We interviewed Hannah Yoshida, who is currently an intern in the Domestic Business Department. We hope you enjoy reading her story!
Q. Could you please provide a brief self-introduction, including your career so far?
I am currently a second-year student at the University of Tokyo, majoring in Agricultural Sciences, and I am working as a student intern at Green Carbon. I previously majored in Environmental Studies but switched my focus this year to study biology and chemistry in the Faculty of Agriculture. I have always had a love for nature and living organisms, and this year I had the chance to fully enjoy the great outdoors at national parks in Hokkaido and Okinawa! This internship at Green Carbon is my first, and I am learning something new every day!
Q. What kind of work are you involved in? Could you tell me about your responsibilities?
At Green Carbon, I work in the Domestic Business Division, where I am responsible for managing projects, conducting research, and developing tools to advance new carbon credit initiatives. In addition to contributing to the already established Rice Farming Consortium, I am currently focusing on a livestock credit project that aims to generate carbon credits from livestock manure and feed. As part of this initiative, I also developed a simulation tool to calculate the potential credit generation.
Q. What inspired you to work at GreenCarbon?
I wanted to engage with life sciences and environmental issues from a new perspective, different from my university studies, which led me to seek an internship opportunity. That’s how I began my internship at Green Carbon. At university, I frequently have opportunities to learn about environmental issues and SDGs, but each time I attended a lecture, I found myself wondering how these issues are actually being addressed in practice. When I discovered this internship, I saw it as a perfect opportunity to apply what I’ve learned and gain practical experience in tackling environmental issues from a business perspective. Before starting this internship, I was involved in environmental issues through volunteer activities, but I felt that the internship would offer experiences and insights that volunteering alone could not provide. My time at Green Carbon has broadened my perspective on environmental sustainability, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow through this experience.
Q. What makes your work fulfilling?
I am often involved in developing and advancing new credit-generation projects. One of my greatest motivations is knowing that these initiatives could soon become a reality, contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions and promoting environmentally friendly agricultural practices. I feel the most fulfillment when collaborating with farmers and various companies to expand these projects, realizing that my work truly contributes to solving environmental issues. Additionally, seeing how this experience helps me improve my skills and fosters personal growth serves as another significant source of motivation.
Q. What challenges have you faced so far?
As this is my first internship, I have faced various challenges over the past few months. Conducting research has been particularly demanding at times, especially when delving deeply into highly technical topics. Finding and analyzing information from a wide range of industries and fields to gain a comprehensive understanding can be quite tough, to be honest (laughs). There are also moments when, while exploring new approaches or methodologies for a project and engaging in discussions, I encounter numerous obstacles that force us to go back to the drawing board. However, I’ve come to realize that the effort put into research is never wasted— the knowledge gained often proves useful in other tasks as well. Every challenge brings new learning opportunities, and that keeps the experience exciting!
Q. What challenges would you like to take on in the future?
There are many things I want to challenge myself with! One of my current goals is to complete the simulation for calculating livestock-derived carbon credit generation, which I am primarily responsible for. I aim to create a tool that even farmers or those unfamiliar with the concept of carbon credits can easily use.
In addition, as the business expands, I would like to gain knowledge about streamlining data processing and apply it to improving the efficiency of carbon credit application management. I’m currently studying programming (though I’m still a beginner), as I believe it is an essential skill not only for my work at Green Carbon but also for my future academic pursuits and research. I’m committed to mastering it!
Q. Lastly, do you have a message for those considering a career at GreenCarbon?
One of the things I truly appreciate about my internship at Green Carbon is the opportunity to work alongside passionate and supportive employees and fellow interns. When I first started, there was so much I didn’t know, but thanks to the guidance and encouragement from everyone at Green Carbon, I’ve had countless opportunities to contribute to projects and grow personally. To students who are interested in environmental internships but feel unsure about whether they can do it, I encourage you to take that first step. It’s worth it!