The G8 Science and Technology Ministers’ Meeting Chair’s Summary for science and technology

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G8 Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting

Date : June 15, 2008 Venue : BANOKU SHINRYOKAN ( Nago, Okinawa )

1.  G8 ministers and the European Commissioner responsible for science and
technology met for the first time in Okinawa on June 15 2008, together with
ministers and senior officials from Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Philippines,
the Republic of Korea and South Africa. This meeting was held with a view to
providing appropriate inputs to the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit to be held in
July 2008.   
 
2.  The meeting highlighted that science and technology is an important key to
sustainable development all over the world and reaffirmed the importance of
promoting science and technology cooperation based on international
collaboration.  
 
3.  Discussions focused on the following three themes:
a)  Approaches to the Solution of Global Issues through International
Cooperation - Research and Development for the Realization of a
Low-Carbon Society b) Science and Technology Cooperation with African Countries and Other  Developing Countries, and c)  Cooperation in Research and Development Resources.   

Attached is a summary of our discussions which we commend to our own
communities and to other countries beyond the G8.

General Information

To discuss the enhancement of
the science and technology cooperation to solve the global issues, etc,
prior to G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, the G8 Science and Technology
Ministers' Meeting will be held on June 15th, 2008 in Okinawa Bankoku
Shinryokan.

Agenda
Item 1: Approaches to the Solution of Global Issues through
International Cooperation: Research and Development for the Realization
of a Low-Carbon Society
We will discuss the science and
technology for achieving a low carbon society, especially focusing on
the energy-related technology. Taking some technologies including
biofuel as examples, the modality of R&D and their socioeconomic
impacts will be discussed.

Agenda Item 2: Science and Technology Cooperation with African Countries and Other Developing Countries
We will discuss promotion of capacity building based on the needs of
developing countries. We will also consider the appropriate modality of
science and technology cooperation and the mechanism to identify their
needs, mainly in the fields of biodiversity, sustainable supply of
water, food and energy, and infectious disease.

Agenda Item 3: Cooperation on Research and Development Resources
We will discuss cooperation on large-scale research activities and
facilities, including international mobility of human resource.

Information

Date : June 15, 2008
Venue : BANOKU SHINRYOKAN ( Nago, Okinawa )

Environmental consciousness

Low-emission fuel cell hybrid bus will be operate.
We use a fuel cell hybrid bus for transportation Ministers/delegation heads to BANKOKU SHINRYOKAN,
as a environment-friendly means of transportation.

A workshop on environment and energy issues will be held.
A workshop on environment and energy issues will take place as part of satellite activities
for the G8 science and technology ministerial-level meeting in Okinawa.(click here for more details)

Environment-friendly meeting.
We organize whole G8 Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting in a
environmentally sound manner, for instance energy-saving.

Related Events

Related Event 1: G8 Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting related Pre-Event “Symposium on the Genome Research”
Students who are the bearers of the future of Okinawa discuss and exchange opinions
on the future of science and technology and ultimately mankind through interaction
with the attendees of the G8 Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting and science experiments.
Date and Time: (Fri) June 13, 2008 14:00-17:00
Venue: Okinawa Harbor View Hotel Crown Plaza
Host: The Council for Okinawa Institution of Science and Technology
Contact: 098-866-2560 (Science and Technology Promotion Division, Department of Planning, Okinawa Prefecture)

Related Event 2: G8 Science and Technology Ministerial Satellite Workshop on Environment and Energy Issues
A
workshop on environment and energy issues will take place as part of
satellite activities for the G8 science and technology ministers'
meeting in Okinawa.
The workshop will include lectures by prominent scientists including Nobel laureates to discuss
the significance of science and technology as well as regional and international cooperation.
Date and Time: (Sat) June 14, 2008 9:00-15:00
Venue: University of the Ryukyus
Host: Okinawa Science and Technology Promotion Corporation, University
of the Ryukyus, Academia Sinica, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Contact: 098-966-8711 (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Promotion Corporation)

Related Event 3: We Build the Future of the Earth "Saikoro chikyuujyuku 2008, Science & Ecology Ushering Us into the Future"
The symposium explored Okinawa's advanced bio research environment that centers on the New-generation genome sequencer
and the Okinawa Institution of Science and Technology.
Date and Time: (Mon) June 16, 2008 13:30-17:00
Venue: Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum
Host: Okinawa Prefectural Government
Contact: 098-866-2561(G8 Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting Okinawa Supporting Office)