I am very proud to be given an opportunity to speak before many prominent scholars and authorities in the areas of science and technology. Before I begin, I would like to celebrate the success of the 3rd Annual Meeting of Science and Technology in Society Forum in Kyoto, and to appreciate for the efforts of all who organized this valuable conference.
I am a bit uncomfortable today, frankly speaking, to make a speech before eminent science professors, because Japanese politicians are generally not too good at science, especially in my case, mathematics and physics. It was 1981 when I took a course on nuclear strategy in security policy at Harvard, which gave me literally a shock. For the first time, I learned that in order to study international politics, you have to study nuclear physics as prerequisites. Therefore, my grade at Harvard is a top secret forever.
In 1995, right after I became a member of the National Diet, under the leadership of Mr. Omi, who is the founder of this STS forum, I was engaged in drafting The Science and Technology Basic Law, which initially set the principles of the government in promoting science and technology policy in Japan and making our resources to be ultimately utilized for the benefits of all humankind.
Starting the late 18th century, with industrial revolution in England, it is commonly felt that the world history of humankind has gained speed. In the beginning of 21st century, we are now witnessing that innovation backed by more rapid development of science and technology has accelerated changes in everyone's life, society, and its global relations. Science and technology-based innovation has created the concept of so-called "economies of speed."
Science and technology has unlimited possibility. Let me take some examples. Science and technology can even change the picture of global conflicts, since energy resources has been the major cause of conflicts and wars. It may not be a mere dream to reduce the number of global conflicts, if global policymakers agree to change resource allocation towards more focus on investments in infinite energy resources such as sunshine or water to be used instead of scarce energy resources such as oil and gas.
How many people are dying in the world every day due to specific diseases, such as cancer? It may not be a mere dream to reduce the pain of number of patients, if policymakers agree to change resource allocation towards more focus on research and investments in particular difficult diseases.
In this sense, political leadership has to be used in a right way. Both scientists and politicians have a "fatal power" in guiding the future of all humankind. We are sharing a responsibility towards the future.
Japan has committed to the global efforts on global warming and CO2 emissions curtailment. Nine years ago, Kyoto Protocol was agreed in this conference hall, while ratifications of the Protocol by each country were behind schedule and it finally went into effect in last February. In the process of negotiating with many countries, Japanese government insisted the necessity of ramifications based on the findings of the scientists that greenhouse effects are worsened by the emissions of CO2, which had invited the global climate change. Science and international politics is now interconnected in the global society.
Let me take nuclear issues of Iran and North Korea. When diplomats make policy against Iran that started uranium enrichment, you always have to make an assessment of its real degree and impact based on accurate scientific data and knowledge. It is indeed critical for policymakers to know whether the movement of uranium enrichment is a mere laboratory level or a disposition phase. I think recent North Korea missile case holds common implications. Moreover, international scientific cooperation becomes prerequisites for anti-terrorism war at large.
Along with the above national security issues, Japan have been putting special emphasis on human security, which seeks to establish a society where each person can fully enjoy human dignity through protection and empowerment of individuals and communities exposed to various menace, such as threat of infectious diseases like epidemic of avian influenza. In this area too, it is indispensable for policymakers to cooperate with scientists.
In this sense, both scientists and policymakers may have to focus more on the interests in global society. Japan sets the 3rd science and technology basic plan that implements domestic reforms in order to attract many scientists and researchers from the world. Our scientific research systems and environments have to be open and innovative, which eventually benefits both domestically and globally.
Against the background of recent rapid development of science and technology, there are some fears in people and society that science and technology might become more black-boxed and scientists might become more narrow-sighted specialists. I often hear from people who concern about the applied use of life science including genome technology, internet and network security and potential proliferation of scientific knowledge that can be used by terrorists, or robot technology and its military application, to name but a few.
Therefore, I need to stress on the importance of dialogue between politics and science. Politics deal with people and society, which is always difficult to change. Science and technology deal with innovation, which is a main driver for the change in society and people. That is why we need to have extensive discussions, in order to share views on ethics in society. Politics deal with virtues and evils in society, while science and technology may have a possibility to create new types of virtues as well as new types of evils. That is why politics must listen to the scientists carefully, and scientist must speak up towards politics so that the most up-to-date scientific observations shall be employed in the policy making process.
Development of science and technology is indispensable not only for future of nations but also for that of all humankind. As Japan faces rapid aging society with severe energy resource constraints, we must maintain competitive edge with the focus on innovation and productivity increase. I sincerely hope, Japan would take the initiative in promoting virtues of science for the benefit of global prosperity and pursuit of happiness of all humankind.
Thank you very much.