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September 29, 2025
- Global Environment
Outcome of the 26th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among Japan, Korea and China
1.The 26th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among Japan, the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China (TEMM26) was held on September 27 and 28 in Yantai, China. From Japan, ASAO Keiichiro, Minister of the Environment, participated in the meeting.
2.At the meeting, views were exchanged on environmental policies of each country, and the “Tripartite Joint Action Plan on Environmental Cooperation (2026-2030)” and the Joint Communiqué compiling the outcome of the meeting were adopted.
3.Outstanding contributions to tripartite environmental cooperation were also commended. From Japan, Dr. TANIMOTO Hiroshi, Director of the Earth System Division of the National Institute for Environmental Studies, was awarded for his contribution
4.As side events, the “Youth Forum”, which aimed to increase environmental awareness, promote common understanding, and build partnerships among young people in the three countries, and the “Tripartite Roundtable on Environmental Business (TREB)”, which aimed to improve the environment by promoting environmental industries in the three countries, were held. Representatives of the youth and TREB reported the results of the forum to the ministers meeting.
5.Minister ASAO also had bilateral meetings with the respective Environment Ministers of China and Korea and exchanged views on climate change, biodiversity including measures for invasive alien species such as fire ants, plastic pollution and other environmental issues, and affirmed continued cooperation on these issues.
■しかく Date
September 27 and 28, 2025
■しかく Venue
Yantai, People’s Republic of China
■しかく Main participants
Japan: ASAO Keiichiro, Minister of the Environment
Korea: H.E. Mr. KIM Sungwhan, Minister of Environment
China: H.E. Mr. HUANG Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment
Korea: H.E. Mr. KIM Sungwhan, Minister of Environment
China: H.E. Mr. HUANG Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment
■しかく Outline of TEMM26
The Ministers exchanged views on the development of environmental policies in each country, global and regional environmental issues, and the progress in implementing the Tripartite Joint Action Plan on Environmental Cooperation. They also adopted the “Tripartite Joint Action Plan on Environmental Cooperation (2026-2030)” (Attachment 1) and the Joint Communiqué (Attachment 2).
(1) Tripartite Joint Action Plan
The Ministers reviewed the progress in tripartite environmental cooperation based on the ongoing Joint Action Plan (2021-2025), adopted the new Joint Action Plan (2026-2030), and committed steady implementation of the three countries.
In the new Joint Action Plan (2026-2030), for the eight priority areas (shown below in (2)) agreed in TEMM25 in 2024, activities that the three countries will cooperate to implement were set out. The three countries agreed on further promoting collaboration among stakeholders including local governments, academia, and business entities under TEMM.
(2) Cooperation in the priority areas
Main cooperative activities in each priority area set out in the new Joint Action Plan (2026-2030) are as follows:
1. Air Pollution & Dust and Sandstorms (DSS)
Regarding the air pollution, in the “Tripartite Policy Dialogue on Air Pollution”, the three countries will enhance understanding on the impact of climate change on air pollution, and share latest technologies and policies of the three countries related to air pollution prevention. Regarding DSS, in the DSS Working Group I and II, the three countries will formulate and implement the 4th Mid-Term Action Plan.
2. Biodiversity
In the “Tripartite Policy Dialogue on Air Pollution”, the three countries will share information, experiences, and best practices on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, including implementation of the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework”. They will also promote tripartite cooperation via joint projects and global- and regional-level mechanisms related to biodiversity.
3. 3R/Circular Economy/Zero Waste City & Plastic Pollution
In the “3R/Circular Economy/Zero Waste City Seminar”, the three countries will discuss policies, legal systems, technologies and best practices. Regarding plastic pollution, they are committed to early development of an international legally binding instrument. They will also hold tripartite policy dialogue on plastic pollution control, and commence to share policies, and explore joint research and survey projects for assessing actual pollution state.
4. Climate Change
In the “Tripartite Policy Dialogue on Climate Change” and expert workshops, the three countries will exchange information on mid- and long-term policies for low carbon/decarbonization/carbon neutrality towards achieving the alleviation target of each country, as well as on experiences and trends of each country concerning promotion of green and low-carbon industries. They will also share knowledge and technologies related to the Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) System. Moreover, in the “Tripartite Forum on Carbon Pricing Mechanism”, they will share the carbon pricing systems and the statuses towards participating in the international carbon market, of the three countries. They will also expand and enhance city-level exchange and cooperation related to climate action.
5. Transition to Green Economy
In the “Tripartite Roundtable on Environmental Business (TREB)”, the three countries will exchange information and best practices on green industries, technologies and policies. In the “Tripartite Working-level Meeting on Eco-Labeling, Carbon Labeling, and Environmental Product Declaration”, they will discuss, establish and apply common standards for eco-labeling.
6. Environmental Education and Awareness
Under the “Tripartite Environmental Education Network (TEEN)”, the three countries will implement cooperative projects, such as survey of best practices related to environmental education, issue a joint report and develop a website. To increase environmental awareness and foster friendship among young people of the three countries, the “TEMM Youth Forum” will be held to discuss environmental issues and conduct joint activities.
7. Environmental Management of Chemicals
In the “Tripartite Policy Dialogue on Chemical Management” and the “Tripartite Expert Seminar on Chemical Management”, the three countries will exchange information on latest policies and technologies for chemical management, including implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants”. They will also exchange latest information on policies and best practices for chemical management, such as system reforms and chemical environmental risk assessments of the three countries. Moreover, they will promote joint research and discussions on chemical management and examinations.
8. Living Environment
In the “Tripartite Policy Dialogue on Living Environment”, the three countries will exchange views on latest policies and related technologies for preventing and controlling noise, light and odor pollution.
(3) Joint Communiqué
Main points are as follows:
・ The Ministers of the three countries welcomed the progress of activities under TEMM and the adoption of the new Joint Action Plan (2026-2030)”.
・The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening measures for climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution.
・The TEMM Youth Forum and the Tripartite Roundtable on Environmental Business (TREB) took place as the official side events of TEMM26 and the results were reported to the Ministers.
・The Ministers congratulated and commended the three winners of the TEMM Environment Awards.
・The Ministers decided that TEMM27 will be hosted by Japan in 2026.
[Reference] Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among Japan, Korea and China (TEMM)
The “Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among Japan, Korea and China (TEMM)” has been held since 1999 in rotation in each country (in 2020, the meeting was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic), with the view to promote exchange of views on regional and global environmental issues, and enhance cooperation among Environment Ministers of Japan, Korea and China, core countries in Northeast Asia.
For Joint Communiqués of the previous meetings, please refer to the following website:
・TEMM official website