Professor Oki Daikan of the University of Tokyo, who this year received the Stockholm Water Prize, known as the Nobel Prize in the field of water, has been working with JICA on research toward resilient development that can cope with water disasters and other disasters caused by climate change. As the risk of climate change increases year by year, how should we act to achieve sustainable development? He exchanged views with JICA Vice President Katsura Miyazaki.
Oki Daikan, Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo (left) and Katsura Miyazaki, Vice President of JICA (right)
Leading hydrologist who revealed the current state of water on the planet
With a series of large-scale natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and wildfires occurring in many parts of the world, climate change and the issue of water, which has the greatest impact on it, have become common issues for all humankind.
Professor Oki is a leading expert in “hydrology,” the study of all water-related phenomena on the earth. He has developed a numerical model that incorporates “river flow” and “human water use” into the natural cycle of water. This model has enabled a more accurate understanding of the global water supply and demand situation, and has made it possible to predict the impact of climate change on water resources and human life. The digital mapping of major rivers developed by Professor Oki is the most widely used in the world. His work has greatly advanced our understanding of the links between hydrology, climate change, and sustainability, and for this he was awarded the Stockholm Water Grand Prize.
For many years, a team of researchers led by Professor Oki has participated in SATREPS, a project to tackle global-scale issues implemented by JICA and JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency). They have conducted international joint research projects in Thailand on adaptation measures to reduce the risk of water-related disasters due to climate change. Through a discussion with Vice President Miyazaki, who once served as the head of the Thailand office and was involved in the efforts of Professor Oki and his team, we will consider how we can build a sustainable future while involving the people around us.
Oki Taikan, Special Advisor to the President and Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
B.Eng. from the University of Tokyo, Ph.D., meteorologist; professor at the University of Tokyo since 2006; Senior Vice-Rector at the United Nations University and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations from 2016-21. He is the lead author of the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and a member of the National Land Council. 2024 Stockholm Water Prize and the Medal with Purple Ribbon. His recent publications include Climate Change and Society: Learning the Basics of Global Warming Issues (University of Tokyo Press).
Cross-disciplinary efforts lead to synergies
Miyazaki Congratulations on winning the Stockholm Water Award.
Oki: Thank you very much, we have been working with JICA since 2008 on two joint research projects in Thailand on water and climate change and sustainable development. We believe that our achievements have also been highly evaluated.
Miyazaki: JICA aims to realize “human security,” that is, for people to live with dignity and without fear or lack, and has recently been working to achieve the SDGs by further strengthening its promotion of sustainability. Looking back on Dr. Oki’s project, I was reminded once again how pioneering his efforts were in terms of implementing the results of his research into society, something that JICA is now trying to do.
Oki: The concept of “human security” that the United Nations and the Japanese government have put forth to the international community is a concept that we should be proud of. It presented the idea that it is “people,” not “countries,” that should be protected by security. I believe that this spirit was present in JICA, and that we, as researchers, considered the application of science and technology in this context.
Katsura Miyazaki, Vice President, JICA
He has served as Councilor and Head of Gender Equality and Poverty Reduction Office, Social Infrastructure and Peacebuilding Department, Director of Thailand Office, and Director of Governance and Peacebuilding Department before being appointed as Director in October 2022, and has been in his current position since May 2024.
Miyazaki: In the Thailand project, many researchers gathered not only from Kasetsart University and other prestigious universities in Thailand, but also from Japanese universities, and they worked on the project while involving people from different fields.
Oki Many areas were covered because the effects of climate change are widespread. In addition, the relationship with water covers all areas, including human health and urban development. We knew from previous research that if we worked as broadly as possible, we would see synergistic effects, and in the 17 goals of the SDGs, if we do well in one of the strongly interconnected areas, we will see results in the other as well.
The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report released in 2022 put forward the concept of “climate resilient development. It indicates that synergistic effects must be generated through the appropriate development of human society, actions to combat climate change, and the conservation of biodiversity, which I believe is a very important perspective.
On-site” essential for global solutions
Miyazaki: In addition to the project conducted by Dr. Oki, JICA is providing a wide range of cooperation in the field of climate change in Thailand, including the formulation of business continuity plans to enable companies to resume operations quickly in the event of natural disasters such as flooding. I believe that this kind of cooperation is a result of the relationships that Dr. Oki and other Japanese researchers have forged with their Thai counterparts. On the other hand, I have the impression that researchers’ interest in developing countries has waned in recent years.
Oki: In general, researchers tend to focus their attention domestically, and in fact, cutting-edge research can only be conducted in developed countries in some fields. However, the field of sustainable water management is how to accommodate the conflict between nature and society, and Japan cannot be the only country to seek solutions on a global scale. Research on the ground, including in developing countries, is essential.
Researchers from Japan and Thailand visit the radar site of the Meteorological Department of Thailand (Photo courtesy of Japan Science and Technology Agency)
Monitoring of coastal topography by Thai students. Coastal surveying in the coastal areas of Songkhla Province, southern Thailand, involving local communities.
Miyazaki: Indeed, when tackling global-scale issues, looking only at the Japanese case study, the impact is very limited. In particular, there are many things that can only be understood and data that cannot be obtained in the field, especially when it comes to the relationship between nature and water, which has significant regional characteristics. In this respect, JICA has the advantage of sending people to the field, obtaining information, and understanding local needs. I would like to continue to use these strengths to bridge the gap between research and development and work with developing countries to solve the problem of climate change.
What to do” with the future, to the young people who will build the foundations of the 22nd century
Miyazaki: Many young students participated in the research project in Thailand, and I felt that we were able to establish connections that transcended generations.
Oki I was first taken to Thailand about 35 years ago as part of an intergovernmental program of exchange among UNESCO scientists. I had a strong impression that water environments are completely different from one country to another. This is the starting point of my research. That’s why I try to involve my students in as many different projects as possible.
Professor Oki says, “People say that young people these days are inward-looking, but in my laboratory, there are many young people who say they want to go abroad and cooperate internationally.
Miyazaki: What kind of guidance do you give to your students?
Oki: It takes a lot of “honors students” to run an organization, but honors students always respond to what they can do and tend to seek the best solution or the best strategy. On the other hand, what is important now is to “pursue dreams and curiosity and come up with different ideas,” “set new precedents and rules, and rewrite the textbook. I believe that what is important now is the existence of so-called “transcendent human resources” who have the spirit to “pursue dreams and curiosity and come up with different ideas,” “create new precedents and rules, and rewrite the textbooks. This drive will change common sense and transform society.
Therefore, I tell students that society can and will change. There is no right answer, and there is no set future. The future is the accumulation of our daily choices, and those choices will create the society of 10 or 50 years from now.
Move the organization, involve others, and change society.
Miyazaki: According to a report by the United Nations, the annual underinvestment in developing countries to achieve the SDGs is said to be about 4.2 trillion U.S. dollars, and while JICA’s budget is limited, we would like to work with the private sector and others who are working toward the same goals to make a greater development impact. However, we are still groping for ways to visualize and co-create that impact.
Oki The same can be said for climate change research, but I think that change will come about by changing our thinking from trying to do what we can do on our own to involving those around us.
JICA’s strength is that it is an organization. Researchers are private stores, so if a teacher loses interest or retires, the research stops. On the other hand, once JICA starts cooperation, it continues for five years and follows up with follow-ups. It may be hard work for everyone, but this leads to a great deal of trust and the power to involve others, which in turn leads to a movement that changes society.
The JICA brand, which is based in the field, has a tremendous amount of credibility, and simply saying, “Let us work with you on research as part of a JICA project,” is enough to get them to listen to you. I realized how powerful this is in the Thailand project. It is not just a matter of the size of the fund, but I feel that a sense of trust, such as “working with Japan will give us good ideas” or “working with JICA will go well”, is very important for a project to proceed.
Miyazaki: JICA’s vision is “Connecting the world through trust. JICA has earned the trust of many countries by promoting development cooperation with an attitude that is different from that of the Western countries, and one that is close to the partner country. I felt once again that JICA has a responsibility to accumulate values that cannot be measured by money and to weave trust. Let us continue to work together toward a sustainable future.
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