Speeches by the Environment Minister
COP30 Ministerial Statement by ISHIHARA Hirotaka, Minister of the Environment, Japan (November 18, 2025)
(Introduction)
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Brazil for its great efforts in hosting COP30.
Here in the region around Belém, there are the agroforestry systems established by Japanese in Tomé-Açu, and the “Gunma Ecological Park” fostered by Japanese who migrated to Brazil.
Climate actions do not yield immediate results, but require sustained, long-term efforts involving cooperation among various stakeholders, including national governments, local authorities, and local communities. These two places I mentioned are truly good examples of the spirit of Mutirão.
As this year marks the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, I would like to reiterate the importance of advancing global decarbonization efforts based on multilateralism.
Last year, the average global temperature was about 1.55 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency, and disasters are becoming more severe. Climate change is an imminent challenge for all humanity. To achieve the 1.5 degree goal of the Paris Agreement, the global community must be united in taking collective action.
（Mitigation, Domestic Initiatives)
Mr. President, Japan reaffirms its resolution to achieving net-zero by 2050.
In February this year, Japan submitted its new NDC, aligned with the 1.5 degree goal and setting ambitious targets of 60% reduction by fiscal 2035 and 73% reduction by fiscal 2040, compared to fiscal 2013 levels. Japan has made steady progress with reductions of approximately 27% achieved over the ten years to fiscal 2023.
Japan is promoting a green transformation, which we call "GX", aiming to achieve decarbonization, economic growth and stable energy supply simultaneously. To this end, we aim to realize over 150 trillion Japanese yen in public and private investment over ten years thorough improving energy efficiency, supporting to establish supply chains for GX products such as perovskite solar cells, and facilitating energy and manufacturing process conversion in hard-to-abate sectors.
Japan will advance initiatives of "Nature-based Solutions" such as sustainable forest management and use of wood, blue carbon, and Japan's Satochi-Satoyama, recognizing each of their contributions to both climate action and biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, Japan can contribute to both global GHG emission reductions and food security by promoting the overseas deployment of its technologies that reduce environmental burden in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors.
(Mitigation, International Initiatives)
Achieving the 1.5 degree goal, all countries need to work together in their efforts. However, only approximately 100 parties have submitted their NDC 3.0 to the United Nations. It is essential that the cycle of ratchet-up ambition under the Paris Agreement is maintained, with all parties submitting NDCs with the highest possible ambition at the earliest, steadily implementing reductions in emissions, reporting on the status of implementation in BTRs, reviewing progress towards the 1.5 degree goal in the GST, and reflecting GST outcomes in subsequent NDCs.
Japan is advancing various initiatives to support decarbonization in other countries. Furthermore, at COP29 last year, we achieved the full operationalization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. In order to efficiently advance global decarbonization, it is vital to balance environmental integrity and flexibility. Hence, Japan is working on the Joint Crediting Mechanism, or JCM.
In August, Japan and India signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on the JCM, bringing the total number of partner countries to 31, covering approximately 20% of global emissions. In addition to JCM partner countries, Japan will strengthen cooperation with other countries acquiring carbon credits under Article 6. We will work towards achieving a total of 200 million tons of global emission reductions and removals by fiscal 2040.
Japan is promoting the Asia Zero Emission Community, or AZEC, which advances energy transitions through various pathways tailored to each nation's circumstances, and is advancing tangible cooperation with Southeast Asian countries and Australia. Japan is also advancing support for decarbonization policy development in Asian countries, including the formulation of NDCs and BTRs.
In order to promote private investment in the field of climate change and the environment in Latin America, which has the abundant Amazon rainforest and renewable energy, JICA will launch the “Mission for Inclusive Development by Responsible Investment” or “MIDORI”.
In addition, on Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Japan has long supported the activities of the IPCC Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, by hosting the Technical Support Unit in Japan.
Japan would also like to announce its intention to host a Session of the IPCC in 2027. We will continue to support efforts to reduce GHG emissions based on the best available science.
The transition to a circular economy is essential for climate action. Japan, together with Japanese companies, actively contributed to the development of “Global Circularity Protocol for Business” by the WBCSD, which includes a corporate disclosure framework for circularity. Its first version was just launched at the Japan Pavillion last week. This would also be a vital step to advance climate action by the private sector.
(Adaptation / Loss and Damage)
Japan supports measures to adapt to the impacts of climate change in various countries. Regarding adaptation and response to loss and damage, we recognize that Early Warning Systems are in high demand in developing countries. Under its initiative to promote these Early Warning Systems, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan is supporting their deployment in the Asia-Pacific region through public-private partnerships.
(Climate Finance)
The New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance was decided at COP29 last year. Based on the situation of limited public sources, it is important to steadily advance expanding climate finance sources for developing countries by all stakeholders, including private capital mobilization.
(Closing)
Distinguished participants, let's work together to ensure the success of COP30 and continue on our path towards achieving the 1.5 degree goal, with global Mutirão.
Lastly, Japan held the Osaka-Kansai World Expo up to last month, welcoming over 29 million visitors from around the world. In 2027, Japan will host GREEN×EXPO 2027 in Yokohama, where in addition to horticulture and floriculture, climate change and biodiversity loss will also be focused on. I hope you can come to Japan and visit GREEN×EXPO 2027. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Brazil for its great efforts in hosting COP30.
Here in the region around Belém, there are the agroforestry systems established by Japanese in Tomé-Açu, and the “Gunma Ecological Park” fostered by Japanese who migrated to Brazil.
Climate actions do not yield immediate results, but require sustained, long-term efforts involving cooperation among various stakeholders, including national governments, local authorities, and local communities. These two places I mentioned are truly good examples of the spirit of Mutirão.
As this year marks the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, I would like to reiterate the importance of advancing global decarbonization efforts based on multilateralism.
Last year, the average global temperature was about 1.55 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency, and disasters are becoming more severe. Climate change is an imminent challenge for all humanity. To achieve the 1.5 degree goal of the Paris Agreement, the global community must be united in taking collective action.
（Mitigation, Domestic Initiatives)
Mr. President, Japan reaffirms its resolution to achieving net-zero by 2050.
In February this year, Japan submitted its new NDC, aligned with the 1.5 degree goal and setting ambitious targets of 60% reduction by fiscal 2035 and 73% reduction by fiscal 2040, compared to fiscal 2013 levels. Japan has made steady progress with reductions of approximately 27% achieved over the ten years to fiscal 2023.
Japan is promoting a green transformation, which we call "GX", aiming to achieve decarbonization, economic growth and stable energy supply simultaneously. To this end, we aim to realize over 150 trillion Japanese yen in public and private investment over ten years thorough improving energy efficiency, supporting to establish supply chains for GX products such as perovskite solar cells, and facilitating energy and manufacturing process conversion in hard-to-abate sectors.
Japan will advance initiatives of "Nature-based Solutions" such as sustainable forest management and use of wood, blue carbon, and Japan's Satochi-Satoyama, recognizing each of their contributions to both climate action and biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, Japan can contribute to both global GHG emission reductions and food security by promoting the overseas deployment of its technologies that reduce environmental burden in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors.
(Mitigation, International Initiatives)
Achieving the 1.5 degree goal, all countries need to work together in their efforts. However, only approximately 100 parties have submitted their NDC 3.0 to the United Nations. It is essential that the cycle of ratchet-up ambition under the Paris Agreement is maintained, with all parties submitting NDCs with the highest possible ambition at the earliest, steadily implementing reductions in emissions, reporting on the status of implementation in BTRs, reviewing progress towards the 1.5 degree goal in the GST, and reflecting GST outcomes in subsequent NDCs.
Japan is advancing various initiatives to support decarbonization in other countries. Furthermore, at COP29 last year, we achieved the full operationalization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. In order to efficiently advance global decarbonization, it is vital to balance environmental integrity and flexibility. Hence, Japan is working on the Joint Crediting Mechanism, or JCM.
In August, Japan and India signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on the JCM, bringing the total number of partner countries to 31, covering approximately 20% of global emissions. In addition to JCM partner countries, Japan will strengthen cooperation with other countries acquiring carbon credits under Article 6. We will work towards achieving a total of 200 million tons of global emission reductions and removals by fiscal 2040.
Japan is promoting the Asia Zero Emission Community, or AZEC, which advances energy transitions through various pathways tailored to each nation's circumstances, and is advancing tangible cooperation with Southeast Asian countries and Australia. Japan is also advancing support for decarbonization policy development in Asian countries, including the formulation of NDCs and BTRs.
In order to promote private investment in the field of climate change and the environment in Latin America, which has the abundant Amazon rainforest and renewable energy, JICA will launch the “Mission for Inclusive Development by Responsible Investment” or “MIDORI”.
In addition, on Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Japan has long supported the activities of the IPCC Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, by hosting the Technical Support Unit in Japan.
Japan would also like to announce its intention to host a Session of the IPCC in 2027. We will continue to support efforts to reduce GHG emissions based on the best available science.
The transition to a circular economy is essential for climate action. Japan, together with Japanese companies, actively contributed to the development of “Global Circularity Protocol for Business” by the WBCSD, which includes a corporate disclosure framework for circularity. Its first version was just launched at the Japan Pavillion last week. This would also be a vital step to advance climate action by the private sector.
(Adaptation / Loss and Damage)
Japan supports measures to adapt to the impacts of climate change in various countries. Regarding adaptation and response to loss and damage, we recognize that Early Warning Systems are in high demand in developing countries. Under its initiative to promote these Early Warning Systems, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan is supporting their deployment in the Asia-Pacific region through public-private partnerships.
(Climate Finance)
The New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance was decided at COP29 last year. Based on the situation of limited public sources, it is important to steadily advance expanding climate finance sources for developing countries by all stakeholders, including private capital mobilization.
(Closing)
Distinguished participants, let's work together to ensure the success of COP30 and continue on our path towards achieving the 1.5 degree goal, with global Mutirão.
Lastly, Japan held the Osaka-Kansai World Expo up to last month, welcoming over 29 million visitors from around the world. In 2027, Japan will host GREEN×EXPO 2027 in Yokohama, where in addition to horticulture and floriculture, climate change and biodiversity loss will also be focused on. I hope you can come to Japan and visit GREEN×EXPO 2027. Thank you very much.