EPA Collaboration with Japan
Explore our work in Japan:
Highlights
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April 2023: G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment in Sapporo
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September 2022: Bilateral Visit to Japan
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November 2021: Launching of Global Subnational Zero Carbon
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June 2019: G20 Environment and Energy Ministerial Meeting Hosted and Led By Japan
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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. Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe represented EPA and the United States at this meeting which was held in Sapporo. EPA worked with Japan and other world environmental leaders in sharing visions on ways for G7 countries to take action to advance climate commitments and the pursuit of net zero and circular economy approaches. DA McCabe highlighted EPA efforts to curb vehicle emissions and improve air quality, reduce plastic waste, promote resource efficiency, and manage chemical pollution.
DA McCabe had a bilateral meeting with State Minister for Environment Miki Yamada. Prior to the G7 meetings, DA McCabe and OITA Assistant Administrator Jane Nishida participated in site visits to the Upopoy National Ainu Museum, highlighting EPA’s cooperation with tribal communities. They additionally visited the Ariga Micro-Geothermal Net-Zero Building, learning about this unique geothermal system for heating, cooling, and melting snow in pursuit of creating net zero energy buildings.
Bilateral Visit to Japan
In September 2022, Administrator Michael Regan visited Japan for engagements including a high level dialogue with Akihro Nishimura—the Minister of the Environment of Japan. Administrator Regan and Minister Nishimura discussed domestic accomplishments and shared priorities for continued international, regional, and bilateral cooperation on environmental protection.
A Joint Statement highlighted cooperation and shared priorities on:
- climate change and decarbonization,
- marine litter and circular economy,
- chemical management including cooperation for effective implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and
- environmental education and youth.
While in Tokyo, Administrator Regan met with students from the Fukushima prefecture who are engaged in programming to educate peers about recovery in their community; with a “smart city” in Saitama to learn about initiatives there to reach zero carbon, underscoring the theme of subnational decarbonization within EPA and MOEJ’s cooperation; and with national legislators. The Administrator also engaged with Japanese and international media to promote U.S. domestic and international environmental priorities.
Launching of Global Subnational Zero Carbon Initiative
In November 2021 at COP26 meetings in Glasgow, Scotland, Administrator Michael Regan joined officials from MOEJ and the U.S. Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate in launching the Global Subnational Zero Carbon Promotion Initiative. This effort recognizes the vital role subnational actors play in leading efforts towards decarbonization. This has led to the convening of Zero Carbon City International Forums hosted by Japan, with EPA participation, to highlight the efforts that state, city, and local governments are taking to reach zero carbon goals. OITA Assistant Administrator Jane Nishida has given remarks at these forums. At the March 2023 forum, EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program discussed EPA’s engagement with subnational governments on methane as an example of multilevel climate action.
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
Combatting the Climate Crisis
The United States and Japan are committed to taking ambitious steps to lead domestic climate efforts, accelerate international climate action, promote climate transparency, and achieve net zero goals. EPA and the Ministry of the Environment cooperate by supporting the Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Inventories in Asia and EPA’s Transparency Accelerator, supporting the Global Subnational Zero Carbon Promotion Initiative, and promoting lifecycle management of fluorocarbons, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
The United States and Japan are also among the initial countries that participated in the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) and the GMP Energy Pathway to reduce global methane emissions. MOEJ and EPA will continue to promote domestic policies and international cooperation to reduce methane emissions in the waste sector including through highlighting the issues and facilitating relevant actions at national and international levels. In addition, EPA and MOEJ work closely with the United Nations Global Adaptation Network and the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities Network (EPIC-N) in hosting workshops in cities in the Asia-Pacific region and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Marine Litter and Circular Economy
MOEJ and EPA 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