LOW CARBON AND GOOD HEALTH: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LINKS UK AND JAPAN

Lord Drayson, UK Minister for Science and Innovation, visited Japan from 22-23 October to promote closer links with the UK and highlight the importance of closer collaboration to tackle the global challenges of climate change and healthcare.

Lord Drayson spoke to an audience of over 1000 at the 2009 Tokyo International Conference for Sustainable Future, welcoming the leadership shown by Japan in setting an ambitious target for carbon emissions and looking ahead to a successful outcome at the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen later this year. The Minister, an entrepreneur and businessman, emphasised the business opportunity offered by investment in low carbon technology and the important contribution that Japanese technology is making to the establishment of a low carbon, high growth economy.  

Lord Drayson said, "And for all the challenges that global warming will pose to our planet, it also guarantees huge future markets for low-carbon technologies. It's vital that business leaders around the world seize upon that certainty. There is no high-carbon alternative".

During his visit, Lord Drayson also promoted the establishment of stronger links between the UK and Japan in the field of life sciences, meeting with leading Japanese pharmaceutical companies and discussing the action being taken by the UK government, set out in its “Life Sciences Blueprint”, to transform the UK environment for life sciences companies. Lord Drayson's visit will be followed by a visit by the Chief Executive and leading scientists from the UK's Medical Research Council at the beginning of November, to showcase UK research in the life sciences and strengthen collaboration with Japan.

Notes for Editors

 

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