At the High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change between the European Union and Japan, in Brussels, senior officials agreed to deepen their bilateral co-operation, working together towards achieving climate neutrality and tackling shared economic and geopolitical challenges. In the context of the current crisis in the Gulf region, both sides acknowledged the importance of the clean energy transition that contributes not only to climate neutrality but also their respective security, independence and competitiveness.
The meeting was opened by Kurt Vandenberghe – Director-General for Climate Action at the European Commission and DOI Kentaro, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of the Environment of Japan.
During the dialogue both sides reaffirmed their resolve to uphold multilateralism and their unwavering commitment to the Paris Agreement and the need to scale-up climate action in this decade, to reduce emissions with a view to keeping the limit of 1.5°C temperature rise by the end of the century within reach.
The EU and Japan discussed the implementation of their 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as well as their NDCs for 2035 and 2040 in the case of Japan. Both sides agreed to join efforts to ensure a successful COP31 in Antalya later this year. They also agreed to advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement’s ambition cycle including through international cooperation on the preparation and delivery of NDCs and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) for parties that have not delivered them.
The EU and Japan recalled the first of its kind Green Alliance launched between the EU and Japan in May 2021 and reviewed opportunities to work together to support each other respective climate agendas. In particular, they agreed to promote bilateral exchanges during the course of 2026 on industrial decarbonisation, climate adaptation, carbon pricing and carbon credits, carbon capture use and storage, sustainable finance, as well as climate action at sub-national level.
