The Ministers of Science and Technology of the G7 opted today for the application of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing to advance the fight against climate change.
Industry leaders from the Group of Seven noted the key role these technologies can play in “green transition” and for national economic security, in a text adopted at the end of their two-day meeting in the Japanese city of Sendai.
The declaration is also committed to promoting free scientific research and to “protect it from foreign interference”in which it could be a veiled reference to China, as well as for promoting collaboration in this field among the countries of the Group of Seven.
In this sense, they agreed to take measures against the escape of academic data and researchers, after several G7 countries have criticized China for its National Intelligence law passed in 2017 that allows it to collect information from companies and individuals.
“We will cooperate to share data and scientific results between countries with similar values. We want to promote an environment where cooperation in scientific research can be carried out safely,” Japan’s Science and Technology Minister, Sanae Takaichi, said at a press conference after chairing the meeting.
He document final also calls for international cooperation on space or maritime issues through the use of infrastructure and research.
MEASURES AGAINST SPACE JUNK
G7 ministers agreed to cooperate on the development of technology to eliminate space debris orbiting the Earth that poses a collision risk to active satellites.
These wastes have generated a growing concern in the scientific community as a result of the missile tests carried out in recent years by Russia and China to destroy target satellites, which generated a large amount of debris that is attached to the debris of satellites that become inoperative.
The European Union launched the first project for a satellite capable of collecting space debris in 2018, while Japan is developing several space missions that could also have specific applications in this field.
Along the same lines, the G7 industry leaders were willing to work together to “ensure the safe and sustainable use of outer space”.
The joint return also includes a commitment to share ocean observation data in the Arctic, with a view to deepening the knowledge of maritime currents, temperatures of waters and their ecosystems, and on the impact of climate change on all of them.