Professor Kazumi Kubota of Research Organization has published a single-author paper summarizing a roadmap that is easy to implement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while preparing for climate change in Japan. The paper was published in the international journal PLOS Climate (IF=5.1).

In the paper, we summarize the points that medical care needs to "protect people from risks such as intense heat and heavy rain" and "reducing emissions in the medical field" at the same time, and propose three pillars to advance initiatives. Specifically, it is a mechanism to support implementation through (1) continuous education (education) for healthcare professionals, (2) minimal measurement (measurement) for grasping emissions and countermeasures, (3) procurement and funding support and evaluation systems (Incentives). In addition, it also shows the idea of improving the preparation and planning of medical sites in line with the latest climate data update flow (CMIP).

Comments from Professor Kubota

"Climate change will increase medical demand through intense heat and heavy rains, while also putting a significant burden on the healthcare delivery system itself. In the medical field of Japan, awareness of problems is increasing, but there are situations where it is difficult to see “what to start” on site. In this paper, we proposed a path to advance measures without excessive burden by working on education → measurement → incentives. At the same time, we hope that we will continue to prepare for decarbonization and disaster/supply disruptions, leading to discussions that will make healthcare more sustainable and resilient in the region."

Paper information

• Publications: PLOS Climate（IF=5.1）
• Name of thesis: From awareness to action: A three‑lever, CMIP‑aligned roadmap to decarbonize and climate‑proof Japan’s healthcare sector
• Author: Kazumi Kubota (single book)
• Date of publication: December 11, 2025
• DOI： https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000785