Press Release

March 29, 2024
  • Global Environment

MOE Selects 18 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, in order to contribute to the further promotion of decarbonization in cities in developing countries.

2. MOE called for applications for the FY2024 City-to-City Collaboration Program and selected 18 projects from 24 applications.

■ Program outline

 In this program, Japanese private companies and research institutions implement a package of cooperative activities, such as studies for the 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, more than 20 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 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, and spread an international decarbonization domino effect.

■ Screening method

  An interview was conducted by an external evaluation committee composed of experts, and screened the projects based on viewpoints including the following:
・ Feasibility of the project as a whole
・ Results in previous fiscal years (only continued projects)
・ Feasibility of the carbon neutrality declaration and other actions.
・ Feasibility of development of infrastructure for introducing decarbonization technologies, etc.
・ Feasibility of introduction of decarbonization technologies, etc.
・ Feasibility of achieving multi-benefits
・ Collaboration with other support programs

■ Screening results

Application period: February 2 to February 22, 2024
Number of applications: 24
Number of selected projects: 18

*Details of the selected projects: Please see the attachment.
*A second round of public solicitation is planned to be held around April to May 2024.