Press Release
- Global Environment
Results of the 14th Japan-Mongolia Environmental Policy Dialogue
The Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ), and the Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism, Mongolia, held online the 14th Japan-Mongolia Environmental Policy Dialogue on December 21, 2021. This dialogue was based on the memorandum related to environmental cooperation, signed by the two ministries in December 2011 and subsequently updated in 2015 and 2018. Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs SHODA Yutaka and other officials participated in the 14th policy dialogue to discuss issues and future cooperation directions for areas such as air pollution, climate change, and biodiversity.
1. Background
MOEJ and the Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism, Mongolia, have held thirteen environmental policy dialogues since the first in 2007, exchanging views between the two countries on environmental issues.
The "Memorandum on Environmental Cooperation" was signed and concluded in 2011 to promote comprehensive environmental cooperation between the two countries, and this memorandum was updated in 2015 and 2018. The procedures for updating the memorandum were confirmed in the 14th policy dialogue meeting.
2. Date and time
2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., December 21, 2021
3. Venue
Online
4. Principal attendees
(Mongolia)
Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism of Mongolia
Mr. BATBAYAR Tserendorj, Vice Minister of Nature, Environment and Tourism; Mr. BATJARGAL Zamba, Special Envoy on Climate Change; and other officials
(Japan)
Ministry of the Environment, Japan
SHODA Yutaka, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs; SUGIMOTO Ryuzo, Director, International Cooperation and Environmental Infrastructure Strategy Office; and other officials
5. Key topics of discussion
1) Air pollution countermeasures
Mongolia shared information on air pollution trends and issues in Mongolia as well as on the National Programme on Air and Environmental Pollution Reduction. They then introduced activities under the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET), in which Japan plays an important role, and other cases of cooperation with Japan.
The two countries discussed Dust and Sand Storms (DSS) for continuing the research for sharing scientific knowledge and best practices under the auspices of the Japan-China-Korea Tripartite Environment Ministers' Meeting (TEMM).
The two countries have agreed on working to further cooperation based on the expanded scope of EANET's activities, such as the newly included Dust and Sand Storms (DSS), PM2.5, and VOC.
2) Climate change countermeasures
The two countries shared up-to-date information on various areas of the GOSAT-related cooperation between Japan and Mongolia. Also, they have agreed that Japan will provide the technology and information to support Mongolia in preparing the National GHG Inventories of Mongolia utilizing the GOSAT series data.
Mongolia introduced ongoing JCM projects for energy efficiency and renewable energy, and presented the effects on emission reduction and new challenges to be addressed. The two countries confirmed with respect to JCM that they would form further projects in green hydrogen and other technical fields of interest to both countries, and that they would continue coordinating on the details of the next Japan-Mongolia JCM Joint Committee.
Japan introduced the decarbonization efforts being taken by cities in the two countries, then shared the city-to-city collaboration project between Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) and Sapporo (Japan).
3) Biodiversity
Mongolia introduced policies related to protected areas and biosphere reserves. Also, Mongolia presented a target of designating 25% of its land as protected areas by 2024 and 30% by 2030, and mentioned its expectation for the use of knowledge about Satoyama in biodiversity conservation and the need to counter desertification caused by soil degradation.
Japan provided information on Payments for Ecosystem Services. The two countries confirmed that they will cooperate on the Satoyama Initiative and support the "30by30" target toward the success and better results of COP15.
The two countries have started to consider a new survey project related to the UNCCD that will contribute to the conservation and reforestation of saxaul, a type of shrub. The two countries agreed to continue to cooperate in the preparation and implementation of the project.
4) Other
Japan offered to share its knowledge and experience in managing Natural Parks and Nature Conservation Areas and to continue discussions on future cooperation.