Ecological Impacts of Climate Change in Japan, Research Paper Example

Public organizational leadership of Japan has enlisted me to assist with combating climate change through improving inefficient policies that have prevented the region from preparing for anticipated changes. It is vitally important that the organization incorporate publications from both international and local organizations for enhanced information that can lead to a better understanding of how climate change is impacting businesses and the region. This will ultimately lead to increased knowledge, better decision making and more effective public policy initiatives. The following entails the method through which the organizational problem is identified and it breaks down both a long-term and short term plan to address the problem.

The Problem

The real issue in Japan is a lack of knowledge about how climate change is impacting the ecology of the region due to inadequate research methodologies and public institutions incorporating data that is not viable or effective at allowing officials to anticipate change. Phenology represents the animal and plant life cycle passed on a periodic pattern, which is usually driven by seasonal variations in climate. These variations are often inter-annual, but can be driven by climactic factors like changes in elevation.  As the authors notes, “a number of long-term phenological and distributional records clearly indicate that ecological changes are occurring in response to climate change in Japan. Phenology of many animal species has delayed on average, which is contradictory to observed changes in other regions of the world” (Ogawa-Onishi & Berry, 361). The byproduct of this finding is that the way plants and animals interact is changing drastically. Data indicates that the phenology is shifting in the opposite direction of their historical patterns. This can have a detrimental effect on plant life and wild life that can ultimately impact the human food supply of Japan. Furthermore, research indicates that the widening mismatches of the phenological relationships are happening in warmer climates. This is in depth research carried out by researcher outside of Japan that involves a diverse set of resources, not commonly utilized within the region. Part of the problem can be attributed to man made contributions to the ecosystem that don’t account for this information and lack of legislation holding companies socially responsible for their waste.

How the problem was identified

Range margins were observed across 100 km/decades for coral and insects in the Ogawa-Onishi and Berry study. Their data further projects that as climates reach higher levels in Japan it will result in a significant loss of more species as patterns continue.

The Proposed Solution

The primary way to solve the problem is to change the way in which the problem is identified and addressed. Through enhanced research methodology, “further investigations in other less known regions are important for improving our understanding of the regional impacts of climate change” (Ogawa-Onishi & Berry, 361). This research can be more effective if it’s executed objectively and incorporates a much larger range f information across international borders with the goal of diversifying the data set. The reason why it is vital international researcher be integrated within Japan’s regimen is due to the fact that it mitigates the influences of bias based on lobbyist incentives.

How the Solution will be implemented

This can be facilitated by utilizing locally available data and publications, especially in non-English speaking countries. Through recruiting the assistance of international databases and researchers to collaborate with local entities, Japan can better equip themselves to anticipate future trends.

Work Cited

Ogawa-Onishi, Yuko, and Pam M. Berry. “Ecological impacts of climate change in Japan: The importance of integrating local and international publications.” Biological Conservation 157 (2013): 361-371.