Results of the 7th Environmental Policy Dialogue held by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and the Asian Development Bank

(Tokyo, June 4, 2021) On June 2, 2021,　the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) virtually held the 7th MOEJ-ADB Environmental Policy Dialogue. This dialogue is based on the Memorandum of Understanding on environmental cooperation concluded between MOEJ and the ADB. Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs Mr. Kondo and ADB Vice President Mr. Susantono shared their latest initiatives and concerns about climate change, biodiversity, and waste management. In particular, they discussed and agreed on further concrete cooperation for the two COPs (CBD-COP15* and UNFCCC-COP26**) to be held this year.

*CBD-COP15: The 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity

**UNFCCC-COP26: The 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

KONDO Tomohiro, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs said:

There have been various developments in our cooperation with the ADB, despite limitations to international cooperation due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We would like to accelerate the formation of new projects, which will attract new investments in Asia.

Main contents:

In particular, the following five topics were discussed separately:

1. International Carbon Market and Japan Fund for Joint Crediting Mechanism (JFJCM)
2. Circular economy, waste management and marine plastic litter management
3. Air Quality Management
4. Environmentally Sustainable Transportation (EST)
5. Biodiversity

Climate change:

Continued discussion of the establishment of a regional Carbon Market Alliance in Southeast Asia toward COP26 and the cooperation in the Asia-Pacific for the expansion of the JCM were confirmed. Additionally, the importance of developing long-term strategies was discussed.

The importance of decarbonization efforts at the city level (regional level) was also discussed. It is essential to set goals for urban decarbonization, identify decarbonization technologies adapted to local characterisitics, and manage information. It was confirmed that both parties will continue to work together to build decarbonized societies in Asia.

The two parties also agreed to promote cooperation on hydrogen.

They confirmed that they would share the climate risk screening tool developed by ADB and promote further international deployment.

Circular economy, waste management, marine plastic litter:

The draft of the law on the promotion of resource recycling related to plastics in Japan was introduced, and the importance of transitioning to a circular economy was shared.

It was suggested that collaboration with the private sector were effective to promote a circular economy and policy measures to address marine plastic litter, as exemplified by the launch of the circular economy partnership with Keidanren.

Air quality management:

The dialogue highlighted the importance of further cooperation on the ADB's efforts on air quality management in the Asia-Pacific region and the relationship with the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET).

Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST):

Both parties agreed to cooperate for the 14th EST Forum to be held in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, in the fall of 2021.

Biodiversity:

They agreed to promote cooperation on the Satoyama Initiative, led by Japan, and the ADB Natural Capital Lab, in preparation for the CBD-COP15.

The importance of promoting initiatives related to Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) was highlighted as part of climate synergies. Future potential cooperation areas, such as migratory bird sensitivity maps, were also shared.

Contact:

SUGIMOTO Ryuzo

Director, International Cooperation and Sustainable Infrastructure office,

Global Environmental Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

WATANABE Satoshi

Deputy Director, International Cooperation and Sustainable Infrastructure office,

Global Environmental Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

KIKUCHI Kokoro

Researcher, International Cooperation and Sustainable Infrastructure office,

Global Environmental Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Tel:+81-3-3581-3351

For Japanese