Japan's Major Contributions to the Current State of SDGs and the Development of a Challenge Roadmap
Interview with Michiharu Nakamura, former member of the United Nations' 10-Member Group

The remarkable advances in modern science and technology since the Industrial Revolution have brought unprecedented affluence and stability to humanity. However, environmental destruction, including global warming, and poverty, and such related phenomena as hunger and refugees, have become major problems in modern human societies. To overcome these problems, the world is now pursuing activities to achieve the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), including environmental conservation and poverty eradication, as stipulated by the United Nations.

We interviewed the only Japanese member of the United Nations' 10-Member Group, which advises the United Nations IATT (Interagency Task Team) on the organization of the STI Forum and other key issues discussed in terms of scientific and technological innovation (STI) to achieve the SDGs. Dr. Michiharu Nakamura (Former President of Japan Science and Technology Agency) completed three years of membership activities in May this year. We asked him about the current status and challenges to achieving the SDGs, as well as Japan's contributions.

Science and technology innovation as a "key to realization"

--As someone who has been active for three years as a member of the 10-Member Group, what is your view on the state of global efforts to achieve SDGs?

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is in charge of all SDG activities. Technology facilitation mechanisms (TFM) have been established to promote "STI for SDGs," and now the IATT, which consists of 45 UN agencies, is leading these efforts, with the support of the 10-Member Group.

One is appointed to the 10-Member Group for two years, so I was supposed to step down in April last year, but it was extended by a year to give me a three-year appointment because of COVID-19. Currently, more than five years have passed since the launch of the SDGs. However, although some progress has been made in SDG activities worldwide, there is a growing awareness that achieving the 2030 targets is extremely difficult at the current pace. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an overall delay in activities, especially with widening disparities between the advantaged and the vulnerable.

With regards to climate change, it was a big step forward when the international community announced that it would realize carbon neutrality by mid-century under the Paris Agreement. It has made the accelerated development of diverse new technologies along with their social applications an urgent task. This requires scientific and technological breakthroughs, including costing. I also think this is a problem that cannot be solved without changing people's behavior and social culture itself. What would happen to the global environment if people worldwide began to consume as much as they wanted, as in the United States and Japan?

Global perceptions are changing, including the awareness that global social change is needed to solve our problems. In this context, the digital revolution is expected to be a secret weapon for realizing the SDGs, but it has many issues as well, such as human resource development, infrastructure investment, security, and ELSI (ethical, legal, and social issues). We also need to accelerate "local SDGs" based on our respective strengths, cultures, and traditions, to revitalize the local community.

Countries, including Japan, have common issues such as inter-prefectural collaboration, financial support, infrastructure development, industry participation, use of intellectual property, and improved STI capabilities. I believe that it is now necessary to revitalize SDG-oriented efforts through international collaboration and to start anew with a sense of crisis. More information on global and Japanese activities to achieve SDGs is provided in the report "Scientific and Technological Innovation Practices to Achieve the SDGs" (March 2021), which was compiled by Japan Science and Technology Agency. I hope that as many people as possible will read it.

Further promoting STI-accelerated international collaboration

--You participated in the 6th STI Forum held in May this year as a member of the 10-Member Group. What did you discuss there?

The aforementioned TFM organizes the STI Forum every May. The 6th STI Forum this year was held online in early May, and I participated as well. There, we discussed the acceleration of "STI for SDGs" and good ways to recover from COVID-19. At the ministerial session, the Japanese Minister of State (Consumer Affairs and Food Safety, Science and Technology Policy), Shinji Inoue, gave a video message, in which he highlighted the need to address "STI for SDGs" by incorporating the idea of a roadmap in the 6th Basic Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as to strengthen government-industry collaboration. The United States also expressed an active stance with regard to the SDGs. In addition, there were discussions about the progress of important issues such as the evaluation of TFM and the development and application of advanced technologies.

One of the highlights of this forum was the "STI for SDGs Roadmap." A roadmap is essential to provide concrete targets for achieving the SDGs, analyze the current status, select pathways to achieve those targets, and monitor and assess every milestone. To spread these efforts, the UN IATT, Japan, and the European Union have created a guidebook for the development of roadmaps. In addition, at the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit, Japan put together a roadmap basic policy as an appendix, and political consensus was reached on addressing the SDGs using a roadmap. Engagement with this roadmap should happen not only at the national level but also at the global, local, and sector levels.

Currently, to expand SDG activities to developing countries, pilot programs are planned at the UN IATT. Six countries--Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, India, Serbia, and Ukraine--have been selected as pilot countries, and activities are being promoted in collaboration with UN agencies and partner countries. Japan collaborates as a partner country with Kenya and India, but since all of these pilot countries have low SDG9 (industrial and technological innovation) or STI capacity, I believe that Japan can make a significant contribution through science and technology. In the 6th Basic Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation and the Integrated Innovation Strategy, Japan has implemented a roadmap on the major issues of Society 5.0 and has made good on our promises. The world is paying attention to Japanese initiatives because of this. I also believe that it is vital to continue to focus on science and technology diplomacy to provide support in the pilot programs and realize global collaborative activities (Partnership in Action).

Japan's cooperation with Africa is important.

--Finally, please tell us about your thoughts on future SDG initiatives.

My first thought is on how we want STI to be. Scientific and technological innovation is crucial for achieving the SDGs, which is why we have engaged in "STI for SDGs." However, what has become a common language in forums such as the United Nations, the OECD, and the International Science Council (ISC), which is a global gathering of scientists, is "SDGs for STI," meaning the perception that STI itself must change in order to achieve the SDGs. I expect the Japanese academic community to take the lead in this development.

Next, it is about Japan overcoming the challenges we ourselves are facing. According to the 2021 report (SDR2021) compiled by the German Bertelsmann Stiftung and the UN global network Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Japan ranks 18th in the world with regard to SDG initiatives. All of the countries ranked above Japan are European countries. While Japan scored higher on SDG1 (No Poverty) and SDG9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), it is noted that Japan lags behind in SDG5 (Gender Equality), SDG13 (Climate Action), SDG14 (Life Below Water), and SDG15 (Life on Land), and that efforts should also be focused on the SDG action plans. In addition, to promote international cooperation through science and technology, such as in the abovementioned pilot programs, we need to expand national SDG-related international cooperation budgets and integrative international cooperation strategies. In particular, Japan has lagged behind Europe and China in terms of international cooperation with Africa.

However, considering the future African market, I believe that now is the time to strengthen international collaboration with Africa. Through our networks with the United Nations and other international organizations to date, there have been increased discussions about understanding and practicing the need for transforming STI systems to match the SDGs as well as development and collaboration for new policy tools. My replacement, Maki Kawai (Director General of the Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences), was chosen as a Japanese member of the 10-Member Group in May this year. It is a great honor that Japanese members have been chosen twice in a row. I hope that the government will support Kawai and provide backup so that Japan can make significant contributions to global SDG activities.

Original interview carried out by The Science News