EPA administrator meets with Japanese minister of environment

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy and the Minister of Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ) met in Tokyo today for a bilateral dialogue, at the conclusion of which they announced an agreement on several environmental factors.

On the issue of mercury, the officials agreed to further the Minamata Convention on Mercury and to cooperate on analyzing regional mercury flows and promoting emissions reductions. They also agreed to work together on climate change, including cooperation at the 21st Conference of the Parties to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21).

The organizations will enhance collaboration on air quality management, through the Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP), the Integrated Program for Better Air Quality (IBAQ) and the Cities Clean Air Partnership (CCAP). To improve environmental education, they will share resources with an eye towards capacity building, development of materials and programs and establishing support systems and networks, among other measures.

The EPA and MOEJ will also cooperate on the decontamination of contaminate material, children’s environmental health and environmental impact assessment, all through sharing information and research results.