The Institute for Studies of the Global Environment grew out of the Earth Environment Law Research Center that was established in the Faculty of Law in 1994. In 1999, the Institute was launched to undertake academic research into global environmental issues related to the humanities, society, and natural science fields. In 1999, the Institute was launched to undertake academic research in global environmental issues, including humanities and social science fields. Teaching personnel of faculties of economics, science and technology, and other fields are members of the staff, which also includes staff from the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, established in 2005

The Center’s distinctive activities include academic research and investigation of global environmental issues, education and research activities in cooperation and collaboration with related domestic and international organizations, and educational activities to raise awareness of environmental issues (co-sponsoring various public seminars).

• Research on population dynamics and sustainable urban development. Challenge toward solving world water problems through trans-disciplinary studies.
• Institute for Studies of the Global Environment started a research project “Trans-disciplinary and Trans-national Research Program for Achieving Regional Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through River Basin Environment Conservation and Management” in 2016, which was supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as a “Private University Research Branding Project”. The institute is currently implementing a successor project called ” Trans-disciplinary Undertaking for Achieving SDGs -Focus on Water-Energy-Urban-Rural Nexus “. It focuses on the connection between urban and rural areas from the viewpoint of water environment and adds energy security and environmental business in depopulated areas and small islands into the project as two new pillars. In addition, comparative studies on wetlands will be conducted in collaboration with Sweden universities in the framework of Mirai 2.0.