Science and Innovation for a Sustainable Future

Transcription

1 IIASA Seminar Science and Innovation for a Sustainable Future Kazuhiko Takeuchi Senior Vice-Rector, United Nations University Director and Professor, IR3S, The University of Tokyo 13 October 2014, UNU Elizabeth Rose Hall

2 The Rise of Sustainability Science Sustainability science was indicated as important by the International Council for Science (ICSU) in the late 20th century. It emerged as a new academic discipline in the early 21 st century Aims to resolve complex issues spanning different spatial and temporal scales, such as global environmental issues, and poverty in developing countries Spans specialized subdivisions of existing academic disciplines, working to solve issues by integrating the natural and social sciences and the humanities from an interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary perspective. Optimizes interactions between global, social and human systems to establish/reestablish the sound relationship between people and nature Knowledge system innovation is an important precondition for innovations in science, technology and social systems Social norms Ethics Social system innovations Values Knowledge grounded in Asian views of nature Economic system Linking Global, Social and Human Systems Sustainable society Knowledge system innovations (Integrated knowledge that supports sustainability science) Recycling-based system Technological system innovations Renewable energy Interdisciplinary knowledge that combines natural and social sciences Sustainability Science Approach Integration of traditional knowledge and modern science 2

3 Sustainability Science, Industry and Society Physical and social designs proposed by sustainability science needs to be assessed by industry and society Dialogue between scientists, industry and society should be interactive, which will bring coevolution of scientific understanding and social action Therefore, industry and society must be considered to be a part of the sustainability science community Designing Sustainable Society Sustainability Science Integration Individual Academic Disciplines Dialog Sustainable Society Symbiosis Various Industrial Sectors Evaluating Sustainability Science 3

4 The Evolution of Sustainability Science Sustainability science-related research and education programmes are being launched all over the world, especially in developed countries Sustainability Science journal has been established by IR3S and the number of academic papers on sustainability science has been increasing rapidly Sustainability science bridges disciplines, placing focus on the resilience and governance of social and ecological systems The challenge in sustainability science is tying into actions that bring about social changes in order to solve problems Of particular importance is connecting both common global challenges and diversified local challenges Increasing Number of Academic Papers on Sustainability Science Changing Components of Sustainability Science (Kajikawa et al., in press)

5 Sustainability Science and Japanese Society after the 2011 Triple Disasters In 2007, the Government of Japan announced efforts as part of its Strategy for an Environmental Nation in the 21st Century to become fully sustainable by integrating a low carbon society, a resource-circulating society, and a society in harmony with nature Sustainability in Japan was greatly redirected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and its aftermath With demand for development of decentralized renewable energy sources, the challenge becomes avoiding conflict with nature conservation, and agriculture, forestry and fisheries Tensions arise between engineering resilience and ecological resilience, depending on the way of building a resilient society Education for disaster reduction and other community-level efforts are being stressed in order to strengthen social resilience Integration of Three Perspectives on Sustainable Society (MOEJ) Conserving the ecosystem Sustainable society Resource-Circulating society Evacuation Route, Tanakahama, Kesennuma- Oshima (MOEJ) 5

6 Lessons from the Satoyama Initiative The Satoyama Initiative was launched at the COP10 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, with the aim of achieving a society in harmony with nature through sustainable use of biological resources The main issues were building a society with sustainable biological production, and building/rebuilding a socio-ecological production landscape while conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services Biological production utilizing biodiversity and ecosystem services is more resilient against climate/ecosystem and economic changes Creating new commons is vital to managing society and ecological production landscapes comprised of mosaic ecosystems A new high value-added business model relying on natural capital is required in order to be competitive in modern society Comparison of Tea Forests and Tea Plantations in Yunnan, China Chocolate Cosmetics Officinal Fruit, Accai Spice Ensure access to the market for a variety of products through cooperation between companies. Production Processing Distribution Promoting products with adding value Agroforestry Business Model, Brazil 6

7 New Sanriku Fukko National Park and Green Reconstruction Project Sanriku coast boasts many national parks, abundant with nature Expansion of the Rikuchu Kaigan National Park, and inclusion of satoyama and satoumi for the creation of a Sanriku Fukko (Reconstruction) National Park Raise the issue of the close relationship between people and nature, based on the threats and blessings of nature Sanriku Geopark for education and preserving the memory of the earthquake and tsunami Examination of possibilities for developing sustainable and renewable energy including solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal, in harmony with national parks and environmental protection Matsu-shima The area considered reorganization. Matsukawaura Tanesashikaiga- Hashikamidake Rikuchukaigan Kesennuma Minami Sanriku-Kinkasan Kenjyosan-Mangokuura National Park Quasi-National Park Prefectural National Park Green Reconstruction Project 1. Establishment of the new Sanriku Fukko (Reconstruction) National Park 2. Satoyama Satoumi Field Museum 3. Fukko (reconstruction) eco-tourism 4. Long Trail Michinoku Coastal Trail 5. Natural environment monitoring 6. Regenerating the connection between forest, satoyama, river and sea 7. Promoting development of human resources to play a major role in creating a sustainable society (ESD) Satoyama Satoumi Field Museum (By MOEJ) 7

8 Promoting Social System Innovation through the 3E Nexus Initiative Energy Stable energy supply and a lowcarbon society through the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy Environment Maintaining nature and safe, comfortable infrastructure for living through the preservation of the water and air environments and promotion of 3R Ecosystems Maintaining biological resources and using them effectively through the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services Societal Deployment Social System Innovation Achievement of Sustainable Region-Building in Asia 8

9 Enhancing Knowledge Innovation in Developing Countries Securing access to scientific data and academic papers for scholars in developing countries, by ensuring and expanding open access Promoting financial mechanisms to support joint research with researchers from both developed and developing countries Establishing education programmes in developing countries such as Education for Sustainable Development in Africa (ESDA) to cultivate researchers, government officials, and practitioners for sustainability Integrating the vast amounts of traditional knowledge in developing countries with modern scientific knowledge, to develop communitybased solutions to problems Developing programs that have a global perspective, and which strengthen resident capacities at the community level in problem areas Training Course at the GIS Resource Centre, UNU-INRA, Accra Conducting a Survey in a Local Community, Northern Ghana 9

10 Promoting Education for Sustainable Development in Africa (ESDA) Programmes have been developed at the post-graduate educational level given the long-term importance of fostering talent for Education for Sustainable Development in Africa (ESDA) Highly focused workshops were held at partner universities such as the University of Ghana, Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, University of Cape Town Three years of curriculum development concluded in November 2010, with African universities receiving assistance from international funding agencies such as African Development Bank (AfDB) to move on to implement the curriculum Work placements will be part of the Graduate Program on Sustainability Science- Global Leadership Initiative (GPSS-GLI) at the University of Tokyo, in cooperation with partner universities in Africa ESDA meeting (Cape Town) (August 30-31, 2010) Work placements focused on reducing urban poverty 10

11 The Role of Sustainability Science in Realizing a Sustainable Future The approach of sustainability science, which aims to systemize knowledge holistically, is ideal for discussions on global sustainability A unified approach is particularly needed to develop the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, for ), building on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Links with development agendas and environmental constraints will also be important in new initiatives after the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (post DESD) Sustainability science also plays an important role in assessments under IPBES, which stresses combining modern knowledge with traditional and local knowledge Sustainability science contributes to the Future Earth initiative, which integrates global environmental change programmes Delivering a Lecture on IPBES, Bonn Conceptual Framework of IPBES 11

12 Sustainability Science, Transdisciplinarity & Future Earth initiative The International Council for Science (ICSU) is pursuing the key theme of transdisciplinarity by integrating natural and social sciences and humanities Transdisciplinarity emphasizes the integration of specialized subdivisions of existing academic disciplines, and of academic research with society The 10-year Future Earth initiative integrates natural and social science research with a focus on a solutions-oriented approach to global environmental sustainability The primary focus of the Future Earth initiative is building an integrated common platform Existing sustainability science philosophy and activities (e.g. GPSS) demonstrate effective collaboration strategies transferable to Future Earth Future Earth initiative WMO (observer) Proposal: promote education and capacity development by forming a consortium in cooperation with universities and research institutes in Japan, and internationally 12

13 Thank you very much 13