Press Release
September 08, 2023
- Global Environment
Results of the Japan-Singapore Ministerial Policy Dialogue between NISHIMURA Akihiro, Minister of the Environment of Japan, and H.E. Ms. Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment of Singapore
１．On August 29, 2023, NISHIMURA Akihiro, Minister of the Environment of Japan, and H.E. Ms. Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment of the Republic of Singapore, held the Japan-Singapore Ministerial Policy Dialogue in Tokyo.
２．During the policy dialogue, the ministers reviewed Japan-Singapore environmental cooperation, exchanged views on climate change including COP28 and Global Stocktake, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, and mutual recognition of environmental labelling, and issued a joint statement regarding future collaboration and cooperation.
２．During the policy dialogue, the ministers reviewed Japan-Singapore environmental cooperation, exchanged views on climate change including COP28 and Global Stocktake, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, and mutual recognition of environmental labelling, and issued a joint statement regarding future collaboration and cooperation.
■ Background
The Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, has been holding regular policy dialogues based on the Memorandum of Cooperation signed in 2014 with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (now known as the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment) of Singapore. On February 9, 2023, the 7th Environmental Policy Dialogue was held, during which both ministries exchanged views on policy developments, challenges, and international cooperation in regard to the circular economy and waste management, climate change, air pollution, plastic pollution and other environmental issues.
Building on the results of the 7th Environmental Policy Dialogue, the Japan-Singapore Ministerial Policy Dialogue was held, and as a result of the dialogue, a joint statement was issued regarding future collaboration and cooperation.
Building on the results of the 7th Environmental Policy Dialogue, the Japan-Singapore Ministerial Policy Dialogue was held, and as a result of the dialogue, a joint statement was issued regarding future collaboration and cooperation.
■ Outline
(1) Date and time
16:00-17:00, August 29, 2023 (JST)
(2) Venue
Ministry of the Environment, Japan
(3) Primary attendees
(Singapore)
Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment of Singapore
H.E. Ms. Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment
Mr. Stanley LOH, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment
(Japan)
Ministry of the Environment
NISHIMURA Akihiro, Minister of the Environment of Japan
MATSUZAWA Yutaka, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs
16:00-17:00, August 29, 2023 (JST)
(2) Venue
Ministry of the Environment, Japan
(3) Primary attendees
(Singapore)
Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment of Singapore
H.E. Ms. Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment
Mr. Stanley LOH, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment
(Japan)
Ministry of the Environment
NISHIMURA Akihiro, Minister of the Environment of Japan
MATSUZAWA Yutaka, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs
■ Main discussion
Building upon the results of the 7th Environmental Policy Dialogue, the ministries reviewed Japan-Singapore environmental cooperation and the ministers exchanged views on climate change, namely COP28 and Global Stocktake, mitigation and adaptation, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution, and mutual recognition of environmental labelling.
Discussions were held in the following areas:
(1) COP28 and Global Stocktake
The ministers affirmed the importance of COP28, in which progress toward achieving the purpose and long-term goals of the Paris Agreement will be assessed for the first time through the Global Stocktake, and exchanged views on expectations for COP28 and other matters.
(2) Climate change and mitigation
The ministers exchanged views regarding collaboration on capacity building among countries for the development of "high integrity carbon markets" that can promote public and private sector investments and cooperation towards the formation of carbon markets in the ASEAN region. The discussion also confirmed continued collaboration in the Partnership to Strengthen Transparency for Co-Innovation (PaSTI).
(3) Climate change and adaptation
The ministers exchanged views on future cooperation under the Strategic Program for ASEAN Climate and Environment (SPACE), which was proposed by Japan and launched at the Japan-ASEAN Ministerial Dialogue on Environment and Climate Change held on August 24, as well as actions to address loss and damage in the ASEAN region.
(4) Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution
The ministers confirmed their continued collaboration within the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution and exchanged views regarding comprehensive measures to address plastic pollution.
(5) Mutual recognition of environmental labelling
The ministers exchanged views regarding expectations and potential benefits about mutual recognition of environmental labelling between Singapore and Japan, which is currently being explored.
Discussions were held in the following areas:
(1) COP28 and Global Stocktake
The ministers affirmed the importance of COP28, in which progress toward achieving the purpose and long-term goals of the Paris Agreement will be assessed for the first time through the Global Stocktake, and exchanged views on expectations for COP28 and other matters.
(2) Climate change and mitigation
The ministers exchanged views regarding collaboration on capacity building among countries for the development of "high integrity carbon markets" that can promote public and private sector investments and cooperation towards the formation of carbon markets in the ASEAN region. The discussion also confirmed continued collaboration in the Partnership to Strengthen Transparency for Co-Innovation (PaSTI).
(3) Climate change and adaptation
The ministers exchanged views on future cooperation under the Strategic Program for ASEAN Climate and Environment (SPACE), which was proposed by Japan and launched at the Japan-ASEAN Ministerial Dialogue on Environment and Climate Change held on August 24, as well as actions to address loss and damage in the ASEAN region.
(4) Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution
The ministers confirmed their continued collaboration within the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution and exchanged views regarding comprehensive measures to address plastic pollution.
(5) Mutual recognition of environmental labelling
The ministers exchanged views regarding expectations and potential benefits about mutual recognition of environmental labelling between Singapore and Japan, which is currently being explored.
■ Key points of the joint statement
The joint statement acknowledged and reaffirmed the long-standing cooperation between both ministries in the areas of environmental protection, sustainable development, and climate change, and the commitment of both countries to the Strategic Program for ASEAN Climate and Environment (SPACE). Both countries reached consent on a range of topics, including sustainable development and environmental protection including the circular economy and waste management, environmental labeling, emissions calculation and reporting by companies, the establishment of high integrity carbon markets, and exchanging perspectives on various multilateral agreements such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement, and the INC.
