Press Release
February 16, 2026
- Global Environment
Announcement of Seminar on City-to-City Collaboration for Zero Carbon Society 2026
1. The Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, will hold “Seminar on City-to-City Collaboration for Zero Carbon Society 2026” on February 5, 2026, in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture in person and online.
2. In the “City-to-City Collaboration Program for Zero Carbon Society (C3P),” which has been implemented by MOE Japan, 67 cities and regions in 14 countries mainly in Asia and 25 municipalities in Japan have participated in this program.
3. Including Mr. Gusnar Ismail, Governor of Gorontalo, Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Stevenson A. Joseph, Governor of Pohnpei State, Federated State of Micronesia, and Mr. NAKAMURA Tokihiro, Governor of Ehime Prefecture, Japan, C3P stakeholders from local governments of 32 cities in 8 countries including Japan participated in the seminar, delivering presentations and holding discussions.
2. In the “City-to-City Collaboration Program for Zero Carbon Society (C3P),” which has been implemented by MOE Japan, 67 cities and regions in 14 countries mainly in Asia and 25 municipalities in Japan have participated in this program.
3. Including Mr. Gusnar Ismail, Governor of Gorontalo, Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Stevenson A. Joseph, Governor of Pohnpei State, Federated State of Micronesia, and Mr. NAKAMURA Tokihiro, Governor of Ehime Prefecture, Japan, C3P stakeholders from local governments of 32 cities in 8 countries including Japan participated in the seminar, delivering presentations and holding discussions.
■ Outline of the Seminar
Organiser: Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan
Co-Organiser: Ehime Prefecture, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Venue: ANA Crowne Plaza, Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture and online
Date/time: February 5, 2026, 10:00-12:30 JST
Co-Organiser: Ehime Prefecture, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Venue: ANA Crowne Plaza, Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture and online
Date/time: February 5, 2026, 10:00-12:30 JST
■ Participants
C3P stakeholders from local governments of 32 cities in 8 countries including Japan participated in-person, with a total of 256 participants including online.
■ Programme
(1) Organiser’s remarks
- Mr. DOI Kentaro, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Environment of Japan
(2) Remarks of host city representative
- Mr. NAKAMURA Tokihiro, Governor of Ehime Prefecture, Japan
(3) Presentation on City-to-City Collaboration Program for Zero Carbon Society (C3P) and overseas expansion support measures
- Dr. NAMEKI Mimi, Director for International Cooperation for
- Transition to Decarbonization and Sustainable Infrastructure, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment of Japan
(4) Presentations from C3P stakeholders and local governments
- Mr. Gusnar Ismail, Governor of Gorontalo, Republic of Indonesia
- Mr. IWATA Yoshihiro, President, Aiken Kakoki K.K.
- Mr. ISHIGURO Hidenori, Sub-manager, International Business Unit, JAPAN NUS CO., LTD.
(5) Panel discussion
Facilitator:
- Ms. KATAOKA Yatsuka, Programme Director, City Taskforce, IGES
Panelists:
- Mr. Stevenson A. Joseph, Governor of Pohnpei State, Federated State of Micronesia
- Ms. Doran M. Inabo, Administrative Officer, Office of Governor, Airai State Government, Republic of Palau
- Mr. MORI Kazuma, Director, Industrial Policy Division, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
- Mr. KOBAYASHI Keiichi, Deputy Director, Planning Section, Environmental Policy Division. Environmental Department, Toyama City, Japan
- Dr. NAMEKI Mimi, Director for International Cooperation for Transition to Decarbonization and Sustainable Infrastructure, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment of Japan
- Mr. DOI Kentaro, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Environment of Japan
(2) Remarks of host city representative
- Mr. NAKAMURA Tokihiro, Governor of Ehime Prefecture, Japan
(3) Presentation on City-to-City Collaboration Program for Zero Carbon Society (C3P) and overseas expansion support measures
- Dr. NAMEKI Mimi, Director for International Cooperation for
- Transition to Decarbonization and Sustainable Infrastructure, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment of Japan
(4) Presentations from C3P stakeholders and local governments
- Mr. Gusnar Ismail, Governor of Gorontalo, Republic of Indonesia
- Mr. IWATA Yoshihiro, President, Aiken Kakoki K.K.
- Mr. ISHIGURO Hidenori, Sub-manager, International Business Unit, JAPAN NUS CO., LTD.
(5) Panel discussion
Facilitator:
- Ms. KATAOKA Yatsuka, Programme Director, City Taskforce, IGES
Panelists:
- Mr. Stevenson A. Joseph, Governor of Pohnpei State, Federated State of Micronesia
- Ms. Doran M. Inabo, Administrative Officer, Office of Governor, Airai State Government, Republic of Palau
- Mr. MORI Kazuma, Director, Industrial Policy Division, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
- Mr. KOBAYASHI Keiichi, Deputy Director, Planning Section, Environmental Policy Division. Environmental Department, Toyama City, Japan
- Dr. NAMEKI Mimi, Director for International Cooperation for Transition to Decarbonization and Sustainable Infrastructure, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment of Japan
■ Summary of the outcome
In his opening remarks, Vice-Minister DOI Kentaro, expressed Japan's determination to leverage its technologies—developed through overcoming various environmental challenges—to address partner countries' environmental issues. He also highlighted how initiatives for environmental conservation and decarbonization present growth opportunities for cities. In the host city representative's remarks, Mr. NAKAMURA Tokihiro, Governor of Ehime Prefecture, Japan, referenced Ehime's efforts toward carbon neutrality and Japan's history and progress in environmental initiatives. Mr. Gusnar Ismail, Governor of Gorontalo, Republic of Indonesia, along with representatives from participating local governments and companies in the C3P, presented case studies of overseas expansion based on the program.
During the panel discussion, domestic and overseas local government representatives, including Mr. Stevenson A. Joseph, Governor of Pohnpei State, Federated State of Micronesia, served as panelists. They engaged in lively discussions on the nature of collaboration between overseas cities and Japanese companies/local governments, challenges in implementing projects, and expectations for the contribution of Japanese companies/local governments to realizing a decarbonized society through this program.
Additionally, in the afternoon of February 5, mutual learning sessions were held among participants involved in the city-to-city collaboration program.
Presentation materials and other resources from the event are available on the following website.
https://www.iges.or.jp/en/events/20260205
[Contact]
Office for International Cooperation for Transition to Decarbonization and Sustainable Infrastructure,
Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
Email: chikyu-infra@env.go.jp
During the panel discussion, domestic and overseas local government representatives, including Mr. Stevenson A. Joseph, Governor of Pohnpei State, Federated State of Micronesia, served as panelists. They engaged in lively discussions on the nature of collaboration between overseas cities and Japanese companies/local governments, challenges in implementing projects, and expectations for the contribution of Japanese companies/local governments to realizing a decarbonized society through this program.
Additionally, in the afternoon of February 5, mutual learning sessions were held among participants involved in the city-to-city collaboration program.
Presentation materials and other resources from the event are available on the following website.
https://www.iges.or.jp/en/events/20260205
[Contact]
Office for International Cooperation for Transition to Decarbonization and Sustainable Infrastructure,
Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
Email: chikyu-infra@env.go.jp