Press Release
January 26, 2023
- Global Environment
Outcomes of 19th Japan-EU High-Level Dialogue on Environment
Japan and the European Commission held their 19th High-Level Dialogue on Environment via videoconference on the 23rd of January 2023 to discuss three key environmental issues – biodiversity, circular economy and plastics, and pollution. They also discussed multilateral developments in relation to the G7 Japanese presidency, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the negotiations on a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, the Basel Convention, and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).
The meeting was co-chaired by ONO Hiroshi, Vice Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and Florika FINK-HOOIJER, Director General, Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission.
The meeting was co-chaired by ONO Hiroshi, Vice Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and Florika FINK-HOOIJER, Director General, Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission.
Contents of Discussion
The partners expressed their continued commitment to enhance their environmental ambition at the national and multilateral levels in line with the EU-Japan Green Alliance. On the latter they welcomed progress in the development of the EU-Japan Green Alliance operational work plan, and in this context, they confirmed the contents of the section dedicated to environmental protection and expressed their common will to implement it with concrete steps in the coming months.
During the High-Level Dialogue, the two sides decided amongst others to hold in 2023 technical-level dialogues on 1) Implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, specifically focused on nature positive economy and invasive alien species; and 2) Product design for a circular economy, specifically focussed on plastic waste and packaging & packaging waste, as well as bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics. On multilateral issues, Japan and the EU notably decided to cooperate closely towards the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and towards the adoption of an ambitious international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.
Lastly, both sides reiterated their commitment to further cooperation in multilateral fora such as the upcoming G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Sapporo.
During the High-Level Dialogue, the two sides decided amongst others to hold in 2023 technical-level dialogues on 1) Implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, specifically focused on nature positive economy and invasive alien species; and 2) Product design for a circular economy, specifically focussed on plastic waste and packaging & packaging waste, as well as bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics. On multilateral issues, Japan and the EU notably decided to cooperate closely towards the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and towards the adoption of an ambitious international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.
Lastly, both sides reiterated their commitment to further cooperation in multilateral fora such as the upcoming G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Sapporo.
Related Links
European Commission
19th Japan-EU High-Level Dialogue on Environment (europa.eu)
19th Japan-EU High-Level Dialogue on Environment (europa.eu)