Japanese Model to Promote
Subnational Climate Action
March 9, 2022
Ministry of the Environment,
Government of Japan

Cooperation between national and local governments
 In Japan, the national government and local governments are working
closely for achievement of the Zero Carbon City.
Nationalgovernment【Role of the national government】
 Setting goals and developing plans for the entire country Support local governments

Collaborate and develop a roadmap together

Local
Governments
598 local governments,
covering 91% of Japan’s
population, have commited
to zero carbon emissions by2050 (as of March 9, 2022)【Policies and actions of local governments】
 Full alignment with local rsources/circumstances(e.g. using local renewable energy resource) Inclusion and linkage with citizens' daily life and activities
 Integrate various sectors (Urban Labs)
 Achievement of local SDGs (Multi-benefit)2Decarbonization roadmap for local governments
 The Council for National and Local Decarbonization formulated adecarbonization roadmap for local governments in June, 2021.

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Mechanism for proactive national support
 The national government provides technical and financial support for localgovernments.
1. Human resources Provide human resources with expertise in energy, finance and other sectors
 Improvement of knowledge and skills of local human resources through training

２．Technical Information
 Strengthen database and communication platform for matching regional challenges withsolutions using digital technologies, and tools for regional economic cycle analysis
 Share best practices and know-hows Provide manual for implementation plan to raise understanding

３．Finance Provide continuous and comprehensive support over several years to actively support local
governments and businesses implementing decarbonization projects (FY2022).
Grant（20 billion yen）: For local governments establishing decarbonization areas
Public-private fund （20 billion yen）: For ambitious private decarbonization projects
 Subnational economic revitalization attracting ESG finance4City-to-City Collaboration Program MoEJ supports city-to-city collaboration between Japanese cities andoverseas cities for enhanced exchange of knowledge and know-how.
<Cooperation activities>
 Conduct feasibility study on projects(e.g. renewable energy, energy saving) Provide institutional assistance(e.g. action plan, regulation, criteria)
 Train human resources Raise awareness41 cities in the world have linked
with 17 Japanese cities<Expected outcomes>
 Deliver zero carbon commitment
 Deploy decarbonized infrastructure Develop action plan and regulations

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Japan-U.S. Global Subnational Zero Carbon Promotion Initiative Japan and the U.S. announced the launch of the "Japan-U.S. Global
Subnational Zero Carbon Promotion Initiative" at a side event at theCOP26 Japan Pavilion.
１．Objective
To share a variety of best practices of subnational efforts on decarbonization andadaptation at different levels, and to encourage subnational governments to develop theirown capacities through international cooperation
２．Member
Ministry of the Environment, Japan（MoEJ）
Office of Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, United States of America

COP26 Side event @Japan
Pavilion on 10 Nov. 2021

３．Activities
1. Sharing knowledge
 Convene the “Zero Carbon Cities International Forum”
2. Supporting actions
 Seek to support making and implementing subnational policies
on decarbonization and adaptation in a third country foraccelerating cross-border “Decarbonization Domino Effect” cases.

YAMAGUCHI Tsuyoshi, Minister ofMOEJ (Left)
Michael S. Regan, the Administratorof US EPA (Right)

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Future Plan MoEJ will promote international cooperation leveraging experience on
domestic measures for accelerating cross-border “Decarbonization DominoEffect”.
Domestic Measures

Encourage to be zerocarbon city
Implement roadmap for
local governments
Work closely between thenational government andlocal governments

International Cooperation
 Promote city-to-city collaboration
 Continue international forum(In addition)
Promote specific cooperation activities
to identify, share and support the needsof developing country cities,
in cooperation with U.S., other countries
and international organizations

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