Presentation- Fourth meeting of the Task Force on Climate Change Adaptation - Adaptation Act, NAP and Assessment Report in Japan, Yuko YOSHIDA

1. 1
Climate Change Adaptation Act (enacted from Dec.2018)
 Stipulates roles of national and local governments, private sectors, and citizens to promote climate change adaptation.
 National government shall formulate National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to promote adaptation in all sectors.
 MOE shall implement climate change impact assessments, every 5 years. The NAP needs to be revised accordingly.
１．Comprehensive Adaptation Programme
 The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES)
operates Climate Change Adaptation Platform (A-PLAT)
as center of excellence.
 NIES gives technical advice and assistance to local gov’ts
and centers
２．Information Platform
Local gov’ts are asked to;
 Formulate Local Adaptation Plans.
 Designate Local Adaptation Center for climate change data
collection and provision locally.
 Organize Regional Councils to promote adaptation measures in
a cooperative manner with neighbor local governments.
３．Adaptation in Local Areas
Promote effective adaptation measures in various fields based on reliable scientific information
 Promote International cooperation.
 Promote adaptation business.
４．International Actions and Business
http://www.adaptation-platform.nies.go.jp/index.html
Future
projection
of
Rice
yields
Future
projection
of
Disappear
ed beach
※High quality
rice yields
Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries
Water Environment and Resources Natural Ecosystems
Natural Disasters Human Health Industries and Economic Activity
City and Life of Citizens

2. 2
Climate Change Impact Assessment Report (Dec. 2020)
 The latest Climate Change Impact Assessment Report was released in December 2020. This
assessment report is updated approximately every five years based on the latest scientific findings
 The report indicated that the impact of climate change becomes more serious; so, urgent measures are
needed.
■Enhancement of
scientific knowledge
The number of references cited
for evidence increased by about
2.5 times from the last report in
2015 (i.e. from 509 to 1261).
■Assessment of
severity and urgency
Of the 71 items in all seven
areas;
 49 items (69%) are considered
to have a particularly serious
impact
 38 items (54%) are considered
to have a high urgency for
actions
 33 items (46%) are considered
to have a particularly serious
impact and require urgent
actions
Overview Examples of key impacts by sectors
Landslide disaster caused by
heavy rain in July 2020
少ない 多い
2000年 2050年 2100年
日本海におけるスルメイカの分布予測図（7月）
少ない 多い
2000年 2050年 2100年
日本海におけるスルメイカの分布予測図（7月）
少ない 多い
2000年 2050年 2100年
日本海におけるスルメイカの分布予測図（7月）
Changes in the northern limit of the
habitat of human striped mosquito
which transmit dengue fever
Prediction of the distribution of
Japanese common squid (July)
■Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
・Decline in the yield and quality of rice
・Changes in the distribution areas of migratory fishes
(shrinking fishing grounds for squid and saury, etc.)
■Water environment, water resources,
natural disasters, and coastal areas
・Increased frequency of landslides due to more
frequent and widespread heavy rainfall.
■Natural ecosystems
・Large-scale coral bleaching due to high water
temperatures during summer
■Health
・Increase in the number of cases and deaths of heat
stroke nationwide
・Habitat of infectious disease vectors such as dengue
fever vectors has expanded.
■Industrial and economic activities, people's lives and urban life
・Conflict risk and other security impacts due to climate change

3. 3
Climate Change Impact Assessment in Japan (Summary)

4. 4
Outline of National Adaptation Plan (2021 Draft Version)
Prevention/reduction of climate-
related impacts
Objective
Basic strategies
1 Embed climate change adaptation in every relevant policy
2 Promote climate change adaptation based on scientific knowledge
3
Consolidate the knowledge of research institutions in Japan and develop
the information infrastructures
Promote climate change adaptation according to local backgrounds
Deepen the understanding of citizens and promote climate change
adaptation corresponding to business activities
6 Contribute to enhance the adaptive capacity of developing countries
7 Ensure a system of close collaboration among relevant administrative
agencies
Citizens
Business
National government
Local governments
・To promote adaptation in local areas
・To promote local stakeholders’ adaptation
・To take adaptation action
・To cooperate in adaptation measures
・To advance adaptation in each business sector
・To promote adaptation business
National Institute for
Environmental
Studies (NIES)
・To develop information
infrastructure for adaptation
・To provide technical support
for local authorities
・To take the initiative to
implement adaptation
measures
・To promote diverse
stakeholders’ adaptation
Basic roles of
stakeholders
5
4
Aiming to create a society that ensures safety, security, and
sustainability by preventing or reducing damage from climate
change impacts, stabilizing people’s lives, promoting the sound
development of society and the economy, preserving the natural
environment, and building national resilience
Based on the seven basic strategies, the relevant
ministries and agencies are cooperating closely with
each other to promote climate change adaptation.
Period for
the plan For approximately the next five years
Agriculture,
Forestry,
and
Fisheries
Water
Environment,
Water
Resources
Natural
Disasters
Natural
Ecosystems
Industrial
/
Economic
Activities
Human
Health
Climate change impacts and adaptation measures
(examples in each sector)
Impact Degraded rice quality under high temperature
Adaptation measure Introduction of high-temperature-
resistant varieties
Impact Increase in the frequency of sediment disasters
(debris flows, landslides, etc.)
Adaptation measures Installation of sediment control
dams and other infrastructure
Impact Increased heavy rainfall events which might
cause floods
Adaptation measure Promoting "River Basin Disaster
Resilience and Sustainability by All"
Impact Decline in groundwater levels during irrigation
periods
Adaptation measures Promoting groundwater
management and other measures
Impact Possible disappearance of suitable areas for the
growth of coral reef
Adaptation measure Conservation of highly adaptable
coral reef ecosystems
Impact Increased risk of mortality due to heat illness
Adaptation measure Providing heat illness prevention
information to the elderly
Impact Changes in the risks of various infectious disease
outbreaks
Adaptation measure Collecting scientific kowledge on
climate change impacts
Impact Impacts on national security
Adaptation measure Promoting policies to minimize
impacts
Monitoring and evaluating the progress on adaptation while managing the progress by setting KPIs on sectoral/basic measures and setting
indicators* from the perspective of making climate change adaptation firmly established and more widespread at national, local and citizen
levels, based on a PDCA cycle
*E.g.(1) Rate of setting KPIs on sectoral measures (categories), (2) percentage of formulating local adaptation plans, (3) percentage of establishing local adaptation centers, and (4) degree of
recognition of adaptation efforts.
Progress
management
Basic Measures Related to Climate Change Adaptation
• Enhancement and utilization of scientific
knowledge on climate change and other related
issues
• Ensuring the system for collection, organization,
analysis, and provision of information related to
climate change, etc.
• Promotion of measures related to climate change
adaptation with local governments
• Promotion of climate change adaptation by
business operators, etc., and business activities
contributing to climate change adaptation
• Securing international collaboration and promoting
international cooperation related to climate
change, etc.
Outline of Climate Change Adaptation Plan
(approved by the Cabinet on October 22, 2021)

5. 5
Cycle of adaptation policy 2015-2021: climate change
impact assessments and National Adaptation Plan
5
Central Environment Council
Expert Committee on
Climate Change Impact Assessment
Government of Japan
2015
“Report on Assessment of Impacts of Climate
Change in Japan and Future Challenges”
（Central Environment Council on March 2015）
“National Plan for Adaptation”
（Cabinet Decision on 27 November 2015）
2016
Expert Committee (in October )
 Starting discussion for scoping in
the 2nd Climate Impact Assessment
2017 Monitoring of 1st NAP (Annually)
(Inter-Ministry Meeting for Adaptation )
2018
(Climate Change Adaptation Act)
(Formulation of 1st NAP (statutory))
2019
2020
The 2nd Climate Change Impact Assessment
(MOEJ, Dec 2020)
2021 Formulation of 2nd NAP
“Integrated report on observation, projection
and impact assessment of climate change 2018”
(Published on February 2018 *Japanese Only)

6. 6
Promotion of Climate Change Adaptation in Japan
under the Leadership of the Ministry of the Environment
• Establishment of the Climate Change Adaptation Promotion Council, chaired by the Minister
of the Environment and consists of top officials from concerned ministries and agencies
• Establishment of a close coordination system among concerned ministries and agencies.
• The government takes the initiative and promotes measures on climate change adaptation in a comprehensive
and systematic manner.
Government
initiatives
Chair:
Minister of the
Environment
Ministry
of
Land,
Infrastructure,
Transport
and
Tourism
Ministry
of
Economy,
Trade
and
Industry
Ministry
of
Agriculture,
Forestry
and
Fisheries
Ministry
of
Health,
Labour
and
Welfare
Ministry
of
Education,
Culture,
Sports,
Science
and
Technology
Ministry
of
Finance
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
of
Japan
Ministry
of
Internal
Affairs
and
Communications
Financial
Services
Agency
Cabinet
Office
Cabinet
Secretariat
Vice Chair:
State Minister of
the Environment
Ministry
of
the
Environment
Climate Change Adaptation Promotion Council
*Administrative works are handled by the Ministry of the Environment.
Members
Ministry
of
Defense

7. 7
KPIs in NAP 2021
■KPI on sectoral measures: monitoring adaptation measures in each sector
• Developed 37 KPIs in the areas of: agriculture, forestry and fisheries; water environment,
water resources; natural ecosystems; natural disasters; health; life of citizenry, etc.
■KPI on basic measures: monitoring basic adaptation measures by the whole government
and each ministry
• Developed 29 KPIs relating to each item indicated in the basic strategies of NAP
■Indicators and targets to establish and promote adaptation in each level of national
and local governments and citizens.
• Rates of adopting KPIs on sectoral measures, rates of developing local NAPs, installation
rates of local adaptation centers, awareness of adaptation measures, etc.
Types of KPIs developed in NAP 2021
• To assess and monitor the progress of adaptation measures in NAP.
Purpose of KPIs:
• Climate Change Adaptation Promotion Council (chaired by Minister of the Environment)
• Ministries and agencies involved
Actors involved:

8. 8
Climate Change Adaptation Efforts at the Local Level
Development of “Local Climate Change Adaptation Plan”
 99 municipalities (44 prefectures, 18 ordinance-designated cities, 37 municipalities) have formulated their
plans (as of January 17, 2022)
Establishment of “Local Climate Change Adaptation Center”
 Positioned as a center for collecting, organizing, analyzing, and providing information on climate change
impacts and adaptation in the local level
 45 municipalities (36 prefectures, 3 ordinance-designated cities, 7 municipal wards) have established their
centers (as of January 1, 2022)
Establishment of "Regional Council for Climate Change Adaptation" in each region
 Local governments, national government branches, research institutes, businesses, and citizens in the region
have established a wide-area collaboration system that transcends prefectural borders
 As the impacts of climate change vary depending on local topography and
socioeconomic conditions, etc., fine-tuned adaptation measures have been
implemented according to local characteristics based on the Adaptation Act
Securement of Centers
Local Governments Providing information
and Technical Advice
Regional Council for Climate Change Adaptation
National Government Branches Businesses, Civic Groups, etc.
Request for
Cooperation
Materials,
Explanations,
etc.
National Research
Institutes, etc.
National Institute for
Env. Studies (NIES)
Center for Climate Change
Adaptation (CCCA)
Local Climate
Change Adaptation
Center (LCCAC)