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Part Promotion of Scientific Research

Today, global environmental issues, such as global warming, the depletion of the ozone layer, acid rain, and so on, are considered as serious problems to be solved throughout the world. The resolutions of these issues are one of the important problems for the future of humankind.

In order to resolve such global environmental issues, it is very important to accumulate scientific knowledge and information about the mechanisms which give rise to atmospheric, oceanic, ecological and other global environmental changes.

In July 1991, the Science Council published its recommendation on the promotion of the International Geosphere - Biosphere Program (IGBP) in universities and in August of the same year the Geodesy Council recommended on the implementation of the International Solar and Terrestrial Energy Project (STEP).

Based on these recommendations and recognizing the necessity of the research for understanding global environmental phenomena, the Ministry of Education.Science and Culture has strengthened the research systems at the university level, by establishing in 1991 the Center for Climate System Research at the University of Tokyo and the Center for Ecological Research at Kyoto University. The Ministry also implements "the research on global environmental change with emphasis on the Asia and the Pacific region", as a large-scale research project under the New Program System as well as promotes a comprehensive scientific research on global environmental issues through grants-in-aid for scientific research. As for international projects, the Ministry has recently started implementing the International Solar and Terrestrial Energy Program (STEP), and has continued to carry out the Antarctic Research Expeditions. The Ministry is also cooperating positively with international organizations, for example, through participation in UNESCO's scientific programs such as the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). And the Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB), and in the International Geosphere Biosphere Program (IGBP). Its cooperation with the United Nations University in relevant fields will also be promoted.