Press Release
July 24, 2023
- Global Environment
Results of Official Side Events of High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
１．At the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) held from July 16 to July 18, 2023 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA, YANAGIMOTO Akira, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment of Japan, attended the Fourth Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the events titled “Translating Evidence to Action on Climate and SDGs Synergies in Asia and Beyond”, “SDG6 and Water Action Agenda”, “Sustainable Financing and Gap-Bridging Partnerships for Nature in SIDS” and “Parliamentary Forum: The Mid-point Toward the SDGs”.
２．Focusing on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which are the goals reviewed under HLPF2023, it was an opportunity to communicate Japan's measures and efforts in these areas to the world and to foster a sense of unity in the Asia-Pacific region toward the SDGs.
２．Focusing on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which are the goals reviewed under HLPF2023, it was an opportunity to communicate Japan's measures and efforts in these areas to the world and to foster a sense of unity in the Asia-Pacific region toward the SDGs.
１． Fourth Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
（１）Date and Place
Date and time: July 16, 2023, 10:00-16:45
Venue: Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters
（２）Organizers
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
（３）Japanese Government Attendee
YANAGIMOTO Akira, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment, Japan
（４）Summary
This conference has been held since 2019 with the aim of maximizing highly synergistic efforts toward the goals of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. At this fourth conference, the following topics were discussed: fair and equitable net-zero transition, climate action and stakeholder engagement for socio-economic transformation, climate and SDGs action, finance, and partnerships, etc. In July last year, the third conference was hosted by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan.
Building on the communiqué of the G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment in Sapporo, which was held under Japan Presidency, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yanagimoto reaffirmed the need to gather concrete good practices to promote synergies at the High-Level Political Forum. Furthermore, he introduced Japan’s efforts on synergies realized between climate change and biodiversity (1. Forest management and biomass power generation in Maniwa, Okayama, 2. Blue carbon (regeneration of seaweed beds) in Minamisanriku, Miyagi, and 3. Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) in Lake Inba and its basin, Chiba) and to create more than 100 Decarbonization Leading Areas to reach net zero by FY2030.
On the side of the conference, the Government of Japan hosted a lunch reception for representatives from various countries to exchange with one another.
（５） Related page
https://www.un.org/en/climate-SDGs-conference-2023 (English)
Date and time: July 16, 2023, 10:00-16:45
Venue: Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters
（２）Organizers
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
（３）Japanese Government Attendee
YANAGIMOTO Akira, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment, Japan
（４）Summary
This conference has been held since 2019 with the aim of maximizing highly synergistic efforts toward the goals of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. At this fourth conference, the following topics were discussed: fair and equitable net-zero transition, climate action and stakeholder engagement for socio-economic transformation, climate and SDGs action, finance, and partnerships, etc. In July last year, the third conference was hosted by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan.
Building on the communiqué of the G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment in Sapporo, which was held under Japan Presidency, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yanagimoto reaffirmed the need to gather concrete good practices to promote synergies at the High-Level Political Forum. Furthermore, he introduced Japan’s efforts on synergies realized between climate change and biodiversity (1. Forest management and biomass power generation in Maniwa, Okayama, 2. Blue carbon (regeneration of seaweed beds) in Minamisanriku, Miyagi, and 3. Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) in Lake Inba and its basin, Chiba) and to create more than 100 Decarbonization Leading Areas to reach net zero by FY2030.
On the side of the conference, the Government of Japan hosted a lunch reception for representatives from various countries to exchange with one another.
（５） Related page
https://www.un.org/en/climate-SDGs-conference-2023 (English)
２． Translating Evidence to Action on Climate and SDGs Synergies in Asia and Beyond
（１）Date and Place
Date and time: July 17, 2023, 8:45-9:45
Venue: United Nations Headquarters / Online
（２）Organizers / Co-Organizers
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) and International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
（３）Main Participants
YANAGIMOTO Akira, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment, Japan
Prof. TAKEUCHI Kazuhiko, President of IGES
Ms. Elena ROVENSKAYA, Program Director and Principal Research Scholar, Advancing Systems Analysis Program, IIASA
Ms. YAMAGUCHI Shinobu, Director of UNU-IAS
（４）Summary
In his opening remarks, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yanagimoto introduced good practices of synergies realized in Japan, as introduced at the above-mentioned High-Level Political Forum. At this side event, presentations were focused on the implementation and analysis of synergies. He expressed the hope that good practices of synergies from within and outside of Asia be collected and lead to further discussions after the SDG Summit to be held in September this year.
Thereafter, five speakers introduced efforts to promote synergies and research and analytical methods to strengthen the link between implementation and evidence. The UNDESA and UNFCCC Secretariat, partner UN agencies, reported on the Fourth Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference held the prior day. Lively discussions took place, including on expectations for further raising the momentum to promote synergies at the global scale.
（５）Related pages
Event page
https://www.iges.or.jp/jp/events/20230717 (Japanese only)
Introduction page of Japan’s good practices
https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/synergy-cases-jp/ja (Japanese only)
https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/synergy-cases-en/en (English)
Date and time: July 17, 2023, 8:45-9:45
Venue: United Nations Headquarters / Online
（２）Organizers / Co-Organizers
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) and International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
（３）Main Participants
YANAGIMOTO Akira, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment, Japan
Prof. TAKEUCHI Kazuhiko, President of IGES
Ms. Elena ROVENSKAYA, Program Director and Principal Research Scholar, Advancing Systems Analysis Program, IIASA
Ms. YAMAGUCHI Shinobu, Director of UNU-IAS
（４）Summary
In his opening remarks, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yanagimoto introduced good practices of synergies realized in Japan, as introduced at the above-mentioned High-Level Political Forum. At this side event, presentations were focused on the implementation and analysis of synergies. He expressed the hope that good practices of synergies from within and outside of Asia be collected and lead to further discussions after the SDG Summit to be held in September this year.
Thereafter, five speakers introduced efforts to promote synergies and research and analytical methods to strengthen the link between implementation and evidence. The UNDESA and UNFCCC Secretariat, partner UN agencies, reported on the Fourth Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference held the prior day. Lively discussions took place, including on expectations for further raising the momentum to promote synergies at the global scale.
（５）Related pages
Event page
https://www.iges.or.jp/jp/events/20230717 (Japanese only)
Introduction page of Japan’s good practices
https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/synergy-cases-jp/ja (Japanese only)
https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/synergy-cases-en/en (English)
３． SDG6 and Water Action Agenda: Capacity Building
（１）Date and Place
Date and time: July 17, 2023, 15:30-16:30
Venue: Conference Room 5, United Nations Headquarters
（２）Organizers
United Nations Water (UN-Water), UNDESA
（３）Japanese Government Attendee
YANAGIMOTO Akira, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment, Japan
（４）Summary
This event was held to follow up on the UN Water Conference 2023 and the key outcomes of the Water Action Agenda. Participants introduced results of progress analysis on water-related issues, best practices and lessons learned, and had discussions based on the recommendations provided in the SDG 6 Synthesis Report on Water and Sanitation 2023.
Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yanagimoto expressed concern about the deterioration of the living environment due to climate change causing heavy rains and floods around the world and water pollution in developing countries. He introduced Japan's efforts and support through the Kumamoto Initiative for Water, which was announced at the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit held in Kumamoto in April 2022, to help solve related issues with Japan's disaster prevention technology and experience in overcoming pollution problems.
Date and time: July 17, 2023, 15:30-16:30
Venue: Conference Room 5, United Nations Headquarters
（２）Organizers
United Nations Water (UN-Water), UNDESA
（３）Japanese Government Attendee
YANAGIMOTO Akira, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment, Japan
（４）Summary
This event was held to follow up on the UN Water Conference 2023 and the key outcomes of the Water Action Agenda. Participants introduced results of progress analysis on water-related issues, best practices and lessons learned, and had discussions based on the recommendations provided in the SDG 6 Synthesis Report on Water and Sanitation 2023.
Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yanagimoto expressed concern about the deterioration of the living environment due to climate change causing heavy rains and floods around the world and water pollution in developing countries. He introduced Japan's efforts and support through the Kumamoto Initiative for Water, which was announced at the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit held in Kumamoto in April 2022, to help solve related issues with Japan's disaster prevention technology and experience in overcoming pollution problems.
４． Sustainable Financing and Gap-Bridging Partnerships for Nature in SIDS
（１）Date and Place
Date and time: July 17, 2023, 18:30-20:00
Venue: Conference Room 2, United Nations Headquarters
（２）Organizers
Republic of Cabo Verde, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
（３）Japanese Government Attendee
YANAGIMOTO Akira, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment, Japan
（４）Summary
This event on financing solutions for nature was organized at ministerial level by the SIDS Coalition for Nature. It featured speeches on best practices and financing support for nature from each country, as well as new proposals of financing solutions for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yanagimoto introduced practices in which the Government of Japan has worked together with SIDS to address global environmental issues. In particular, he argued that simultaneous solutions for climate action and biodiversity conservation are necessary, and that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are key. While sharing these views, he contended that Japan would take simultaneous measures to address the global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss by continuing its support to developing countries through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and international organizations.
Date and time: July 17, 2023, 18:30-20:00
Venue: Conference Room 2, United Nations Headquarters
（２）Organizers
Republic of Cabo Verde, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
（３）Japanese Government Attendee
YANAGIMOTO Akira, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment, Japan
（４）Summary
This event on financing solutions for nature was organized at ministerial level by the SIDS Coalition for Nature. It featured speeches on best practices and financing support for nature from each country, as well as new proposals of financing solutions for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yanagimoto introduced practices in which the Government of Japan has worked together with SIDS to address global environmental issues. In particular, he argued that simultaneous solutions for climate action and biodiversity conservation are necessary, and that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are key. While sharing these views, he contended that Japan would take simultaneous measures to address the global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss by continuing its support to developing countries through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and international organizations.
５． Parliamentary Forum: The mid-point toward the SDGs: taking stock of parliamentary action
（１）Date and Place
Date and time: July 17, 2023, 11:20-11:50
Venue: Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters
（２）Organizer
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
（３）Japanese Government Attendee
YANAGIMOTO Akira, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment, Japan
（４）Summary
This parliamentary forum considered the role of parliaments in implementing the SDGs in the past few years and accelerating action in the years to come. Among parliamentary activities, specific examples of activities that national parliaments have been implementing to achieve SDG 6 were shared in the segment that focused on SDG 6 practices, based on discussions related to the resolution of water and sanitation issues in this year’s Parliamentary Hearing at the UN.
Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yanagimoto reported on the Water Cycle Basic Law, which is a government-wide initiative enacted by parliamentarians for the purpose of maintaining and restoring a healthy water cycle.
６． Opinion exchanges with international organizations
On the occasion of the forum, the Government of Japan exchanged views with Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Mr. Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General of UNDESA, and H.E. Mr. Antonio Anastasia, Minister at the Federal Court of Accounts of Brazil.