Takashi Kiga,
Technical Fellow,
IHI Corporation
My name is Kiga of IHI, and I am pleased to announce that I will be succeeding Prof. Asano (Kobe University), the 100th Director of the Division, as the 101st Director of the Power & Energy Systems Division. As you are aware, there was a lively discussion about post-coronavirus green growth in preparation for COP26 held in Glasgow in 2021 in response to the new coronavirus infection that spread rapidly from the end of 2019. However, in February of the following year (last year), Russia invaded Ukraine, and the security of each country’s energy policy has been reevaluated and further emphasized. In this situation, it is difficult for all countries to agree on the same agenda, and the joint statement of the G7 “Ministerial Conference on Climate, Energy, and Environment” on April 16, 2023, avoided explicit statements and gave due consideration to each country. With energy and environmental issues becoming such a major global topic, I am humbled to be asked to play such a major role. Fortunately, the Corona disaster is finally subsiding, and we are now able to have face-to-face exchanges as we should at the academic societies. With this trend in the world at our backs, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Prof. Okawa, Vice Director of the Division (University of Electro-Communications), Mr. Inoue, Division Secretary (IHI), Prof. Utanohara, Secretary of the General Affairs Committee (Komatsu University), and all the other steering committee members and committee members, as well as Ms. Morimoto (until the end of May) and Ms. Izawa of the JSME, for their cooperation in helping the Division to further develop. I will make every effort for the further development of the Division.
Now, when I was a child, the oceans were wide and big, the earth was even bigger, and space was endless. However, this past February, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun<1> reported that just around the year 2020, when we were confronting the new coronavirus, the total amount of artifacts produced by humans seemed to exceed the amount of living organisms. Not only that, but it is expected to reach three times the amount of living organisms by 2040. Not only in this example, but also in other cases of global warming and new coronavirus infections that are not confined to one area but become pandemics, the earth is becoming smaller and smaller for humans. On the other hand, the fact that global warming is now so well understood and we are so concerned about the future of the Earth is probably due to the fact that the Earth is getting smaller. In order to cope with this, new concepts such as carbon neutrality and carbon recycling have begun to be challenged, and science and technology are at the origin of this challenge. Those of you in the Power & Energy Systems Division are in the closest position to take on these challenges, and your various activities are sure to play a leading role.
Nevertheless, these activities will not be fruitful if they are conducted independently and on their own. The Power & Energy Systems Division is expected to function as a forum for discussion and platform formation that is not divided among universities, companies, research institutes, etc., as they are moderately integrated. I believe that such activities will further invigorate the members of the Division, their organizations, the Division, and the academic societies, and that a brighter and better society will continue to develop. For this reason, it is important to invite young people to participate in such activities<2> and to incorporate ideas from a wide range of people. With the help of all of you in the Division, I am determined to make every effort, even if it is only a small one.
Finally, the Power & Energy Systems Division will hold ICONE 30 (international conference on nuclear energy) and ICOPE-2023 (international conference on thermal power, storage and thermal energy, renewable energy, hydrogen, etc.) simultaneously for the first time this May 21-26. With the calls for decarbonization, stable energy supply, and economic competitiveness, collaboration among various technologies is essential, and we look forward to a lively exchange of ideas. We look forward to your understanding and cooperation.
<1> “Humanity’s Footprints on the History of the Earth,” Nihon Keizai Shimbun Morning Edition (February 19, 2023), page 26.
<2> Campaign for Continued Qualification for Young Members (https://www.jsme.or.jp/member/member-service/wakatecp2023/)