TOKYO/VIENNA, 9 November 2020 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ) have signed a joint declaration.

Stephan Sicars, Managing Director, Directorate of Environment and Energy, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and Hiroshi Ono, Director-General, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment of Japan, signed the Joint Declaration to facilitate close cooperation between UNIDO and MOEJ, in collaboration with multi-stakeholders.

The Joint Declaration seeks to enhance and accelerate collaborative actions for tackling global environmental issues despite the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to facilitate close cooperation between UNIDO and MOEJ on climate change, the circular economy, fluorocarbon life cycle management, the reduction of industrial pollution, the elimination and reduction of persistent organic pollutants and life cycle management of mercury.

In the meeting, Stephan Sicars said “UNIDO and MOEJ share a lot in their mandates. The cooperation with MOEJ will create great synergy in advancing its work on promoting and accelerating inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.

Hiroshi Ono mentioned that “Realization of climate resilient, decarbonized and sustainable development is increasingly becoming important in the global agenda. Among others, Africa is an important focus for MOEJ to enhance its actions and supports. MOEJ looks forward to working together with UNIDO in various areas of cooperation”.

The mission of MOEJ includes promoting and planning environmental conservation, and implementing the environmental policies of the national government. It also takes initiatives in developing solutions to various global-scale environmental problems and presenting a vision for a sustainable society towards the future. Considering the mission of MOEJ and UNIDO’s mandate of promoting and accelerating ISID, the signing of the Joint Declaration is expected to contribute significantly to advancing the goals and targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In response to the Joint Declaration, Takeshi Hikihara, Permanent Representative, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, expressed his expectations by mentioning that “Industrial development and environmental sustainability should be mutually reinforcing. Japan’s knowledge, technology, know-how and continued experience in this regard will add value to the important work of UNIDO. We hope that this joint declaration will further spur the UNIDO-Japan cooperation to support developing countries in creating this upward spiral, which will be conducive to the implementation of the SDGs”.

For further information, please contact:
Naoki Torii,
Industrial Development Expert
UNIDO Climate Technology and Innovation Division
Department of Energy
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