The 3 rd phase ( FY2006-FY2010 ) of the Science and Technology Basic Plan

1. Prioritized New Research Initiative on Climate Change in Japan - under a new phase of the Science and Technology Basic Plan –Hiroki KondoSpecial Advisor tothe Minister of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan

2. The 3rd phase (FY2006-FY2010)oftheScience and Technology Basic Plan • 3rd phase has just been launched (in April) by the Cabinet • The same 4 fields prioritized again as important promotion fields besides basic sciences: life science; information &communications; environment;and nanotechnology: • National Core Technology studies/projectshave also been identified for overarching or cross-cutting important themes • Prioritization has been made in every broken down stage from a selection-and-concentration strategy standpoint for efficient resource allocation

3. Promotional Strategies in Prioritized Fields • Formulated by the Council for Science and Technology Policy (CSTP)* *established within the Cabinet Office in 2001, chaired by the Prime Minister, with members of 6 Ministers concerned and 8 Experts -Further prioritization in Each of 4 fields including environment: - Areas prioritized in environment: Climate change research, Climate changemitigation technology, Chemical substance risk and security management research, Water/material cycle and watershed, ecosystem management research, 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) technology research, Biomass usage and utilization research - In each area including climate change research, important studies have been identifiedand then some of them have been furtherstrategically prioritized

4. 6 Categorized ProgramsforClimate Change Research:to attain reliable climate change projection and impact assessment through addressing global Earth observation • P1: Comprehensivemonitoring studies on global warming • P2:Climate change process studies • P3:Future projection of global warming and data base construction from global warming research outcomes • P4:Studies on global warming impact, risk assessment, and adaptation measures • P5:Studies on global scalewater cycle variabilities • P6: Studies on global warmingmitigation policies

5. Studies identifiedas importantand furtherstrategically prioritized(P1, P2) • P1:Comprehensivemonitoring studieson global warming - Observation on global and regional scaleCO2 budget (balance of emission and absorption) - Observation on atmospheric changes in the troposphere due to trace greenhouse gases - Monitoringstudies of greenhouse gases and the Earth surface layer by satellites • P2:Climate change process studies - Process study on the climate change due toclouds and aerosols - Process study onresponse of lands and oceansto climate change

6. Studies identifiedas importantand furtherstrategically prioritized(P3) • P3: Future projection of global warming and data base construction from global warming research outcomes -Projection of weather and climate change in the 21st century by climate modeling • Further reliable climate change projection in the21st century, in particular,with a specific focus on extreme events such as heat waves, severe storms, tropical cyclones, storm surges, etc. in the near future (about 25 years from now) • Projection to be regionally detail enough for relevantly applicable to impact assessment and adaptation studies. - Study onlong-term climate changeprojection based on scenarios - Construction of integrated data base from observation, projection, impact studies and adaptation measures

7. Studies identifiedas importantand furtherstrategically prioritized ( P4, P5 & P6) • P4: Studies on global warming impacts, risk assessment, and adaptation measures - Comprehensive monitoring of global warming impacts in vulnerable regions - Projection of climate change impacts in 25 years ahead and responding adaptation measures in Japan and Asia • P5:Studies on global scalewater cycle variabilities - Understanding ofglobal scale water cycle variabilitiesby integrating observation and modeling • P6: Studies onglobal warmingmitigation policies - Study onlong-term emission scenariosfor climate change mitigation - Projection and management of climate change risk, and study on the design of society exiting from global warming

8. A National Core Technologyproject related to climate change research has been initiated • Prioritized as an important linkage between research and systematic observation in addition to other linkages • A data integration and analysis system • To collect, assimilate and integrate data from satellite and ocean/land observations • To distribute the processed data in response of user needs • User needs from various sectors including: • Climate change research • Public decision-making

9. Summary • Japan has just launched the 3rd phase of Science and Technology Basic Plan (FY2006-FY2010) • Environment is again prioritized besides 3 other fields • Climate Change research is further prioritized under environment • Among study subjects identified as important under global warming research, 3 subjectshave been further strategically prioritized • An integration and analysis system project has also been initiated as a National Core Technology project, playing as a linkage of research and systematic observation