Press Release
November 06, 2023
- Global Environment
Results of the 24th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among Japan, Korea and China
The 24th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among Japan, Korea and China (TEMM24) was held on November 3 and 4 in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. From Japan, ITO Shintaro, Minister of the Environment and YAGI Tetsuya, State Minister of the Environment participated in the meeting.
At the meeting, views were exchanged on future environmental cooperation in actions to address climate change, biodiversity, plastic pollution and other issues, and the Joint Communiqué was adopted.
Minister ITO also had bilateral meetings with the respective environment ministers of China and Korea and had discussions on further strengthening cooperation.
At the meeting, views were exchanged on future environmental cooperation in actions to address climate change, biodiversity, plastic pollution and other issues, and the Joint Communiqué was adopted.
Minister ITO also had bilateral meetings with the respective environment ministers of China and Korea and had discussions on further strengthening cooperation.
1. Date
November 3 and 4, 2023
2. Venue
Nagoya Convention Hall, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
3. Key participants
Japan: ITO Shintaro, Minister of the Environment of Japan
Korea: H.E. Dr. Han Wha-jin, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Korea
China: H.E. Dr. Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China
Korea: H.E. Dr. Han Wha-jin, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Korea
China: H.E. Dr. Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China
4. Outline of the 24th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among Japan, Korea and China (TEMM24)
・The 24th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among Japan, Korea and China (TEMM24), chaired by ITO Shintaro, Minister of the Environment of Japan, was held in-person for the first time in four years. Environment ministers of the three countries exchanged views on key environmental policies of each country, including climate change measures, contributions to the upcoming UNFCCC COP28, measures for air pollution such as PM2.5 and yellow sand, implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and measures for invasive alien species such as fire ants, measures for plastic pollution, and initiatives for circular economy. The Ministers also reviewed progress in implementing the Tripartite Joint Action Plan adopted at TEMM22. Based on the discussions, the Joint Communiqué (refer to the Attachment) was adopted and signed by the ministers of the three countries.
・Minister ITO, together with State Minister YAGI, also had bilateral meetings with the respective environment ministers of China and Korea and exchanged views on climate change, biodiversity including measures for fire ants, plastic pollution and other environmental issues, and affirmed continued cooperation on these issues.
・As for ALPS treated water, Minister ITO explained Japan’s position at the plenary session and the bilateral meetings to continue providing information with high transparency to the international community.
・An awards ceremony for outstanding contributions to trilateral environmental cooperation was also held. From Japan, Dr. SHIMIZU Atsushi, Chief Senior Researcher of the National Institute for Environmental Studies, was awarded for his contribution to the research of yellow sand.
・State Minister YAGI also participated in the Youth Forum, which aims to increase environmental awareness, promote common understanding and build partnerships between young people in the three countries. Representatives of the youth reported the results of the forum to the ministers’ meeting.
・Minister ITO, together with State Minister YAGI, also had bilateral meetings with the respective environment ministers of China and Korea and exchanged views on climate change, biodiversity including measures for fire ants, plastic pollution and other environmental issues, and affirmed continued cooperation on these issues.
・As for ALPS treated water, Minister ITO explained Japan’s position at the plenary session and the bilateral meetings to continue providing information with high transparency to the international community.
・An awards ceremony for outstanding contributions to trilateral environmental cooperation was also held. From Japan, Dr. SHIMIZU Atsushi, Chief Senior Researcher of the National Institute for Environmental Studies, was awarded for his contribution to the research of yellow sand.
・State Minister YAGI also participated in the Youth Forum, which aims to increase environmental awareness, promote common understanding and build partnerships between young people in the three countries. Representatives of the youth reported the results of the forum to the ministers’ meeting.
5. Outline of the Joint Communiqué
<Response to the Environmental Crisis and Challenges>
The Ministers reaffirmed their commitments to strengthen measures to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution in light of their respective national circumstances; accelerate the transformation towards the net zero economy and society / the carbon free society; and pursue efforts to improve global environmental governance.
<Biodiversity>
The Ministers committed to swiftly, fully and effectively implementing all of the goals and targets of the KMGBF and to taking urgent actions. They also committed to revising, updating and submitting their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). Moreover, they committed to strengthening collaboration to address the negative impacts of invasive alien species.
<Climate Change>
The Ministers reaffirmed their steadfast commitments to tackle climate change by strengthening the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement and its temperature goal. They will contribute to a successful outcome at COP28 to be held in Dubai, the UAE, from November to December 2023, including the conclusion of the first global stocktake (GST) and adoption of the framework of the global goal on adaptation. They were encouraged to submit their next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2025 in accordance with relevant provisions of the Paris Agreement.
<Plastic Pollution>
The Ministers committed to playing a constructive role in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution with the ambition of completing its work by the end of 2024. They acknowledged the significance of strengthening scientific and technological knowledge, in particular methodologies for monitoring, and sharing available scientific data and other information.
<Air Quality in the Region>
The Ministers encouraged the three countries to strengthen cooperation with Mongolian agencies to address yellow sand.
<Tripartite Cooperation>
The Ministers were willing to continue to explore possible “Trilateral+X” cooperation in such areas as climate change and marine environmental protection. They were willing to encourage close cooperation among the three countries at upcoming major regional and global environmental conferences, including the UNFCCC COP28 and relevant G20 meetings in 2024.
<TEMM25>
The Ministers decided that TEMM25 will be held in Korea in 2024.
The Ministers reaffirmed their commitments to strengthen measures to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution in light of their respective national circumstances; accelerate the transformation towards the net zero economy and society / the carbon free society; and pursue efforts to improve global environmental governance.
<Biodiversity>
The Ministers committed to swiftly, fully and effectively implementing all of the goals and targets of the KMGBF and to taking urgent actions. They also committed to revising, updating and submitting their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). Moreover, they committed to strengthening collaboration to address the negative impacts of invasive alien species.
<Climate Change>
The Ministers reaffirmed their steadfast commitments to tackle climate change by strengthening the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement and its temperature goal. They will contribute to a successful outcome at COP28 to be held in Dubai, the UAE, from November to December 2023, including the conclusion of the first global stocktake (GST) and adoption of the framework of the global goal on adaptation. They were encouraged to submit their next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2025 in accordance with relevant provisions of the Paris Agreement.
<Plastic Pollution>
The Ministers committed to playing a constructive role in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution with the ambition of completing its work by the end of 2024. They acknowledged the significance of strengthening scientific and technological knowledge, in particular methodologies for monitoring, and sharing available scientific data and other information.
<Air Quality in the Region>
The Ministers encouraged the three countries to strengthen cooperation with Mongolian agencies to address yellow sand.
<Tripartite Cooperation>
The Ministers were willing to continue to explore possible “Trilateral+X” cooperation in such areas as climate change and marine environmental protection. They were willing to encourage close cooperation among the three countries at upcoming major regional and global environmental conferences, including the UNFCCC COP28 and relevant G20 meetings in 2024.
<TEMM25>
The Ministers decided that TEMM25 will be held in Korea in 2024.
6. Other
Please refer to the following website for outlines of previous TEMM meetings.
https://tcs-asia.org/en/cooperation/overview.php?topics=15
https://tcs-asia.org/en/cooperation/overview.php?topics=15
