2 Response to Global Issues

(1) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (the 2030 Agenda)” was adopted at the United Nations (UN) Summit in September 2015 as a successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) elaborated in 2001. The 2030 Agenda sets out international development goals for realizing a sustainable, diverse and inclusive society under the principle of “Leave No One Behind,” by 2030. The 2030 Agenda lists the “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” consisting of 17 goals and 169 targets that are interrelated and closely linked to each other, and which serve as development goals for the whole of the international community including developed countries. After the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, Japan first built a foundation for the implementation of the SDGs by establishing the SDGs Promotion Headquarters headed by the Prime Minister, with the Chief Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Minister as the Deputy Director-Generals and composed of all cabinet ministers as members, and formulating the SDGs Implementation Guiding Principles that set out Japan's medium- to long-term strategy toward the achievement of the SDGs. Furthermore, Japan puts great importance on public-private partnership for the implementation of the SDGs, and established the SDGs Promotion Round Table Meeting, bringing together stakeholders from a wide range of fields including the private sector, civil society, experts, and international organizations. It also engages in the exchange of views on initiatives by local governments and businesses toward the promotion of the SDGs, measures for the empowerment of youth and women, and strengthening cooperation with the international community among others.

In 2023, the mid-way point for achieving the SDGs, at the SDG Summit held at the UN in September, Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan would lead the world's efforts to achieve the SDGs by upholding “human dignity” as a principle that supports solidarity throughout the international community, and in December, revisions were made to the SDGs Implementation Guiding Principles for the first time in four years. In the remaining period until 2030, the target achievement year, Japan will continue to promote efforts to achieve the SDGs in Japan and in the international community as a whole based on the Implementation Guiding Principles.

A Human Security

Human security is a concept that pursues the creation of a country and society where individuals can live happily and in dignity, free from fear and want. Japan has long advocated human security as a pillar of its diplomacy, and in the Development Cooperation Charter revised in June, Japan positioned human security as a guiding principle that underlies all of its development cooperation.

In addition, the Leaders' Communiqué for the G7 Hiroshima Summit, which Japan hosted in May as chair, referred to the promotion of human security in the new era aiming to realize a society that leaves no one behind. Japan has also led discussions at the UN and has contributed a cumulative total of approximately 50 billion Japanese yen by the end of 2022 to the UN Trust Fund for Human Security, which was established at Japan's initiative in 1999, to support the dissemination and implementation of human security by UN agencies. Furthermore, in the area of bilateral cooperation, Japan has also put effort into the dissemination and implementation of this concept through support including Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects. The SDGs, which advocate a people-centered approach and the vision of leaving no one behind, also position human security at their core. At the SDG Summit held at the UN in September, Prime Minister Kishida stated that human security is a key concept for achieving the SDGs based on “human dignity.” Furthermore, in early 2024, the report of the Secretary-General on human security was issued for the first time in a decade, and it is expected that discussions on human security will be reinvigorated in the UN and other international arenas in the future.

B Approaches in the Area of Disaster Risk Reduction

While there are concerns about frequent and intensified disasters due to climate change, disaster risk reduction is essential for realizing poverty eradication and sustainable development. Japan makes the most of its expertise in disaster risk reduction, built up through numerous experiences with disasters, to actively promote international cooperation. The year 2023 marked the halfway point of the “Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030,” a guideline for efforts by the international community adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai (2015), which was spearheaded by Japan. In May, the “high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the midterm review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction” was held at the UN Headquarters to assess the progress of efforts in the field of disaster risk reduction to date. The meeting also indicated the need to accelerate efforts by each stakeholder to achieve the goals by 2030. Furthermore, coinciding with World Tsunami Awareness Day (November 5), proposed by Japan and enacted unanimously at the 70th UN General Assembly held in December 2015, Japan hosts the High School Students Summit on “World Tsunami Awareness Day,” as well as events in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) aimed at raising awareness of tsunami preparedness. In cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Japan also provides training on Tsunamis for women administrators and other officials in Asia and the Pacific and supports Tsunami evacuation drills for schools in cooperation with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Hiroshima Office. Japan will continue to share its experiences and lessons learned from disasters with the rest of the world and promote “Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction” to introduce the perspective of disaster risk reduction into the policies of each country.

C Education

In the area of education, Japan is engaged in various forms of educational support around the world under the “Learning Strategy for Peace and Growth,” announced by Japan in line with the timing for the adoption of the 2030 Agenda. In September 2022, Prime Minister Kishida declared Japan's intent to promote human resource development with investment in human assets placed at the core and “Education for Sustainable Development” (ESD) at the UN Transforming Education Summit (TES) held under UN Secretary-General António Guterres' initiative. In the same month, Prime Minister Kishida assumed the position as an “Education Champion” in charge of maintaining the momentum of the summit in promoting global education transformation. Furthermore, at the G7 Hiroshima Summit, the G7 committed to making progress for ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. In light of these developments, as stated in the Development Cooperation Charter (June 2023), Japan will continue to promote education, considering the perspectives of quality education for all, empowerment of women, children, and the youth, and ensuring educational opportunities in conflict and disaster situations.

D Approaches in Agricultural Areas

In coordination with the relevant countries, such as G7 and G20 member states and international organizations, Japan has delivered assistance for agriculture and rural development in developing countries. Since 2020, through support via international organizations and others, Japan has been addressing issues of deterioration within the food system due to the stagnation in distribution of agricultural products as a result of travel restrictions due to the spread of COVID-19 and the situation in Ukraine. As for international efforts, at the G7 Hiroshima Summit, the Hiroshima Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security was issued, with the goal of realizing global food security and achieving zero hunger.

E Approaches in the Area of Water and Sanitation

Japan has continuously been one of the largest donor countries in the area of water and sanitation since the 1990s. Furthermore, Japan has implemented high quality assistance utilizing Japan's experiences, expertise, and technologies, as well as proactively participated in discussions in the international community. At the UN 2023 Water Conference held in March, KAMIKAWA Yoko, Special Envoy of Prime Minister of Japan (Member of the House of Representatives) co-chaired the thematic discussion “Water for Climate, Resilience, and Environment” and compiled recommendations for the resilience in the water sector in the world, based on Japan's experience in water-related disaster risk reduction.

(2) Global Health

Health is a basic condition that is essential to achieving human security that Japan is advocating for, which protects the survival, livelihood, and dignity of each individual. The global spread of COVID-19 has shed light on the fact that global health is not only directly relevant to people's health but is also an important issue for the global society, including that of Japan's. This includes major risks in the economy, society, and security. Given this understanding, and with lessons learned during COVID-19, the Government of Japan formulated its new Global Health Strategy in May 2022. The strategy outlines Japan's goals to contribute to developing a global health architecture (GHA), strengthen Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPR) to public health emergencies such as pandemics, and achieve a more resilient, more equitable, and more sustainable universal health coverage (UHC)¹² that is required in the post-COVID-19 era to ensure human security (See the Column on page 287).

At the G7 Hiroshima Summit, Japan, as the chair, led discussions around three pillars of (a) develop and strengthen GHA to respond to public health crises, (b) the goal of achieving more resilient, more equitable, and more sustainable universal health coverage (UHC), and (c) promoting health innovation to address various health challenges.

Specifically, the G7 Leaders confirmed that they will develop and strengthen GHA through: improving international health governance; strengthening collaboration between finance and health authorities; financial initiatives, including support through the Pandemic Fund¹³ and consideration of a rapid and efficient funding mechanism for pandemic response; and strengthening international norms and standards through negotiations on the amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) and the drafting of a new legal instrument (the so-called “WHO Pandemic Agreement”) by the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning the PPR for pandemics.

With regard to their contribution to the achievement of UHC, the G7 Leaders also confirmed the facilitation of addressing various health challenges set back by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed the need to tackle communicable diseases including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, malaria, polio, measles, cholera, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including mental health conditions, maternal and child health, realizing comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for all, and promoting healthy aging, routine immunization, improved nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). They pledged to contribute more than 48 billion U.S. dollars in public and private sector funds to achieve UHC and contribute to international health, including strengthening PPR. From Japan, Prime Minister Kishida expressed his country's intention to contribute a total of 7.5 billion U.S. dollars from the public and private sectors between 2022 and 2025, including a pledge of 200 million U.S. dollars to the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT), as part of the G7's total financial contribution. The G7 Leaders stated their commitment to continue contributing to the achievement of UHC around the world by 2030, endorsing the “Impact Investment Initiative for Global Health (Triple I for Global Health),” which aims to solve health challenges by mobilizing private-sector funds through impact investment, and the “G7 Global Plan for UHC,” which outlines actions that G7 countries should take to achieve UHC worldwide.

In addition, with regard to the promotion of health innovation, which is key to strengthening GHA and achieving UHC, the G7 Leaders announced the “G7 Hiroshima Vision for Equitable Access to Medical Countermeasures (MCMs),” which outlines basic ideas and principles such as equity and inclusivity with regard to securing equitable access to MCMs including vaccines, which was a particular challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, based on this Hiroshima Vision, the G7 Leaders launched the “MCM Delivery Partnership for equitable access” (MCDP). The MCDP is a cooperative effort focusing on the delivery of MCMs that leverages the knowledge and lessons learned from Japan's pioneering Last Mile support for the COVID-19 vaccine. In the future, the MCDP is expected to work with related efforts by the WHO, in cooperation with relevant countries and organizations including the G7, G20, WHO, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

In September, on the occasion of the 78th UN General Assembly, the first high-level health-related meeting since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and side events, including one hosted by Japan, were held, featuring active discussions on global health at the summit level. At the first UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic PPR, Foreign Minister Kamikawa reiterated to the international community Japan's proactive stance on strengthening PPR; and at the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on UHC, Prime Minister Kishida communicated that the international community should continue to act toward achieving UHC. The G7 Health Follow-up Side Event, hosted by Japan, was attended by Prime Minister Kishida and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare TAKEMI Keizo, as well as leaders and ministers from the G7, Thailand, Georgia, Bangladesh and Brazil, heads of international organizations such as WHO, World Bank and UNICEF, Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, SHIBUSAWA Ken, Chairman of the GSG National Advisory Board, and others. Prime Minister Kishida confirmed the promotion of the MCDP and announced the launch of “Triple I.”¹⁴ He also announced the creation of a new yen loan program to enable developing countries to mobilize the necessary funds for PPR in a flexible and effective manner and reaffirmed the international community's commitment to achieving UHC and strengthening PPR with world leaders.

Based on these achievements, Japan will continue to contribute to the promotion of global health, including negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which is scheduled for submission and adoption at the 77th WHO General Assembly in May 2024, and international efforts to ensure equitable access to MCMs.

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• 12 UHC: Universal Health Coverage; All people can receive basic health services when they need them at an affordable cost without financial hardship.
• 13 A financial intermediary fund for PPR established within the World Bank in 2022 as a new financing mechanism to address the financing gap in the existing international health system in response to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan has pledged a total contribution of 70 million U.S. dollars to the Fund (of which 50 million U.S. dollars has already been disbursed).
• 14 G7 Impact Investment Initiative for Global Health, endorsed at the G7 Hiroshima Summit, to accelerate private capital mobilization through impact investing.

(3) Labor and Employment

It is important to raise income levels through employment, in order to improve the living standards of those who are in poverty. Against the background of an expanding supply-chain worldwide, it is necessary to put effort into developing the labor environment, and to realize “decent work” (work that is of an acceptable quality for motivated human beings) around the world. The realization of “Decent work,” which is one of the SDGs, has been positioned as a primary objective of the activities of the International Labour Organization (ILO). In view of this, Japan is committed to sustainable development in the area of labor, not only through its mandatory contributions to the ILO, but also through proactive support through voluntary contributions for the improvement of standards on occupational safety and health and the establishment of social insurance systems in developing countries. Furthermore, at the G7 Hiroshima Summit, the G7 Leaders issued a Leaders' Communiqué that included the following points: ensuring respect for international labor standards, human rights and the fundamental conventions of the ILO in global value chains (international division of labor in manufacturing), and active involvement in the promotion of decent work, including technical cooperation.

(4) Environmental Issues and Climate Change

A Global Environmental Issues

Further awareness has been built worldwide on the importance of addressing global environmental issues and global interest in these issues has also risen, as exemplified by the 2030 Agenda, which embeds environmental goals. Japan is actively involved in conserving the natural environment and realizing sustainable development through negotiations and engagements in various multilateral environmental agreements and relevant international organizations. As one of the major donors for Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the World Bank, which is a financing mechanism for the major environmental conventions, Japan also contributes to projects that address global environmental issues.

(A) Conservation of the Marine Environment

Addressing the problem of marine plastic litter, as a matter of urgency, is growing in importance in recent years, given its potential adverse impact on marine ecology, tourism, fisheries, and human health. The problem is caused by factors such as the illegal dumping of waste and inappropriate waste management. In order to achieve “the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision” that was launched at the G20 Osaka Summit in 2019, which aims to reduce additional pollution by marine plastic litter to zero by 2050, Japan is working with international organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in areas such as compiling scientific knowledge and providing assistance on building models necessary for measures against pollution by marine plastic litter, in providing support for environmentally sound management of plastic waste and disposal mainly in the Asian region.

In response to the growing momentum for creating a new international framework to address plastics pollution including in the marine environment, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) was established at the Resumed Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly held in March 2022 for the development of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, and it was decided to aim to complete the work by the end of 2024. At the second and third sessions of INC held in May and November, respectively, Japan insisted that the objective of the said international document (the treaty) should include the ambition to reduce additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040, and the need for provisions for establishing a plastic resource recycling mechanism for society as a whole and addressing the issue throughout the entire lifecycle of plastic from production to waste management should be established as the comprehensive obligations of each country under the treaty. Japan will continue to play a leading role in this area, while encouraging formation of effective and progressive rules.

The Fifth Leaders Meeting of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, which is comprised of leaders of maritime nations and was established to discuss matters such as conservation of marine environments, fisheries and utilization of marine resources, was held in September, and was attended by Foreign Minister Kamikawa as a representative of Prime Minister Kishida. Foreign Minister Kamikawa introduced the establishment of Japan's Fourth Basic Plan on Ocean Policy, and expressed her hope that the ambition to reduce additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040 will be shared by many countries, while stating that Japan's leading efforts, such as those related to blue carbon (carbon fixation by marine ecosystems), will be disseminated as the “Japan Model.”

(B) Conservation of Biodiversity

In December 2022, the second part of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) was held in Montreal, Canada. A new global target for biodiversity, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), was adopted. Based on this, Japan revised its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in March and is steadily implementing the GBF. In October, the resumed second part of COP15, the 10th Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol and the 4th Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol were held in Nairobi (Kenya), where decisions were adopted on the remaining agenda items before these meetings were officially closed.

In August, the Seventh GEF Assembly was held in Vancouver (Canada) and approved the establishment of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), which operates under the GEF in order to facilitate the implementation of the GBF. On December 9, at the side event of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)), the Minister of the Environment ITO Shintaro announced a 650 million Japanese yen contribution to the GBFF.

In recent years, illegal wildlife trade has exacerbated, drawing international attention as one of the key sources of funding for international terrorist organizations. Japan has been earnestly addressing this issue through contributions to the CITES¹⁵ Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme among others. In recent years, Japan has provided poaching monitoring facilities to Zambia and Rwanda in 2022. In addition, Japan decided to provide facilities related to wildlife poaching and conservation measures to Botswana in 2022 and to Zimbabwe in 2023. Japan also attended the 77th session of the CITES Standing Committee (Geneva, Switzerland) in November where it actively contributed to international discussions.

Japan also contributes to international rule-making for promoting conservation and sustainable uses of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, with a view to enhancing sustainable agriculture and food security. At the 10th Session of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) Governing Body held in Rome, Italy in November, Japan participated in discussions for expanding the scope of genetic resources covered by the Multilateral System (MLS) and enhancing their functions, in order to promote access and utilization of genetic resources, such as breeding.

With regard to efforts through the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Japan continued to implement projects in the field in 2023 that contribute to the sustainable management of tropical forests and the promotion of sustainable and legal trade in tropical timber through its contributions to ITTO. In November, the 59th Session of the Council of the ITTO was held in Pattaya, Thailand, to discuss the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA), which forms the basis of the ITTO and will expire in 2026, as well as the administrative budget. Regarding the extension of the ITTA, it was decided that the decision will be made by the written responses from the member countries by June 1, 2024.

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• 15 CITES : Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

(C) International Management of Chemicals and Hazardous Waste

The 35th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was held in Nairobi, Kenya, in October. At the meeting, matters such as replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol to support developing countries as well efficient and effective operations of the protocol were discussed among the Parties.

In May, in Geneva, Switzerland, Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade were jointly held, in which matters were discussed such as technical cooperation common to the three treaties and the implementation of efficient measures through their enhanced coordination, in addition to issues related to the operation of each Convention, including the adoption of Annex amendments.

In September, the fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management was held in Bonn, Germany, and adopted “the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste” as a new framework for international chemicals management.

From October to November, the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury was held in Geneva, Switzerland, where discussions took place on amendments to Annexes and the threshold for mercury-contaminated waste subject to the regulation.¹⁶

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• 16 A boundary value that is affected above a certain value and not below it.

B Climate Change

(A) Initiatives to Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050

In October 2020, Japan declared that it would aim to realize carbon neutrality with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. At the Leaders' Summit on Climate, hosted by the U.S. in April 2021, Japan declared that it aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 46% in fiscal year 2030 from its fiscal year 2013 levels, setting an ambitious target which is aligned with the goal of net-zero by 2050. Furthermore, Japan will continue its strenuous efforts in its challenge to meet the lofty goal of cutting its emissions by 50%. In October 2021, Japan submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that reflects the new reduction target and Long-term Strategy under the Paris Agreement that reflects initiatives aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat.

(B) The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Paris Agreement

Global efforts are essential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change; however, the Kyoto Protocol adopted at the third session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3) in 1997 required only developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 held in Paris in December 2015. The Paris Agreement is a fair and effective framework that provides that parties communicate their nationally determined contributions to greenhouse gas emission reductions and undertake efforts toward the achievement of such goals regardless of whether they are developed or developing countries. The Agreement entered into force in November 2016, and has been ratified by 195 countries and institutions including Japan (as of December 2023).

At COP28, held in Dubai,UAE, from November 30 to December 13, a decision on the Global Stocktake (GST) to assess collective progress toward achieving the purpose of the Paris Agreement, as well as a decision on the framework for the new funding arrangements, including a fund for responding to loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, were adopted.

In the GST, in order to achieve the 1.5°C goal,¹⁷ ambitious emission reduction targets for all greenhouse gases and sectors were established, peaking global greenhouse gas emissions at the latest before 2025. In addition, sector-specific contributions (such as a tripling of renewable energy capacity globally and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency, as well as accelerating zero- and low-emission technologies including renewables, nuclear, CCUS,¹⁸ low-carbon hydrogen, efforts in the fossil fuel and transport sectors, etc.) were decided, taking into account the different national circumstances, pathways, and approaches.

Regarding the fund for responding to loss and damage, it was decided that it will target assistance to developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, that it would be established under the World Bank, and that developed countries would defray the start-up costs while contributions would come from all sources, including public funds, private funds, and innovative sources.

Prime Minister Kishida attended the “Global Climate Action Summit,” a summit-level meeting held on December 1 and 2, during COP28, where he emphasized that our action until 2030 is critical. He stated that setting the economy-wide absolute reduction target covering all greenhouse gases and peaking global greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 are all required to achieve the global goal of net-zero by 2050. He also called for a common goal of achieving net-zero for all countries through various pathways that are compatible with economic growth and energy security. Furthermore, on top of thorough energy conservation, maximum deployment of clean energy through making renewable energy the main source of power, and utilizing nuclear power and other measures, he expressed Japan's commitment, in line with its pathway to net-zero, to terminate the construction of domestic unabated coal power plants while ensuring a stable energy supply.

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• 17 The goal stated in the Paris Agreement, which is to limit the global average temperature increase to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to continue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
• 18 CCUS : Carbon dioxide Capture Utilization and Storage

(C) Japan's Contributions to the International Community

Developed countries including Japan have provided various assistance for developing countries so that those countries can implement sufficient climate change measures. Those supports include financial support, capacity building, and technology transfer.

The Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), launched at COP26, created a Comprehensive Investment and Policy plan for Indonesia, where Japan serves as a co-lead country with the U.S., and a Resource Mobilization Plan for Viet Nam, where Japan serves as partner country. In the coming years, specific energy transition initiatives will be implemented in JETP countries in accordance with these plans.

Japan announced in 2021 at the G7 Cornwall Summit and at COP26 that it would provide climate assistance in both private and public finance totaling 70 billion U.S. dollars over five years between 2021 and 2025, and would double its assistance for adaptation, totaling 14.8 billion U.S. dollars. From such perspectives, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) also plays an important role as a multilateral climate fund that provides support for developing countries to address climate change. Japan has contributed approximately 319 billion Japanese yen to date, and at the high-level pledging meeting for the GCF's second replenishment in October, Japan announced its commitment to contribute up to 165 billion Japanese yen for second replenishment (from 2024 to 2027), which is the same amount as the first replenishment.

In December, the First Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders Meeting was held in conjunction with the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. The leaders of AZEC partner countries confirmed the importance of simultaneously achieving decarbonization, economic growth, and energy security, and of pursuing the common goal of carbon neutrality through diverse pathways tailored to each country's circumstances, and agreed to continue their cooperation.

(D) Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)

The JCM is a mechanism for contributing to greenhouse gas emissions reduction and removal in partner countries through diffusion of advanced decarbonization technologies. The mechanism allows Japan to acquire a portion of credits (or emission allowance) from its contribution, assisting both Japan and the partner countries to achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). Japan plans to further expand the JCM globally, reflecting the adoption of the implementation guidelines of market mechanisms adopted at COP26 in 2021. The “Grand Design and Action Plan for a New Form of Capitalism Follow-up” approved by the Cabinet Office in June 2022 states that Japan will accelerate consultation with relevant countries, aiming to increase JCM partner countries up to around 30 by year 2025. Japan signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Joint Crediting Mechanism with 11 additional countries since 2022 and had established the JCM with 28 countries by the end of December 2023.

(E) Japan's efforts in Strengthening its Resilience to Impacts Resulting from Climate Change

Japan's Development Cooperation Charter, revised in June, and the National Security Strategy, revised in December 2022, include the promotion of assistance for both mitigation measures, including decarbonization (such as emissions reduction and removals enhancement of greenhouse gases), and adaptation measures (e.g., avoidance and reduction of damage caused by climate change) for island nations and other developing countries so that sustainable and resilient economies and societies can be built. Japan will provide assistance that contributes to both economic growth and climate change countermeasures, depending on the circumstances of each country and region.

In addition, the Global Shield Financing Facility (GSFF) was launched in 2022 with the aim of increasing the capacity of developing countries to cope with climate change and disasters, and to increase their financial resilience. GSFF provides financial and technical assistance for risk financing such as disaster risk insurance, including the establishment and strengthening of regional risk pools and premium financing for risk transfer, to which Japan also contributed 800 million Japanese yen in March 2023.

Furthermore, in response to the COP28's decision on the general framework of the scheme to address loss and damage, Japan expressed its readiness to contribute 10 million U.S. dollars for the launch of the fund. Japan supports the early operationalization of the fund through contributions to start-up costs and will continue to actively contribute to discussions on the appropriate management of the fund.

(5) Arctic and Antarctic

A Arctic

(A) Current State of the Arctic

The Arctic Circle is centered on the Arctic Ocean and extends north of 66°33' north latitude. Five countries (the U.S., Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Russia) are the Arctic Ocean coastal States, and eight countries (adding Iceland, Sweden, and Finland to the above five countries) are the Arctic States.

If effective countermeasures are not taken, the Arctic Ocean's summer sea ice will likely disappear almost completely by the middle of this century. Furthermore, the effects of global warming are more amplified in the Arctic than in any other region of the globe, and rapid changes in the Arctic environment due to global warming could have serious and irreversible effects on the livelihoods of the inhabitants and the ecosystems of the Arctic. On the other hand, the decreasing amount of sea ice is giving rise to growing economic opportunities such as the use of the Northern Sea Route and the development of resources. Some Arctic States are also strengthening their security initiatives to secure their own interests.

The Arctic Council (AC),¹⁹ established by the eight Arctic States, plays a central role in addressing issues related to the Arctic. Based on the discussions and knowledge sharing with relevant countries and Indigenous peoples at the AC, policies decided at the Ministerial meetings are orienting cooperation in the Arctic. The Arctic policies of the Arctic States have identified climate change measures, environmental protection, sustainable development, and the rights and livelihoods of Indigenous peoples as priority issues, and cooperation on these issues is also taking place at the AC. In addition, while the AC does not address military and security issues, peace and security in the Arctic is a major challenge among the Arctic States.

Non-Arctic states have also become increasingly interested in the Arctic in recent years due to global warming and expanding economic opportunities. On top of Japan, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, China, India, Italy, Singapore, the Republic of Korea (ROK), and Switzerland are observer states to the AC.

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• 19 An intergovernmental consultation body established in 1996 with the aim of promoting cooperation, coordination, and exchanges between the eight Arctic countries (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the U.S.), while gaining the involvement of Indigenous communities on common issues related to the Arctic region (in particular, sustainable development, environmental protection, etc.). (It does not address military and security issues.) Japan obtained the observer status in 2013.

(B) Japan's Arctic Policy and International Activities

Japan is aiming to contribute to the global society with an emphasis on the three areas, research and development, international cooperation, and sustainable use, based on “Japan's Arctic Policy” announced in 2015.

As an observer of the AC, Japan has been contributing to the AC's efforts through discussions and knowledge sharing at the Senior Arctic Official meetings, the sectoral Working Groups, and the Expert Groups of the AC on topics such as conservation of Arctic flora and fauna, protection of Arctic marine environment, and sustainable development, and will continue to actively participate in these meetings. In addition, the several forums held at the initiative of the Arctic States and attended by various stakeholders from industry, government, and academia, have also facilitated the exchange of opinions and sharing of knowledge on issues related to the Arctic. Japan also participates in these forums to share its knowledge on Arctic scientific research and to communicate the importance of the rule of law in the Arctic Ocean.

B Antarctic

(A) Japan and the Antarctic

Japan has been conducting Antarctic observation surveys utilizing its advanced technology at Syowa Station established in 1957, thereby contributing to global environment conservation and international development of science and technology. Moreover, as one of the original signatories of the Antarctic Treaty adopted in 1959, Japan strives to maintain and strengthen the Antarctic Treaty System, which is essential to the peaceful use of the Antarctic, while contributing to the promotion of environmental preservation and international cooperation in the Antarctic.

(B) The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and the Protection of Antarctic Environment

At the 45th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM45) held from late May to early June in Helsinki, Finland, discussions were held on issues of climate change in the Antarctic and actions being taken by the Antarctic Treaty System.

(C) Japan's Antarctic Observation

As for Japan's Antarctic observation activities, Japan is implementing research and observation activities based on the 10th six-year plan of the Japanese Antarctic Research program (from FY2022 to FY2027), in addition to long-term continuous observation. The 10th six-year plan aims to conduct various research observation to understand past and present changes in the ice sheets, ocean and atmospheric general circulation, and upper atmosphere in the Antarctic region as well as elucidating their mechanisms.