Press Release
April 13, 2026
- Global Environment
MOE Japan Selects 18 Projects for the First Round of the FY2026 City-to-City Collaboration Program for Zero Carbon Society
1. The Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, has been conducting the City-to-City Collaboration Program for Zero Carbon Society to support the decarbonization efforts by subnational governments in developing countries by utilizing Japanese subnational governments' knowledge, experiences and technologies, in order to contribute to the further promotion of decarbonization in cities in developing countries.
2. MOE Japan called for applications for the first round of the FY2026 City-to-City Collaboration Program and selected 18 projects from 31 applications.
3. The second round of applications for this program will be called for from late April to May 2026.
2. MOE Japan called for applications for the first round of the FY2026 City-to-City Collaboration Program and selected 18 projects from 31 applications.
3. The second round of applications for this program will be called for from late April to May 2026.
■ Program outline
In the City-to-City Collaboration Program, Japanese private companies and research institutes implement a package of cooperative activities, such as surveys for the identification and formulation of projects for introducing decarbonization facilities, legislative development, and capacity building, in collaboration with Japanese subnational governments and partner cities in developing countries.
To date, over 30 projects on environmentally sustainable infrastructure have been realized under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), by utilizing achievements made in the City-to-City Collaboration Program. The program has also contributed to declarations on decarbonization by overseas partner cities and related legislative development.
Furthermore, comprehensive and synergetic support for partner cities is being promoted in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), multilateral development banks (MDBs), and other relevant organizations. The program is positioned as a core activity of the Clean Cities Partnership Program (C2P2) launched in February 2023 by MOE Japan and JICA.
Through the program, MOE Japan will further promote the international expansion of excellent Japanese decarbonization technologies.
To date, over 30 projects on environmentally sustainable infrastructure have been realized under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), by utilizing achievements made in the City-to-City Collaboration Program. The program has also contributed to declarations on decarbonization by overseas partner cities and related legislative development.
Furthermore, comprehensive and synergetic support for partner cities is being promoted in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), multilateral development banks (MDBs), and other relevant organizations. The program is positioned as a core activity of the Clean Cities Partnership Program (C2P2) launched in February 2023 by MOE Japan and JICA.
Through the program, MOE Japan will further promote the international expansion of excellent Japanese decarbonization technologies.
■ Screening method
An external evaluation committee composed of experts screened the projects based on the criteria below. After reviewing the results, MOE Japan made the final decision on approval of each project.
- Overall originality and competitive advantage of the project
- Past-year achievements (only for continuing applicants)
- Content of policy cooperation between local governments
- Feasibility of technology deployment through the JCM
- Feasibility of projects other than JCM projects
- Synergy effects
and others
- Overall originality and competitive advantage of the project
- Past-year achievements (only for continuing applicants)
- Content of policy cooperation between local governments
- Feasibility of technology deployment through the JCM
- Feasibility of projects other than JCM projects
- Synergy effects
and others
■ Screening results
Application period: February 2 to 16:00, February 27, 2026
Number of applications: 31
Number of selected projects: 18
* For details of the selected projects, please refer to the Attached File.
Number of applications: 31
Number of selected projects: 18
* For details of the selected projects, please refer to the Attached File.
■ Second round of applications
The second round of applications for this program will be called for from late April to May 2026.
