Adaptation Policy

Japan: Adaptation Communication

Posted: 16 February 2023

Updated: 21 November 2023

Asia - Japan

Photo: DLKR from Unsplash

Photo: Luis Patron

BASIC INFORMATION

Source	Adaptation Communication of Japan
Date posted	October 2021
Version	1

Goals

To prevent and mitigate damage from the impact of climate change; to promote the stable life of citizens,sound development of society and the economy, conservation of the natural environment, and achievement of resilient national land, by promoting measures related to climate change adaptation integrally and systematically based on scientific findings; and to build a safe, comfortable, and sustainable society. In addition to a socioeconomic perspective, such as reduction of the population and post-COVID-19, other new perspectives including Adaptive Recovery and NbS (Nature-based Solutions) will be considered.

Stakeholder Engagement

Diverse stakeholders take their roles in each sector:

National government promotes climate change adaptation, taking the initiative to implement measures related to climate change adaptation.
Local governments promote climate change adaptation based on the natural, economic, and social circumstances of the local area.
Business partners implement climate change adaptation based on the characteristics of their business operations and the expansion of adaptation business.
Citizens implement individual climate change adaptation actions and cooperation for climate change adaptation policy.
Roles of National Institute for Environmental Studies: Observation and monitoring, climate change projection, development of information infrastructures related to climate change impacts and climate change adaptation, technical support for local governments, and technical support for Local Climate Change Adaptation Centers

Risk Assessment

Climate risk assessment (current trend, future projections)

Current trend
In Japan, increases in the national average temperature, increases in the frequency of heavy rain, and other long-term changes have been observed and their diverse impacts have been reported.

Future projection
In the future, it is projected that the risk from extreme high temperatures and heavy rain will continue to increase.

data sources

N/A

Planning

Priority sectors

Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
Water environment and water resources
Natural ecosystem
Natural disasters, coastal areas
Human health
Life of Citizenry and Urban Life

DRR

The Minister of the Environment and the Minister of State for Disaster Management compiled a strategy for effectively promoting coordinated measures for climate change and DRR in June 2020. The strategy states that when recovering from a disaster, we must respond to disasters conveying the idea of “Adaptive Recovery” by implementing resilient measures including the control of land use where communities can ensure adaptation to climate change

NbS / EbA

Eco-DRR and EbA are implemented in 2 Materials of the General Insurance Association of Japan, 6 consideration of the idea of NbS (Nature-based Solutions).
Resource: https://www.sonpo.or.jp/report/statistics/disaster/ctuevu000000530r-att/c_fusuigai.pdf (data as of March 2021; viewed on September 18, 2021)

Implementation

Implementation structure

The Ministry of the Environment assessed the impact of climate change on 71 categories covering seven sectors, such as natural disasters and human health, based on scientific findings from three perspectives – significance, urgency, and confidence – and published the Assessment Report on Climate Change Impacts in Japan in December 2020. This Assessment Report on Climate Change Impacts will be updated approximately every five years based on the latest scientific findings.

M&E

M&E Implementation status

N/A

KPI and other indicators

N/A

Changes/additions to the updated version of the document, if any

N/A

Plan for review and updating

N/A

Status of supports by international organizations, if any

N/A

Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform