Aki YamaguchiAki Yamaguchi is the Climate Change and Energy Policy Officer at the British Embassy in Tokyo. She conducts independent research outside of work. Her research focuses on urban sustainability, circular economy of plastics and food systems, and sustainble resources management. Previously, Aki was a Coordinator for the NERC-funded Sprint projects under the Agile Initiative at Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, and supported the operation of interdisciplinary science research projects responding to urgent and critical environmental policy needs. Prior to this role, Aki focused on the nexus between environmental policy and development at national and international levels. She managed projects at UNESCO, OECD, and UNEP in the areas of water resources management, financing urban water supply and sanitation, sustainable waste management, urban resilience, and the circular economy. She has coauthored/contributed to publications including the following: Towards Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management in Malaysia (Oxford University and Brunel University London, 2023), Guidelines for Performance-Based Contracts in the Urban Water Sector in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (OECD, 2004), and Environmental Priorities for China’s Sustainable Development, in China in the World Economy: The Domestic Policy Challenges (OECD, 2002). Aki has an MA in Environment and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. This publication is in not affiliated with the British Embassy Tokyo or the UK government and was written and submitted in a personal capacity. Read More Read Less