Ten years have passed since JICA and JAXA signed a cooperative agreement. JICA President Akihiko Tanaka and JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa will talk passionately about the results of this collaboration so far and what role it will play in solving new challenges facing the world in the future.
Earth science knowledge is essential for international cooperation based on human security.
–The signing of the cooperation agreement between JICA and JAXA in 2014 has led to the use of satellite data for forest conservation, disaster prevention, and human resource development in the space field. Looking back over the past 10 years of collaboration, please tell us about its significance and achievements.
Tanaka: Before signing the agreement with JAXA, we had been conducting a project to prevent illegal logging in the Brazilian Amazon by utilizing data provided by JAXA’s Advanced Land Observing Satellite “Daichi. We concluded the agreement in 2014, believing that the use of space would be further promoted in international cooperation.
At the heart of JICA’s international cooperation is the concept of “human security. This human security, which emphasizes the importance of the safety of each individual so that no human being falls into a state of scarcity, fear, or deprivation of dignity, was initially strongly viewed as being threatened by the effects of social systems such as civil wars and domestic turmoil. However, it is also threatened by changes in the ecosystems and other life systems of the entire planet, as well as by fluctuations in the earth’s physical systems, as the Great East Japan Earthquake in Japan and the spread of new coronavirus infections worldwide have clearly demonstrated. Such threats to human security against the natural world cannot be addressed by one country alone. JICA’s collaboration with JAXA, which is conducting space science research, is very significant in international cooperation to realize human security.
Yamakawa: JAXA tends to emphasize the scientific and technological aspects of its research, but we believe that the results of that research are meaningful only when they are actually used. To cite a specific example, the JICA-JAXA Tropical Forest Early Warning System (JJ-FAST)*, which uses satellite data to reduce deforestation caused by illegal logging, has been deployed in 78 countries around the world, contributing to people’s lives and economies.
(Note) JICA-JAXA Tropical Forest Early Warning System (JJ-FAST)
JICA-JAXA Forest Early Warning System in the Tropics
Tanaka: It is very significant that JICA has established a cooperative relationship with JAXA, as many of JICA’s partner countries have expressed a growing desire to create their own space policies or to have their own space technology to promote national development. It is difficult for JICA to provide support for space technology and analysis of observation data on its own, and we are very grateful that JAXA is able to provide training for people from developing countries at JAXA’s Tsukuba Space Center, which has a strong impact.
Yamakawa: The Japan Space Technology Utilization Network Initiative (JJ-NeST), a human resource development project for practitioners and researchers who will be responsible for space technology development and utilization in their countries in the future, is a collaborative effort between JICA and JAXA, and is extremely significant from a long-term perspective of 10 or 20 years in the future. In addition, in May 2024, the Paraguayan Space Agency, JICA, and JAXA were able to conclude a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in space development in Paraguay, South America. In this way, we are able to directly contribute to space development in developing countries because of our collaboration with JICA.
JICA President Tanaka (third from right) and JAXA President Yamakawa (second from right) at the ceremony to announce the memorandum of understanding for cooperation in space development with Paraguay.
(Paraguay, May 2024)
New co-creation in the midst of a drastically changing world situation
–As the environment surrounding international cooperation and space has changed dramatically over the past decade, what do you think should be done to address the challenges we are currently facing?
Tanaka: From the perspective of human security, the world today faces very serious challenges compared to 10 years ago. The international community as a whole must cooperate in confronting such challenges as how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and how to protect human beings from natural disasters that occur around the world, especially extreme weather events originating from climate change. Of course, as was recognized a decade ago, the situation is becoming increasingly serious, and the use of advanced science and technology, such as satellite data from Daichi IV, is even more necessary.
Yamakawa: Regarding climate change, JAXA launched the world’s first greenhouse gas observation satellite “IBUKI” in 2009, and has continued to observe greenhouse gases from space ever since. I would be happy if such observation data could be utilized in JICA’s efforts, etc., and ultimately lead to policies by the United Nations and other organizations.
In addition, the world knows that disasters have really intensified in the past decade and that we are no longer in a situation of waiting, which can never be handled by a single country. In this regard, for example, there is a cooperative framework called Sentinel Asia, which is one of the activities of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (ARPSAF), for which JAXA serves as the secretariat. When a disaster occurs in a certain region, this framework enables the use of Earth observation satellites from countries and regions in the region to provide observation data as quickly as possible, and international cooperation is indeed very effective.
Tanaka: We are really seeing an increase in developing countries these days that want to launch space-related startups, and I think JICA should support them in creatively using satellite data provided by JAXA and private companies to create projects that are appropriate for their respective countries.
JICA President Tanaka states that he would like to focus on private sector collaboration through the SME and SDGs Business Support Program in the space sector, as well as the utilization of the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program for Addressing Global Issues (SATREPS).
Yamakawa: There are more than 100 space-related start-ups in Japan alone. The number is also increasing in other countries around the world. When JAXA talks with other space agencies and governments, we need to consider how to build relationships with a diverse range of players. In addition, with technological innovation, more and more emerging space countries are using space to promote their national development, while international tensions are increasing. I feel that we need to challenge, rather than challenge, how we should cooperate with our comrades and the rest of the world.
Tanaka: I think it is difficult to cooperate with all countries in the same way on issues related to national security. On the other hand, there are cases where it is good to cooperate with each other, even if there are political conflicts, in order to deal with global-scale issues that humanity faces. Even during the Cold War, the U.S. and the Soviet Union cooperated in the space field. Since the development of science and technology involves both competition and cooperation, it is important to find a balance and leave space for cooperation.
Trust-based sustainable space development for global development challenges
–What are your thoughts on future initiatives and your vision for the future in the collaboration between JICA and JAXA?
Yamakawa: Space is a “use it or lose it” kind of thing. There is now a movement to utilize satellite data to promote agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. In this way, I would like to link space and the ground, which may seem distant at first glance. I would like to emulate the efforts of JICA, which has a strong and deep network with developing countries and outreach to voices from the development field.
As I mentioned earlier, international cooperation requires a balance between competition and cooperation, but it also starts with mutual trust, and I believe that this will never change. Today, I would like to reaffirm that JAXA would like to further strengthen the relationships of trust that JICA has established with many countries. In the recent international situation, as I mentioned earlier about the ARPSAF in the Asia-Pacific region, moves to establish regional space development forums have begun in South America, the Middle East, and Africa. How to cooperate with regions that are becoming more united will be a major issue in the future.
JAXA President Yamakawa emphasizes that the most important factor for sustainable space development is “mutual trust
Mr. Tanaka: As Chairman Yamakawa mentioned, as the trend of various exchanges spreading from region to region becomes more and more pronounced and stronger, it is important for a country like Japan, which lives and works not only in the space field but also with the rest of the world, to build a firm foothold of trust among the ties among similar institutions in each region and to keep an eye on regional trends. We believe that it is important to build a firm foothold of trust among similar institutions in each region and to keep an eye on regional trends. Looking to the next decade, one of the major challenges facing the international community is the growing difficulty in achieving the SDGs. 2030 is the target year for achieving the SDGs, but unfortunately, the current trend is that many countries will not be able to achieve the goals. However, 2030 is not the end of the world. Japan must be actively involved in the formation of the next goals, and I believe that we must also pay attention to the relationship between the space sector and the SDGs.
Yamakawa: JAXA has a director in charge of SDGs, and quite a few of the SDGs are linked to space. JAXA currently operates eight Earth observation satellites. I believe that we can use the observation data to contribute to climate change, forest conservation, oceans and atmosphere, as well as country-specific initiatives.
In fact, space is not covered among the 17 goals of the SDGs. Right now, there are tens of thousands of remnants of what humans have launched since 1957, or space waste, which has a significant impact on the sustainability of space activities. To solve such problems, we need to clarify the rules so that many institutions and companies can participate. A single country cannot manage space activities. It is meaningless unless countries work together, so this is one of the major future initiatives for international cooperation in space.
Tanaka: I would be very grateful if JICA and JAXA could work together to consider how we can further cooperate in the area of the SDGs, as well as how the goals beyond the SDGs should be achieved. I would like to work with JAXA to contribute to Japan’s search for the truth in space science to solve various global issues together with such partners.
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