The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) is a leading scientific research institution in Japan, specializing in the field of environmental science. NIES was established in 1972 as an inter-university research institute under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). NIES is one of the world’s premier environmental research institutes, with a strong international reputation for its high quality research and training programs.
NIES conducts multidisciplinary research on a wide range of topics related to the environment, including air pollution, water resources, climate change, biodiversity, and waste management. The institute also carries out policy-oriented research to support decision making by government agencies and other stakeholders. In addition to its headquarters in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, NIES has regional offices in Tokyo and Osaka.
NIES is actively involved in international cooperation on environmental issues. The institute is a member of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and participates in several ICSU-sponsored programs such as DIVERSITAS and Future Earth. NIES is also a founding member of the Integrated Global Observing System for Climate (IGOS-Climate).