Voice of MOE Family in the World

In January 2013, severe air pollution affected an area of 1.4 million km2 in the centre of Beijing, China. Since then, air pollution countermeasures have been implemented. As a result, the concentration of SO2 in the air has significantly dropped in recent years, and although NOx and PM2.5 levels were also reduced, O3 levels have yet to be effectively controlled.

Project for Environment Friendly Society Building

Sino-Japan Friendship Centre for Environmental Protection, an affiliated organization of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, established with grant assistance from Japan, has been implementing a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) technical cooperation project since 1992, which entered its final phase (Phase 5) in April 2016. This final phase involves the “Project for Environment Friendly Society Building” (scheduled for completion at the end of 2021).

Currently, the "Battle for Blue Skies" is underway in China to prevent and control air pollution to regain blue skies. In one of the sub-projects on air pollution control, we have acquired methods for analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formulating VOCs emissions inventories, and published a textbook that introduces Japan's experience.

In addition, a joint research system was established between the National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, Tsinghua University, and Japanese experts for elucidation of the components organic carbon (OC) in PM2.5. We are analyzing samples of air pollutants collected by Tsinghua University using a mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOFMS) provided by JICA. Some of the research results have already been published as papers, and further research is expected to clarify sources and generation mechanisms of PM2.5.

Climate change is the single greatest threat facing the Pacific. Leaders have committed to promoting national and regional initiatives and have called for urgent and ambitious actions by the international community. To respond to these commitments, the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) started its operation in 2019. The Government of Japan supports its construction and capacity building program at the PCCC.

Projection of climate change in the South Pacific suggests continuing sea level rise and increasing intensity of tropical cyclones. Last year Category 5 tropical cyclone Harold passed through and made landfall in four Pacific counties amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and caused huge livelihood and economic losses.

The PCCC is expected to play an important role in enhancing resilience and low-carbon development in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Through its four functions, which are knowledge brokerage, applied research, training and learning, and innovation, the PCCC will support regional efforts to tackle climate change.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented partners and stakeholders from traveling and meeting in person, activities have continued by changing ways of executing initiatives and delivering services. The regional training programs to strengthen the resilience of the Pacific region, implemented with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from July 2019, have shifted to a virtual platform. An e-learning platform is under development and is expected to increase training opportunities for practitioners in the region.

Partnership is key to the successful implementation of activities of the PCCC. Collaboration among a broad range of partners, including countries and territories, as well as regional and international organizations, NGOs and the private sector, should bring about innovative and tangible activities and outcomes to address climate change and enhance resilience.

March 2021 marked ten years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Although many issues remain in work on off-site decontamination, significant achievements have been made, including the completion of full-scale decontamination other than the Difficult-to-Return Zones.

Sharing Japan's experience with the world

Japan's decontamination work is unlike anything the world has seen before, making it essential to share the experiences and lessons learned with other countries worldwide.

In July 2019, I became the first employee of the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) to be seconded to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and am currently in charge of reflecting practices gained from decontamination projects onto IAEA Safety Standards and compiling the results of discussions between MOE and IAEA.

Sharing the world's experiences with Japan

There are many cases worldwide of radioactive contamination other than nuclear power plant accidents, such as those caused by nuclear testing, as well as contamination caused by natural radioactive materials contained in the by-products of mining of mineral resources. One of my assignment's primary objectives is to share many of these experiences with Japan and use them to address the issues.

Sharing with future generations

As ten years have passed since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, the current generation of Japanese primary school-aged children and younger have little or no personal experience with the disaster. Even as reconstruction in affected areas moves forward, the importance of passing on these experiences and lessons to future generations only increases with time. I believe that cooperation between IAEA and MOE will become more critical.