Press Release

May 25, 2023
  • Global Environment

MOE Japan selects 21 projects for the City-to-City Collaboration Program to support the decarbonization efforts by overseas subnational governments

1. The Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, has been conducting the City-to-City Collaboration Program to support the decarbonization efforts by subnational governments in developing countries by utilizing Japanese subnational governments' knowledge, experiences and technologies related to decarbonization.

2. MOE Japan called for applications for the 2023 City-to-City Collaboration Program and selected 21 projects from 24 applications.

3. Since its start in 2013, 47 subnational governments in 13 countries (mainly in Asia) and 20 Japanese subnational governments in total have participated in the program.

<Attached File>
City-to-City Collaboration for Zero-Carbon Society in FY2023

■ Program outline

The purpose of the program is to support the decarbonization efforts by subnational governments of developing countries by utilizing knowledge, experiences and technologies that Japanese subnational governments have developed related to decarbonization. In collaboration with private sectors and research institutions, Japanese subnational governments will identify projects and conduct feasibility studies toward the introduction of decarbonization technologies and services to partner cities, as well as provide support for developing policies and building capacity for decarbonization.

Since its start in 2013, the program has contributed to enhancing ambitions and policy development in partner cities, as well as to introducing renewable energy (PV, etc.) and energy-saving technologies in public facilities, industrial parks, and other areas. In recent years, cooperation has expanded to various sectors including waste management and agriculture, as well as to the possible introduction of new technologies such as hydrogen. 

Furthermore, comprehensive and synergetic support for partner cities is being promoted in collaboration with JICA, and cooperative actions are being explored with the G7 and MDBs. The program is positioned as a core activity of the Clean Cities Partnership Program (C2P2) launched this February by MOE Japan and JICA.

Through implementing the program, MOE Japan will actively promote an international decarbonization domino effect that spreads from Japanese subnational governments to overseas subnational governments.

■ Screening results

Application period:  April 4 to 25, 2023
Number of applications:  24
Number of selected projects:  21
*Details of the selected projects:  Please see the attachment.