This monograph is the English version of "Chikyu Ondanka Kenkyu no Saizensen (The State of the Art of the Global Warming Research)" published as a report of Global Warming Research Initiative established by The Council for Science and Technology Policy (CSTP), the Cabinet Office, Japanese Government. CSTP promulgated the "Promotional Strategy in Prioritized Fields" in September 2001 in accordance with the "Science and Technology Basic Plan", now in its second term, which started fiscal year 2001 and will continue through 2005. CSTP organized "Research Initiatives" in the field of environmental studies to identify and integrate research activities that had been separately conducted under the auspices and the directions of many ministries and agencies in the Japanese government. CSTP has established five research initiatives in the field, i.e., Global Warming, Waste-Free and Resource Recycling Technologies, Eco-Harmonious River Basin and Urban Area Regeneration, Chemical Substance Risk Management, and Global Water Cycle.