【Natural Sciences】

 Japan contributes to the promotion of sciences for the sustainable development targeted mainly at the Asia-Pacific region. We collaborate with the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Science in Jakarta and the UNESCO/IOC Sub-Commission for Western Pacific in Bangkok.

 In addition, Japan contributes to the field of Natural Sciences not only through experts’ participation and cooperation in various projects and meetings but also through Japanese Funds-in-Trust.

1.Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)

 Through collaborations with the relevant government ministries and agencies, such as the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, the Japan Metrological Agency, the Japan Coast Guard, universities like Ocean Research Institute at the University of Tokyo, Japan actively cooperates in the following projects and meetings.

 -Oceanography of East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific Asia, such as Physical Oceanographic and Marine Biology including the International tsunami Information System (ITSU), implemented by IOC-WESTPAC.
 -Observations in Northern-East Asia for GOOS (Global Ocean Observing System) NEAR-GOOS (Northern-East Asia Regional GOOS)
 -Observations in South-East Asia for GOOS (SEAGOOS:South-East Asian GOOS)

Global Ocean Observing System

 The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology implements training and projects through voluntary contributions to UNESCO, namely Japanese Funds-in-Trust for IOC-WESTPAC. (*JFIT Provided 45,000 US dollars in the fiscal year 2006.)

 Furthermore, the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO has established Japanese National Committee for IOC. The IOC Working Group compromised of specialists and experts, deliberate on the oceanography of Japan to cooperate with the IOC and deals with IOC General Conference and Executive Committees.

UNESCO/E.Buggert-Richardson

©UNESCO/E.Buggert-Richardson

<IOC website: https://ioc.unesco.org/
<WESTPAC website: https://ioc-westpac.org/

United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)

The resolution proclaiming the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development was adopted by the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly in December 2017 with the aim of realizing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (particularly, SDG 14: Life Below Water) through the promotion of ocean science under an international framework for intensively implementing initiatives during the decade from 2021 to 2030. IOC-UNESCO was responsible for preparing and coordinating the development of the Implementation Plan during a two-year preparatory phase starting from 2018, and the Implementation Plan was approved after the omnibus resolution on the oceans and the law of the sea was noted with appreciation at the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly in December 2020. The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development is starting from January 2021.
The Implementation Plan calls for seven social and scientific outcomes to be achieved through the initiatives during the Decade: a clean ocean, a healthy and resilient ocean, a predictable ocean, a safe ocean, a productive ocean, an accessible ocean, and an inspiring and engaging ocean. To achieve these aims, ten challenging issues will be addressed, from the reduction of marine pollution and the conservation of marine ecosystems to the raising of ocean literacy and the changing of humankind's behavior. To contribute to the achieving of these social outcomes, Japan will promote collaboration among industry, government, academia, and civil society, including relevant government ministries and organizations, and advance various initiatives at the national, regional, and international level.

Website of the Japanese National Committee for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
https://oceanpolicy.jp/decade/

Pamphlet explaining UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (produced by JAMSTEC)
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/rigc/j/pdf/JAMSTEC_SDGs_Pamphlet_Web.pdf

2.Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP)

 Japan cooperates with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, universities and research institutions to promote human development in the field of Hydrological Sciences initiated by the UNESCO Water Science Section under IHP (Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme) and implement a training course in information exchange and WWAP (World Water Assessment Programme).

 In addition, the Japanese National Commission holds Japanese National Committee for IHP to deliberate on Japanese cooperation and hear the opinions of specialists and experts.

<IHP website: https://en.unesco.org/themes/water-security/hydrology

UNESCO
©UNESCO 

ICHARM

 International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management under the auspices of UNESCO

 By a resolution of the 33rd General Conference in 2005, ICHARM was established in Tsukuba city, Ibaragi Prefecture in March 2006.

UNESCO/Michel Giniez

©UNESCO/Michel Giniez

 The mission of ICHARM is to function as a Centre of Excellence to provide and assist implementation of the best practical strategies for localities, nations, regions, and the globe to manage the risk of water related disasters, such as floods, landslides, Tsunamis, flood-tides and so on.

<ICHARM website: https://www.pwri.go.jp/icharm/index_j.html>

3.MAB: Man and the Biosphere Programme

 MAB was launched in early 1970s to target the ecological, social and economic dimensions of biodiversity loss and reduce this loss. MAB promotes an interdisciplinary research agenda and capacity-building, aimed at improving the relationship of people with their environment globally by developing the basics of Natural Sciences and Social Sciences. Together with the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, MAB acts as a vehicle for knowledge-sharing, research and monitoring, education and training, and participatory decision-making. Japan cooperates in basic research, surveys, and training programmes in eco-system management in East Asia and South-East Asia.


©UNESCO/Alexis N. Vorontzoff 

 The Japanese National Commission for UNESCO has set up Japanese National Committee for MAB to deliberate on Japanese cooperation for MAB and hear the opinions of experts and specialists.

4.Network-building for Human Resources Development Programme

 The UNESCO International Post-Graduate University Course, which was started in 1965, was reorganized as the Network-building for Human Resources Development Programme in 2005. There are 2 courses under the programme, the Water Resource Management and the Environment course at Tokyo Institute of Technology and the Bio-technology course at Osaka University, both of which receive trainees mainly from the Asia-Pacific region.

5.Contributions through UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Promotion of Scientific Programme for Sustainable Development

 UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Promotion of Scientific Programme for Sustainable Development contributes to workshops and training related to IHP, MAB and programmes for capacity-building in the fields of science and technology policy.

【Humanities and Social Sciences】

1.IBC: International Bioethics Committee

 Japan participates and cooperates in the International Bioethics Committee, an advisory body to UNESCO, established in 1993 to investigate the influence of the development of Biology and Genetics to the society from ethical perspective.

<IBC website: https://en.unesco.org/themes/ethics-science-and-technology/ibc


©UNESCO/Niamh Burke 

 In December 2005, “The Twelfth session of the International Bioethics Committee” was held in Japan, hosted by UNESCO and the Japanese government. This session was the first to be held in Asia and discussed about the current problems and issues related to Bio-ethics and issues to implement the Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights from Asian perspectives. 

2.COMEST: World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology

 Established by the 32nd General Conference in 1997, COMEST advices UNESCO on it programmes related to ethics and scientific knowledge and technology, acts as an intellectual forum for exchanges of ideas and experiences, and promotes dialogues between scientific communities, decision-makers and the public at large. Japan contributes to COMEST through the participation of Japanese experts.

COMEST

UNESCO/H.Monnier

©UNESCO/H.Monnier

 <COMEST website: https://en.unesco.org/themes/ethics-science-and-technology/comest

3. International Convention against Doping in Sport and Raising Awareness of Anti-Doping Activities

 Anti-Doping is the prohibition of the use of drugs as an unfair action that undermines the intrinsic value of sports (ethics, fair play, sincerity, health, superior athletic performance, character and education, happiness and enjoyment, teamwork, dedicated and sincere efforts, respect for rules and regulations, respect for yourself and others, bravery, sense of community and solidarity), as a social evil, (e.g., fears of drug-use spreading amongst young people due to top-athletes using drugs), and as an unhealthy action where excessive use may harm the athlete’s health.

 UNESCO holds the International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS). It takes note of the “Recommendations Regarding Doping” adopted at MINEPS and the general assembly resolution adopted at the 32nd UNESCO General Conference (2003), the World Anti-Doping Code and the Copenhagen Declaration on Anti-Doping in Sport adopted by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) in 2003, and the world’s first international convention concerning anti-doping in sports, the “International Convention against Doping in Sport” was adopted at the 33rd UNESCO General Conference held in 2005.

 Japan dispatched experts to the above conferences and was actively involved in the discussions leading up to the adoption of the convention and, as a member of WADA Executive Committee, cooperating with anti-doping activities at the domestic and international level centered on WADA. In Japan, JADA: Japan Anti-Doping Agency was founded to cooperate with WADA and promote the domestic and international dissemination of anti-doping.
Japan Anti-Doping Agency website https://www.playtruejapan.org/ (*link to Japan Anti-Doping Agency website)

4. The International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS)

 The first MINEPS conference was held in 1976, evolving from the 1st Conference of European Sports Ministers held in 1975. The International Charter of Physical Education and Sport was proposed at the UNESCO General Conference held in 1978. The objective of MINEPS is for the sports ministers and stakeholders of the sporting world from UNESCO member and associate member states to gather, debate about pressing matters in sports, and produce action-oriented recommendations.

5. Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS)

 Established at the 1978 UNESCO General Conference and comprised of experts from 18 UNESCO member states, CIGEPS is an intergovernmental committee to promote the role and value of sport and its relevance for public policy. Member states are elected at the UNESCO General Conference. CIGEPS aims to give recommendations on MINEPS themes, develop sport policy, facilitate information exchange, and promote bilateral support. Japan has been serving as a member since 2017. (As of February 2021)

(Office of the Director-General for International Affairs)