Japan Expands City-to-City Climate Partnerships to Accelerate Global Decarbonisation Efforts

The Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, has selected 18 projects in the first round of its FY2026 City-to-City Collaboration Programme for a Zero Carbon Society, marking a further step in its efforts to support urban decarbonisation in developing countries. The announcement follows a competitive selection process in which 18 initiatives were chosen from 31 applications, reflecting a growing international demand for structured climate cooperation at city level.

The programme is designed to support local governments in developing countries in their transition towards low-carbon development by drawing on the expertise, technologies and experience of Japanese cities, companies and research institutions. At its core, the initiative promotes direct collaboration between municipalities, enabling practical implementation of decarbonisation projects rather than purely policy-level engagement.

Through this model, Japanese subnational governments work alongside partner cities abroad to identify suitable decarbonisation opportunities, develop project proposals and support the introduction of clean technologies. The programme also includes capacity building and regulatory support, ensuring that partner cities are able to implement and sustain climate-related infrastructure and policy reforms.

A key feature of the initiative is its integration with Japan’s Joint Crediting Mechanism, which enables emissions reductions achieved through these projects to contribute to international climate targets. To date, more than 30 projects have been implemented under related frameworks, covering environmentally sustainable infrastructure and urban development initiatives. These efforts have also supported formal climate declarations by partner cities and contributed to the development of supporting legislation in some jurisdictions.

The City-to-City Collaboration Programme operates within a broader international cooperation framework that includes organisations such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency and multilateral development banks. Together, these partnerships aim to provide coordinated financial, technical and institutional support for climate projects, helping to bridge the gap between ambition and implementation in developing urban centres.

The programme is also closely linked to Japan’s Clean Cities Partnership Programme, launched in 2023, which seeks to scale up international deployment of Japanese decarbonisation technologies. This includes areas such as energy efficiency, renewable energy systems, waste management and urban infrastructure planning. By aligning municipal cooperation with private sector innovation, the initiative is intended to create pathways for both emissions reduction and technology export.

Selection of projects is carried out through a structured evaluation process involving external experts. Proposals are assessed based on criteria such as originality, technological feasibility, policy alignment between participating cities, and potential for measurable emissions reduction. Additional consideration is given to past performance for continuing projects, as well as the broader potential for synergy with existing initiatives and funding mechanisms.

The first round of FY2026 selections reflects the continued expansion of this model of climate diplomacy, in which cities play a central role in delivering emissions reductions. By focusing on practical implementation and cross-border collaboration, the programme aims to accelerate the uptake of proven technologies while supporting institutional capacity in partner cities.

A second application round is scheduled to open between late April and May 2026, indicating that the programme is expected to continue expanding its portfolio of projects over the coming year. This ongoing cycle of selection and implementation underscores Japan’s strategy of combining local expertise with international partnerships to advance global decarbonisation efforts at urban scale.

Overall, the initiative reflects a broader shift in climate cooperation, where cities are increasingly viewed not just as policy implementers, but as active partners in technology deployment, emissions reduction and the development of low-carbon urban systems.

 For details of the selected projects, please refer to the Attached File.