一般社団法人環境・文化創造機構は、環境に配慮した持続可能な社会形成のための調査・政策の研究を行い、研究成果を広く普及啓発しながら、それぞれの地域の資源と特性を活かした地域活性化・地域再生に貢献する事業を展開することで持続可能な社会に寄与していきます。

The quality of the project in each social activities in terms of environmental and social safeguards is an important for sustainable development. We learned that building better partnerships create more sustainable societies through Great East Japan Earthquake. Our organization started with creating the place to think about sustainable development with considering environmental conservation together with local forestry workers and regional organizations in Tohoku where severely damaged by the earthquake.

In the event of the earthquake, what actually supported people were the energy resources from local mountains in front such as firewood or wood lumbers, as well as helps from local community under the freezing cold environment. Learning from this experience, we are working on the development of sustainable economic cycle in the region through maintaining mountains and developing local economy. We are supporting local community business such as producing firewood and woody pellets from the edge material of woods to make a cycle of local production of energy for local consumption. We believe that utilizing wood biomass, in particular, not only contributes to the suppression of fossil fuel consumption and CO2 reduction, but also brings multiple effects such as revitalization of mountain villages, prevention of flood by maintaining forests and contribution to regional economy.

We are also developing new project of issuing and utilizing local currency to vitalize local regions with our partners in Tohoku.

Moreover, we hold and operate the international environmental film festival annually to create opportunities to learn about the world environmental issues while developing domestic and international networks aiming at sustainable society.