Research Network as a Power

March 16, 1996

Shohei Yonemoto

Life Science Research Institute

Mitsubishi Kagaku

The relationship between the end of the Cold War and global environmental problems

1998 →　1992　United Nations Conference on Environmental and Development (Earth Summit)
Post Earth Summit and the theory of environment security as new geopolitics

Regionalization of the global environmental problems

EU’s energy and environment support to East Europe,

Countermeasures to unclear pollution in the Arctic Ocean

Lessons from the environment diplomacy in Europe

The Cold War era　
→　emergence of the environment diplomacy as an incidental product of power politics
Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution Treaty
←　Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) Helsinki Agreement
Establishment of Science Infrastructure (sharing of observation, monitoring and simulation)
Uniform reduction of Sox emission by 30% based on 1985 Helsinki Protocol
Catalytic role of UN Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)
Conditions for establishing the environment diplomacy in the post Cold War era

Sharing the value of developed countries

Shift of the emphasis of ODA which has been on the improvement of infrastructure

Economic growth　→　Investment to health & sanitation, education and environment conservation (human security)

Conditionalities imposed by developed countries and international organizations and the recipients’ objection claiming them to be the intervention to domestic affairs.

Air pollution issues in East Asia Region

Too varied types of countries compared with Europe (the developed, the quasi-developed, the developing, the free economy, the planned economy, countries which are shifting to market economy)

→　Progress of the country level talks is difficult

→　NGOs should establish a network

Linkage between acid rain problems and global warming countermeasures
Toward the establishment of science infrastructure funded by Japan

Issues Japanese NGOs should take into account

Japan should support the environment conservation of developing countries as an only non-Cold-War-type country.

Difficulties as an only developed country in Asia

Especially, air pollution in East Asia, Conservation of natural environment in Siberia, Environment conservation of international inland seas

Science research and investigation research as a power (Japanese academic circle does not like politics?)

The science research strategy of Green peace should be considered .

Brent Spar issue, Antarctic issue