At the 26th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting in Yantai, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (the ROK) unlocked a fresh roadmap for regional sustainability: the 2026-2030 Joint Action Plan on Environmental Cooperation. Hosted on a rotating basis since 1999, these annual talks have steadily built a framework for tackling shared environmental challenges.
Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu unveiled the plan's focus on eight priority areas, building on the success of three previous phases. Those early efforts delivered tangible wins–cleaner air, fewer sandstorms and improved chemical management–laying a solid foundation for the next five years of collaboration.
Key areas set for action include:
- Air quality monitoring and cross-border pollution control
- Water resource management in shared basins
- Biodiversity protection and habitat restoration
- Circular economy initiatives and waste reduction
- Climate resilience planning and green finance
- Urban sustainability and smart city solutions
- Innovation in green technologies and startups
- Public awareness and youth engagement
By aligning environmental goals with economic development, this trilateral plan aims to accelerate green growth, foster sustainable innovation and enhance the well-being of communities across the region. "Enhancing environmental cooperation, advancing regional green development and improving people's environmental well-being align with our shared interests," Huang said. "China is ready to work with Japan and the ROK to elevate our collaboration to a higher level."
With global momentum behind climate action and the sustainable development goals, this East Asian alliance sends a powerful signal: working together amplifies impact. As young entrepreneurs, activists and digital nomads follow green travel trends, startups in environmental tech may find new cross-border opportunities emerging from this pact.
Reference(s):
China, Japan, ROK sign 2026-2030 environmental cooperation action plan
cgtn.com
