Address from the Editor-in-Chief
Significant Achievements of 2022 (31st) Blue Planet Prize laureates
The 2022 (31st) Blue Planet Prize was awarded to the following two individuals.
His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan
Professor Stephen Carpenter (USA)
As the editor-in-chief, I am delighted to present an overview of the achievements of the two awardees.
1. Achievements of His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan
I think it is most important to note that one of the laureates is His Majesty the Fourth King of Bhutan.
Have you ever been to Bhutan? If you have, I think you are quite rare. Some time ago, I was fascinated by Bhutan and asked an Indian student in our research laboratory to accompany me as a guide to the country, and visited there.
During my visit, I learned that the country places a greatest importance on "Gross National Happiness" (GNH) and has come to the understanding that economic affluence is not the sole determinant of happiness.
This is a rather philosophical viewpoint and an ideology that many people in a relatively affluent country like Japan would find extremely difficult to grasp.
In fact, after visiting and seeing the country firsthand, what amazed me the most was the tranquil atmosphere that seemed to permeate throughout the country. There was little noise from cars, unlike cities like Tokyo, where people's incomes are significantly higher. Everyone had such a calmness that I felt as though nobody was facing any form of hardship or pressure. To put it another way, the majority of the people appeared happy. It was at this moment that I realized the truth in the belief that "income is not the sole determinant of happiness."
Conversely, I came to realize that the pursuit of high average income often leads to pursuing high levels of convenience, such as widespread adoption of mechanization that can adversely affect the environment. The prime example of this is the prevalence of private cars.
2. Achievements of Professor Stephen Carpenter
The other winner is Professor Carpenter, Emeritus Director and Professor of the Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin, USA.
Professor Carpenter has conducted studies on lake ecosystems, focusing particularly on eutrophication caused by nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen. By studying the resilience of lakes using mathematical models, he has taken a significant first step in examining human behavior from the perspective of Earth science. His achievements have shed light on the potential crises that can arise from people's economic activities.
As a matter of fact, I believe that water is highly susceptible to environmental impact. When we look at the situation of rivers in Japan, we can take Meguro River as an example, which flows just about a 10-minute walk from my house. Being an urban river, it used to emit a rather peculiar smell several decades ago. However, recently, the water quality has improved to the extent that various birds, even swans at times, gather there. In Professor Carpenter's words, I believe that "restoring and preserving ecosystems" has become commonplace in Japan as well. It is truly an evolution. This positive change may partly be attributed to Professor Carpenter's contributions.
Itaru Yasui
Former Vice-Rector, United Nations University
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo