On the issue of mobile base stations at Cape Shiretoko

 2024-06-25

I would like to make four brief comments on mobile base stations.

The current discussion seems to be about whether the Scientific Committee will acknowledge the impact on OUV*1, but as with dams and sea lions, it is more important how the World Heritage Committee will recommend. If there is a possibility of criticism, it is important to develop measures to deal with it. I apologize for being late in noticing the seriousness of this issue.

According to a recent investment policy on ESG, environmental, social and corporate governance [i], industries that have a negative impact on World Heritage sites are "subject to a cross-sectoral ban on investment, financing, etc." Although there is a note that "it is different if there is prior consent from the government of the country," if such a problematic project is forced through, it could have a major impact on the management of mobile phone companies and construction contractors. *2

The mayor of Rausu has made his opinion public. Citing the tourist boat accident, he explained that the mobile base station is a project to protect the lives of users. It also says that the World Heritage site "had a promise that it would not cause any disadvantage to fishermen." If we are to protect the lives of users, we would like to see the report of the third-party accident investigation committee made public*3. Frankly, I think that the cause of the accident was the lack of safety compliance obligations, and that citing this to build mobile base stations is a red herring. If the World Heritage Committee also questions the cause of the accident, it may become a problem beyond the impact on OUV. In the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and ESG investment, management governance is as important as environmental issues.*2

Finally, before the establishment of the Marine Area Working Group in February 2005 when the site was registered as a World Heritage Site, the members of the Working Group and the Fisheries Association had direct discussions. After that, the fishermen expanded the voluntary no-fishing zone for Alaska pollock, which was one of the deciding factors in meeting the condition of raising the level of protection of the marine area. In other words, the Fisheries Association contributed greatly to the registration of Shiretoko as a World Heritage Site, and it should have been evaluated that Shiretoko's fishing activities and the World Heritage Site have the same aspirations. I think it is up to the Marine Area Working Group to decide whether the suspension of the base station construction violates the promise made at the time not to impose new restrictions on fishing activities under the Natural Parks Act and other laws without the consent of the Fisheries Association in order to manage the Shiretoko World Heritage Site, but the expression "will not cause any disadvantage" is not literal. However, I think that the Scientific Committee should have a dialogue with those who want to build the base station on this issue as well.

*1 Outstanding Universal Value = An outstanding cultural and/or natural value that transcends national boundaries and is of common importance to present and future generations of humanity as a whole. There are 10 OUV criteria for World Heritage inscription.

*2 Added 7/11: KDDI has published the TNFD report. It does not say that they will consult with experts as a contribution to biodiversity conservation (p. 7). Instead, it says, "The latest name recognition AI will identify the types of plants and animals, so a person, even if she/he is not a taxonomist,  can conduct a highly accurate survey just by taking a photo" (p. 23).  

*3 Added 6/28. Found on the website. I will discuss this in more detail in a separate section, but Chapter 5, "Measures to prevent recurrence," states that "mobile phones will be excluded from statutory wireless equipment." However, in 5.3.5, "Improvement of the communications environment in the waters around the Shiretoko Peninsula," it states that "mobile phone carriers and relevant ministries and agencies, etc." have "launched the Shiretoko Peninsula Regional Communications Infrastructure Strengthening Project, which will advance concrete efforts to improve the mobile phone communications environment in the Shiretoko Peninsula region." *Report on marine accident investigation into mobile phones as statutory wireless equipment, September 4, 2023,