1. Kazuko Shiraishi Ambassador in charge of Arctic affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan 29 February 2016 Japan’s Arctic Policy

2. Why “Arctic”?  Melting of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean due to global warming ⇒ Environmental impact on a global scale such as global warming etc. ⇒ Use of Arctic Sea Route, potential of natural resources ⇒ Changing security environment Arctic ocean sea ice of 1980s September 2012 (smallest in recorded history) -1-

3. Why “Japan”?  Recognizing both the Arctic’s latent possibilities and its vulnerability to environmental changes, Japan is called upon to play a leading role for sustainable development in the Arctic in the international community, with foresight and policy based on science and technology that Japan has advantage in order to achieve sustainable development.. -2-

4. “ Japan’s Arctic Policy” adopted on 16 October 2015 ＜ Need to Address Arctic Issues ＞ ○ Global Environmental Issues ○ Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic ○ Science and Technology ○ Ensuring the Rule of Law and Promoting International Cooperation ○ Arctic Sea Route ○ Natural Resources Development ○ National Security Cabinet Office Web site -3-

5.  Research and Development  International Cooperation  Sustainable Use Specific Initiatives -4-

6.  Arctic Challenge for Sustainability Project （ ArCS ） What? Work toward a comprehensive understanding of the environmental changes in the Arctic and their effect on the rest of the globe Accurate prediction Information sharing How? Human Resources International Collaborative Researches Establishing Platforms Research and Development -5-

7.  Active Participation in formulation process of international rules for the Arctic Polar Code Participate actively in discussions toward the formulation of rules for preservation and management of fishery resources in high seas of the Arctic Ocean  Arctic Council (AC) gained observer status in the Arctic Council in May 2013 dispatching experts and government officials to working groups, task forces, and other council meetings  International and bilateral cooperation with Arctic and other countries International Cooperation -6-

8.  Business  Arctic Sea Route  Mineral resources  Marine living resources Sustainable Use -7- 6,500nm 11,200nm 8,200nm 8,100nm Block 9 Block 14

9. Japan-Russia Cooperation -8-  Research  Northern Sea Route  Yamal LNG Project

10. 19901995200020052010 Atmosphere Terrestrial Climate Environment PaleoClimate All-Japan Arctic Study History of Russia-Japan Arctic Environmental Research 1991 ～ Research on GHG in western and eastern Siberia （ NIES and CAO, RAS-SB-MPI) 1991 ～ Research on permafrost and forest fire (HU and RAS-SB-MPI) 1997 ～ 2002 Heat/water cycle in Siberia/ WCRP-GAME Project 2002 ～ Environmental change in Siberia 2001 ～ 2012 Paleo-climate from ocean （ JAMSTEC 、 HU and RAS-FE-POI ） 2011 ～ GRENE Arctic Project (NIPR,JAMSTEC,HU,UT, RIHN, KIT etc.and RAS-IG, RAS-SB-MPI, IBPC) (NU, JAMSTEC and others, and RAS-IG, CAO, RAS-SB-MPI, IBPC) (NU, HU, JAMSTEC, Netherland, and RAS-IG, RAS-SB-MPI, IBPC)) Institute: NIPR,JAMSTEC,NIES, Universities: HU:Hokaido,NU:Nagoya,UT:Tokyo,KIT:Kitami 2015 ～ ArCS Arctic Project CREST(2002~2006),RIHN （ 2007-2013) -9-

11. ・ THEME 1: Climate impacts of Black carbon and aerosols in the Arctic (Spitsbergen, Baranov Cape, Tiksi)→ArCS ・ THEME 2: Preliminary joint study in the frame of the Polar Prediction Project→ArCS ・ THEME 3: Reliability and risk estimation for Sea-ice navigation along the Northern Sea Route→ArCS ・ THEME 4: Comparative study Carbon and water in the permafrost ecosystem of Siberia→Belmont Forum (Hokkaido U) ・ THEME 5: Glacier research in the Russian Arctic and sub-Arctic ・ THEME 6: Contemporary changes of water, heat, and dissolved and suspended organic/inorganic matter fluxes from Siberian rivers into the Arctic Ocean ・ THEME 7: Variability of Snow cover including blowing snow and snowmelt processes of the permafrost area under Arctic environment change ・ THEME 8: Development of Space remote sensing technologies to monitor seasonal variations in temperature and moisture in the active topsoil of the Arctic tundra ・ THEME 9: Permafrost changes in Siberia in the past and future based on projections of climate warming→Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (JAMSTEC, Nagoya U) ・ THEME 10: Ecosystems and biodiversity→ArCS ・ THEME 11: Effects of global climate change on commercial fishing and indigenous coastal cultures in Siberia and the North Pacific ・ THEME 12: Arctic and global climate change: feedbacks and forecasting dynamics 12 Research Themes selected for cooperation developed/approved as future joint research (WS Report, 2015) -10-

12. Surface observation sites present and future. Map from WS Report (2015) Tower measurement site (Yakutsk)Heat/Water/Carbon monitoring (Siberia)Glacier obs. (Suntar-Khayata, East Siberia) ArCS emphasis area -11-

13.  Workshop on Arctic Research (July and October 2014, Tokyo)  12 th Russia-Japan Joint Committee on Cooperation in Science and Technology (September 10, 2015) ⇒ Arctic research is one of important areas for bilateral cooperation between Russia and Japan. ⇒ Japan proposed Arrangement on cooperation between MEXT and MES. To further strengthen the cooperation with Russia in the field of Research and Development: ・ Access to data ・ Procedures etc., Strengthening Cooperation -12-

14.  As International Trade Route? ・ Transparency ・ Safety ・ Predictability (including Punctuality)  Yamal LNG Project  Japan’s Contribution ・ Sea Ice Concentration ・ Sea Ice Thickness by GCOM-W Northern Sea Route -13- Yamal LNG Project Yuzhno-Tambeyskoye Gas Field JAXA

15.  Challenges surrounding the Arctic are global issues. ・ Japan will enhance the cooperation with the Arctic states such as Russia, the United States to solve the challenges. Thank you for your attention! Conclusion -14-