EPA Collaboration with Japan
EPA and the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ) collaborate bilaterally, regionally and through multilateral processes such as the G7 and G20 on issues such as addressing marine litter and circular economy and the management of mercury and other chemicals.
Explore our work in Japan:
Highlights
- April 2023: G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment in Sapporo
- June 2019: G20 Environment and Energy Ministerial Meeting Hosted and Led By Japan
- April 2019: Anacostia River Earth Day Event with Ambassador of Japan
G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment in Sapporo
As part of Japan’s 2023 presidency of the G7, MOEJ hosted this meeting of environmental leaders from the world’s top economies. EPA worked with Japan and other world environmental leaders in sharing visions on ways for G7 countries to take action to advance the pursuit of net zero and circular economy approaches. EPA highlighted our efforts to curb vehicle emissions and improve air quality, reduce plastic waste, promote resource efficiency, and manage chemical pollution.
G20 Environment and Energy Ministerial Meeting Hosted and Led by Japan
As part of Japan’s 2019 presidency of the G20, MOEJ with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry co-hosted the Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth. Held in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, this was the first ever G20 environment ministerial meeting. EPA and MOEJ worked closely together in preparing and coordinating priorities for this historic gathering. The G20 reached consensus on taking steps to accelerate environmental protection and economic growth by innovation and to address marine plastic litter and resource efficiency. At the Karuizawa meeting, environment leaders adopted the G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter to take voluntary measures to better manage waste and reduce plastic pollution in oceans and assist developing countries in doing the same.
Anacostia River Earth Day Event
In celebration of Earth Day 2019, EPA and Government of Japan officials participated in an event on the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. with officials from DC Water. The dignitaries rode aboard DC Water’s recently upgraded skimmer boat, which removes hundreds of tons of trash per year from local waterways. Public remarks signified the importance of clean water and addressing marine litter for the United States and Japan and commitment to make this a priority issue during Japan’s leadership of the G20 environment summit in June 2019.
Activities
Marine Litter and Circular Economy
EPA and MOEJ cooperate on international environmental policy matters including demonstrating leadership on ocean plastic pollution and circular economy matters. This coordination brings us closer to achieving the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision, which was shared under the Japan G20 presidency in 2019 and aims to reduce additional plastic pollution to zero by 2050. We are jointly committed to the negotiation of a global agreement on plastic pollution that will address the full lifecycle of plastic through an ambitious, innovative, country-driven approach.
Japan is part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Environmental Performance Review Team that is assessing United States and multi-country progress, policies, and best practices towards addressing marine litter. Through this process, MOEJ and EPA are working with Indonesia and the OECD to analyze policies and enhance peer-to-peer learning.
Principles of circular economy overlap with properly managing waste streams including keeping plastic out of our oceans, promoting resource efficiency, and addressing source reduction. MOEJ and EPA are committed to realizing circular economy, marine litter, and waste reduction goals through domestic strategies and multilateral cooperation including through the G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency and the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue.
Mercury Management
Japan participates in the EPA-supported Asia Pacific Mercury Monitoring Network to promote a network of monitoring and sharing data on mercury in the atmosphere in the Asia Pacific region. MOEJ and Japan’s National Institute of Minamata Disease have provided meaningful support for the network by sharing technology, equipment, and information to advance mercury monitoring and lab analytical capabilities in the region.
Environmental Education and Youth
EPA and MOEJ promote quality environmental education and empowerment of youth through the Global Environmental Education Partnership and other bilateral and international platforms for sharing information and resources on environmental education. EPA and the MOEJ regularly share information on a range of issues that protect young people and their communities, human health, and the environment.
Agreements
- The U.S.-Japan Agreement on Cooperation in Environmental Protection was signed in Washington, D.C. on August 5, 1975. Since the initiation of implementation of the Agreement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been the Executive Agency on the U.S. side. The Ministry of Environment of Japan is EPA's counterpart.
- In 2018, EPA and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency renewed a Letter of Intent on cooperation in the field of radiation protection.
- In 2020, EPA and Japan's National Institute of Standards and Evaluation signed a Statement of Intent in the field of chemicals management.
Key Partners
The following links exit the site
- Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
- National Institute for Environmental Studies
- National Institute of Technology and Evaluation
- U.S. Embassy in Japan