Summary Reportof the 16 Environmental Subcommittee Meeting,
the Association of North East Asia Regional Governments
thOn Tuesday November 14, 2023, the 16th Environmental Subcommittee Meeting of theAssociation of North East Asia Regional Governments (NEAR) was organized online.
In the meeting, Toyama Prefecture was selected as the coordinating municipality forthe next term. There were presentations to report and propose activities which are inaccordance with “Toyama Declaration 2016.” For individual projects in 2024, 8 projects
were proposed to be continued. These projects were agreed to be conducted for the nextterm.

1. Objectives
It aims to conserve environment in the region by smooth implementation of individual
projects by NEAR’s member states and information sharing.
2. Date and holding method
・Date:
November 14(Tue.), 2023, from 10:00am to 3:00pm,
・Method: Online
3. Organizers
Toyama Prefecture,
The Association of North East Asia Regional Governments (NEAR)(Northwest Pacific Region Environmental Cooperation Center is entrusted by Toyama
Prefecture with operation of NEAR’s environmental subcommittee.)
4. Participating municipalities
10municipalities from 3 countries
・Japan(4) :Yamagata, Toyama, Niigata, Saga(Observer)
・Korea(3) :Gangwon, Chungcheongnam, Gyeongsangnam
・Russia(3) :Primorsky, Khabarovsk, Tomsk
5. Outcomes(1) Selecting the next coordinating municipality (discussion)
Toyama Prefecture was selected as the coordinating municipality for next term (2 years).

1(2) Report of the individual projects 2023 (presentation)
Some municipalities reported about their activities for individual projects in 2023.
Individual projects 2023
Organizers
Development of the youth leaders for theLiaoning(China),
environmental activities in the Northeast Asia
Toyama(Japan)
Environmental education program to prevent marine
Toyama(Japan)
litter at source
Environmental poster exhibition in Northeast Asia
Shanxi(China)
Survey of coastal organisms
Toyama(Japan)
Environmental experience program for youths about
Chungcheongnam(Korea)
blue carbon with shellfish
Photography contest "Eco-selfie"
Tomsk(Russia)
Biological seasonal survey in the Northeast Asia
Toyama(Japan)
Bio-monitoring at river
Primorsky(Russia)(3) The individual projects and Environmental Subcommittee’s activities for 2024
(discussion)
8 projects were proposed to be continued in the FY 2024 and they were agreed.
Individual Projects in 2024
Proposers
Tomsk(Russia)、
Development of the youth leaders for the environmental
activities in the Northeast Asia
Toyama(Japan)
Environmental education program to prevent marine
Toyama(Japan)
litter at source
Environmental poster exhibition in Northeast Asia
Toyama(Japan)
Survey of coastal organisms
Toyama(Japan)
Environmental experience program for youths about
Chungcheongnam(Korea)
blue carbon
Photography contest "Eco-selfie"
Tomsk(Russia)
Biological seasonal survey in the Northeast Asia
Toyama(Japan)
Bio-monitoring at river
Primorsky(Russia)
In the meeting this year, it was pointed out that we should consider global trends inthe environmental issues, such as SDGs targets, climate change, and marine plasticlitter. Reflecting “Toyama Declaration 2016”, these projects should be carried out as
specific efforts to protect environment in the Northeast Asia.
(4) Opinion exchange for future activities① opinions were exchanged about future meeting holding methods (online,face-to-face, etc.), timing, so that many municipalities could participate in thismeeting.
It was decided that the coordinating municipality (Toyama Prefecture) would
consider the matter, considering not only the municipalities participating in thisconference but also the opinions of related municipalities that have participated in2

the past.
② Project proposing municipalities explained to participating municipalities about
implementation issues, requests, etc. and discussed issues related to securing
budget, improvements for revitalization, active calls for participation, etc. Opinions
were exchanged about the future implementation method of individual projects.
In addition, there were opinions from municipalities participating in individualprojects (or municipalities considering participation) to project proposingmunicipalities, such as issues related to participation, measures to improveparticipants’ motivation, and the importance of use of websites and SNS to revitalize
projects.

【State of the meeting】

State of meeting

Information exchange3Secretariat of Sub Committee＊

Toyama Declaration of 2016 Environmental Experts Meeting among Northeast Asia Region(Toyama Declaration 2016)
The G7 Environmental Ministers’ Meeting was organized in Toyama in May 2016. Following it,
Toyama Prefecture held “2016 Environmental Expert Meeting among Northeast Asia Region” withparticipants from municipalities and universities in China, Japan, Korea and Russia. “Toyama
Declaration 2016” was adopted with aims to work on environmental conservation together for the
next generation.
The declaration mentions directions of efforts under items, including “positive contribution to
global environmental issues,” “civic collaboration and environmental education,” and “international
dialogue.”4