Launching Ceremony of the JCM Agency (JCMA), the Joint Crediting Mechanism Implementation Agency designated by the Government of Japan

 On April 4, 2025, the launching ceremony of the JCM Agency (JCMA), the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Implementation Agency designated by the Government of Japan*1, was held. At the ceremony, ASAO Keiichiro, Minister of the Environment, gave encouragement to the JCMA staff, JCMA officials expressed their commitment, and video messages from JCM partner countries were presented.

 (1) Encouragement from ASAO Keiichiro, Minister of the Environment, Japan 

He expressed his hopes that JCMA would expand and accelerate the use of JCM, and that MOE Japan will work with JCMA, relevant Ministries of Japan, JCM partner countries and others to promote JCM, while noting that many JCM projects have already started, and that in addition to the achievement of emission reductions and removals, they are contributing to the society, economy and daily lives of partner countries. He also stated that there is a need to further accelerate these efforts in order to respond to the climate crisis.

(2) Speeches by relevant ministries

Speakers expressed that the launch of JCMA is expected to further accelerate efforts to achieve emission reductions and removals using JCM, and that relevant Ministries of Japan will work with JCMA to expand and accelerate the use of JCM. Speakers were:

○ IINO Satoru, Director, Office for the Joint Crediting Mechanism and International Carbon Market, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment (MOE)

○ KIMURA Norihiro, Senior Negotiator for Climate Change, Global Environmental Affairs Office, GX Policy Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

○ SAKASHITA Makoto, Director, Global Environmental Affairs Office, Environment and Biomass Policy Division, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

○ MATSUI Hiroki, Director, Climate Change Division, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)

 (3) Declaration of commitment by JCMA officials

The following JCMA officials stated their management policy of taking a proactive role in activities and aiming to streamline JCM procedures to encourage private investment, as well as their commitment to accelerate the implementation of JCM to combat climate change.

○ MIZUNO Yuji, Secretary-General, JCMA

○ YAMAGUCHI Kaoru, Deputy Director, JCM Secretariat Group, JCMA

 (4) Video messages from JCM partner countries

Video messages from the following JCM partner countries were presented. They expressed their gratitude for JCM's contribution to the realization of low-carbon or net-zero emissions in each country and welcomed the launch of JCMA.

○ Philippines

Atty. Jonas R. Leones, Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs, Department of Environment and Natural Resources

○ Thailand

Dr. Natarika Wayuparb Nitiphon, Acting Executive Director / Deputy Executive Director of Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization

○ Vietnam

H.E. Le Cong Thanh, Vice Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment

*1: JCMA is responsible for implementation and facilitation of JCM, including the operation of JCM from project registration to credit issuance, as well as coordination with partner countries, which had been handled by the competent ministers (MOE, METI, and MAFF).  It was launched on April 1, 2025, based on Article 57-19 of the Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures. Its name is "The Joint Crediting Mechanism Implementation Agency, designated by the Government of Japan" and is commonly referred to as the "JCM Agency (JCMA)".

 

*2: The ceremony can be seen from the following link:

Ministry of the Environment, Japan

○ ASAO Keiichiro, Minister of the Environment

○ KOBAYASHI Fumiaki, State Minister of the Environment

○ IGARASHI Kiyoshi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment

○ DOI Kentaro, Director-General, Global Environment Bureau

○ OGAWA Masako, Deputy Director-General, Global Environment Bureau

○ IINO Satoru, Director, Office for the Joint Crediting Mechanism and International Carbon Market, Global Environment Bureau

○ MOMOSE Yoshinori, Senior Planning Officer, Office for the Joint Crediting Mechanism and International Carbon Market, Global Environment Bureau

and eight others

 

JCM Agency (JCMA)

○ KIMURA Yuji, General Manager

○ MIZUNO Yuji, Secretary-General

and 19 others

 

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan

○ KIMURA Norihiro, Senior Negotiator for Climate Change, Global Environmental Affairs Office, GX Policy Group

and one other person

 

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan

○ SAKASHITA Makoto, Director, Global Environmental Affairs Office, Environment and Biomass Policy Division, Minister's Secretariat

and one other person

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan

○ MATSUI Hiroki, Director, Climate Change Division, International Cooperation Bureau

and one other person

 

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan

○ MINEMATSU Hiroaki, Senior Planning Officer for Environment and Energy Policy Bureau

 

Paris Agreement Article 6 Partnership Center (A6IP)

○ KOAKUTSU Kazuhisa, Director of the Paris Agreement Article 6 Implementation Partnership Center

and two others

 

In addition, many people from related organizations, partner countries, and diplomatic missions abroad participated online.

 

Contact Office for the Joint Crediting Mechanism and International Carbon Market, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan Tel: +81-3-5521-8246 E-mail: jcm-contact@env.go.jp