the host of unparalleled ecological challenges facing our future on Earth. That said, the solutions will by no means be easy. This is for the simple reason that, although we are conscious of the urgent need to address the global environmental crisis, we are as of yet still unable to abandon the affluence and convenience of modern lifestyles.

Development vs Environmental Conservation

Conflicts between industrialized and non-industrialized nations surrounding global environmental problems are symbolic of the difficulties we are facing. For industrialized nations, the truth is that much affluence has been brought about by unregulated exploitation and pollution of the natural world. This fact is often brought to attention by non-industrialized nations who argue that prosperity could be inhibited by environmental conservation. This clash of interests regarding the common future of the Earth demands that we find the wisdom to deftly reconcile the competing aims of development and environmental conservation.

Linking Thought with Action

There are no doubt many people who feel they would like to do something to help solve global environmental issues. However, although aware of the problems, there are few people who are able to translate this awareness into concrete actions. On the other hand, there is an increasing role for highly specialized professionals able to grapple with global environmental problems. Such professionals are required in various areas such as international bodies, national and regional governments, industry, local communities, NGOs and NPOs, in addition to research and education facilities.

Developing Key Human Resources for the 21st Century

What is desperately required from contemporary global society are human resources possessing an accurate understanding and perception of global environmental problems, with the ability to propose and implement concrete measures based upon a deep level of expertise. Our graduate school aims to develop such resources that will be able to tackle sustainability and environmental issues in a diverse array of situations and locations.

Welcoming People from a Range of Academic Backgrounds and Experiences

The Global Environmental Studies program is not a conventional graduate school consisting of one single department. Instead, this is an independent graduate school straddled by a vast array of academic disciplines. As a result, we boast a diverse range of students who have all majored in different subjects at undergraduate level. In addition, we open our doors to a wide range of people from all walks of life. This includes people from industry, the public sector and homemakers. We thus invite people of all ages to come and study with us. Our graduate school is a place where people from diverse academic backgrounds and experiences can inspire each other and engage mutually in research.

Approaches to Global Environmental Problems

Environmental problems are complex issues influenced not only by human behavioral patterns and social systems but also by a range of other scientific, technological and chemical factors. In order to protect our abundant global environment and create a new framework that is favorable to both people and nature, a holistic perspective is required that addresses the roots of these complex problems from many different perspectives. This cannot be achieved through the single lens of one particular field of study. Instead it must be pursued by approaching these problems from a broad range of academic disciplines that transcend the conventional boundaries of the humanities and sciences.

Forming A New Composite Academic Discipline

In our graduate school, leading researchers from fields such as law, economics, policy studies, engineering, development studies and environmental financial studies have set up a framework of interdisciplinary education and research. As a result, the respective fields of each researcher is integrated with other areas, providing a valuable opportunity for students to study global environmental issues in a comprehensive, interdisciplinary manner. 

Practice and Theory: Towards Concrete and Effective Solutions

In order to solve global environmental problems, it is imperative to apply knowledge gained from research to reality, and to then formulate policies that are both feasible and effective. In our graduate school, we provide a diverse range of subjects that balance both theory and practice. Furthermore, education and research is supplemented by various symposiums and seminars that reflect the many voices of domestic and international efforts to tackle environmental problems.

Global Environmental Studies Education and Research as
an All-Encompassing Academic Endeavor

Sophia University's Faculty of Law is home to the Department of Legal Studies of the Global Environment; a department considering global environmental problems from the aspects of law and administration. In addition, the educational ideals and distinctiveness of Sophia University as shown by values such as Christianity, humanism and internationalism provide an additional dimension to our research that seeks to contribute to human society through addressing the ecological issues of our era. Against this background, the Global Environmental Studies Program has enriched the curriculum of our university by assembling a framework of cooperation with researchers from diverse faculties throughout the institution.