Japan’s Circular Economy Vision Under the Action Plan | Chapter 16Government's Comprehensive Environmental Measures in the 2026 White Paper

Starting with implementation of the Basic Environment Plan, Chapter 6 comprehensively organizes economic systems, science and technology, international initiatives, community and human resource development, environmental information, environmental impact assessment, environmental health, and measures against pollution disputes and environmental crimes. Its scope covers decarbonization, a circular society, coexistence with nature, and safety assurance, as well as reducing environmental burdens, providing relief for health damage, and conserving the living environment.

The Sixth Basic Environment Plan was approved by the Cabinet in May 2024, and in fiscal year 2025 the Central Environment Council will review progress on priority strategies and individual measures through hearings with relevant ministries and agencies, among other methods. The Ministry of the Environment compiles the portion of the government budget related to environmental conservation as environmental conservation expenditures.

As a policy foundation, the government combines disclosure of environmental information, policymaking based on scientific knowledge, evaluation of research and development, environmental impact assessment, international monitoring and observation, responses to health damage, and pollution dispute resolution to manage risks in advance and follow up after implementation.

Businesses are expected to pursue environmental management, environmental due diligence, green purchasing, and environmentally conscious products and services. The policy direction links greater corporate value and investment in environmental fields through disclosure of environmental information and understanding of ESG information.

Financial institutions and regional financial institutions will have a role in supporting lending for renewable energy, energy-saving equipment, and decarbonization across value chains and regions. Local governments are expected to link renewable energy, transportation, resource circulation, and disaster prevention with regional plans and implement them according to local circumstances.

Opportunities for participation through environmental education, ESD, nature experiences, ICT, dialogue, and collaboration will expand for residents, businesses, NPOs, schools, research institutions, and others. Mutual learning among diverse actors will lead not only to behavioral change toward sustainable living but also to stronger responsiveness and problem-solving capacity in local communities.

Internationally, the overseas deployment of Japanese environmental technologies and infrastructure is linked to environmental improvements in partner countries and regions and to Japan's economic growth. Policy dialogue and financial cooperation with the G7, G20, ASEAN, and international organizations support decarbonization, action on plastic pollution and mercury, and participation in shaping international environmental rules.

For a green economic system, the government promotes environmental businesses such as servicizing and the sharing economy and studies and analyzes the effects of environmental taxation. In finance, it uses the Principles for Financial Action toward a Sustainable Society, the GX Future Consortium, the GGX Finance Summit, the ESG Finance High-Level Panel, and the ESG Finance Awards Japan. The Decarbonization Support Organization supplies risk money, while the GX Promotion Organization provides debt guarantees and equity investment, among other functions. It also provides lease-fee subsidies, interest subsidies for loans, subsidies for green bond fundraising costs, and information through the Green Finance Portal.

In research and development, the government advances integrated research on net zero, the circular economy, nature positive outcomes, and safety and security, using integrated knowledge that includes the humanities and social sciences as well as natural sciences. It prioritizes technologies that solve multiple challenges simultaneously and technologies that reduce trade-offs, while applying AI, IoT, quantum technologies, advanced materials, monitoring, DX, and technologies that contribute to economic security to research and development.

To achieve the social implementation of research results, the government combines regulation and deregulation, economic instruments, voluntary initiatives, special zones, support for environmental startups, and technology assessment. It advances collaboration among industry, academia, and government; across ministries and agencies; between national and local governments; across disciplines; and with the Asia-Pacific region, and communicates results through websites, symposia, public relations magazines, and site visits. Based on PDCA, it combines ex ante, interim, ex post, and follow-up evaluations to review plans and resource allocation.

For the data foundation, the government advances data linkage at each stage of supply chains, common Scope 3 calculation rules, an emissions information platform, expanded EEGS functions, the TNFD Data Facility, and the environmental information infrastructure of the National Institute for Environmental Studies. It supports the use of environmental information by businesses, investors, financial institutions, researchers, and others for policy development and behavioral change.

In international cooperation, the government deploys high-quality environmental infrastructure overseas through JPRSI, city-to-city collaboration, and the JCM. It works with financing and institutions including the GCF, GEF, ADB, EBRD, and UNIDO to support decarbonization policy development in ASEAN countries and cooperation toward the second global stocktake. It leads implementation of the UNEA-7 synergy resolution adopted in December 2025 and compiles the Asia-Pacific Synergy Report with ESCAP, ADB, UNEP, and others.

In regional policy, the government supports regional circular and ecological spheres, local SDGs projects, regional platforms, and regional transitions. It continues Decarbonization Leading Regions and the Priority Measures Acceleration Project and, from fiscal year 2026, supports the development of decarbonized power sources and other facilities in GX Strategic Regions. It uses LAPSS, REPOS, EADAS, municipal emissions reports, and regional economic circulation analysis for planning and project formation, while also advancing the installation of self-reliant, decentralized energy facilities at public evacuation facilities and disaster prevention hubs.

For land management, the government forms ecological networks connecting forests, farmland, urban green spaces and waterfronts, rivers, and seas, and advances forest improvement, environmentally conscious agriculture, sustainable transportation, and maintenance of waste and domestic wastewater facilities. It also covers the forest service industry, morigyo, the Wood Use Movement, use of local timber and woody biomass, disaster-resilient forest development, and conservation of landscapes and historical environments.

For environmental impact assessment, based on the respective amended laws enacted and promulgated in June 2025 for rebuilding projects and offshore wind power projects, the government advances operation of the new systems and provides regional environmental information through EADAS.

In environmental health, the government addresses radiation-related health management and health anxiety, compensation and relief for health damage, and prevention of health effects mediated through the environment. Specifically, it advances the identification and assessment of radiation doses and studies of health effects; compensation benefits and pollution-related health and welfare programs for certified persons; and provision of preventive information on hay fever, heatstroke, yellow dust, electromagnetic fields, ultraviolet radiation, and other issues.

Under the Pollution-Related Disputes Settlement Act, the government conducts conciliation, mediation, arbitration, and adjudication, and provides guidance and information to local governments for handling pollution complaints. For environmental crime control, it cracks down on illegal dumping of industrial waste and other offenses and advances legal reviews and preventive deterrence in response to social conditions.