Message from the President

We have faced many reports on serious and large-scale disasters caused by climate change from around the world, which urged the international community to take urgent actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Considering this, the UNFCCC/COP27 strongly requested the Party countries to accelerate their actions to address climate change, while it eventually concluded with the agreement on the creation of a global fund for “loss and damage.”

Bearing in mind this urgency, the Government of Japan has been committed not only to strengthen its domestic policies and measures but to further develop its international cooperation actions including expanding the scope of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) projects toward realizing a decarbonized society. Along with this policy, OECC will continue to commit itself to contribute to international development programs by promoting JCM projects finding, city-to-city cooperation, climate change adaptation and measures against CFC alternatives.

Last December, the CBD/COP15 was concluded by adopting its decision on the “Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework” to take over the “Aichi Targets,” which were adopted at COP10 (Nagoya, 2010). The Government of Japan will develop its policies and measures to achieve the goals included in the Framework and may be required to consider possible rearrangement of on-going nature-related international development projects. By reflecting these international debates on biodiversity, OECC would like to contribute to materialize the concept of “Nature-based Solutions” together with leading experts in this scientific field.

In addition, the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for an international framework on marine plastic litter was held last December in Uruguay to kick off its substantial discussions. OECC will follow up these international discussions in a timely manner.

Based on these global trends, OECC is committed to contribute to the international community by addressing the following priority areas covering most of SDGs:
a) climate change,
b) environmental management, and
c) biodiversity conservation

This year, Japan is in the position to lead the world in responding to the above-mentioned global issues as the G7 presidency. OECC is required to contribute to the international community as the leading institution in the field of international cooperation on environment and development.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to you for your continued support to our programs and to seek your kind cooperation this year and beyond.