International Programs
U.S. - Japan Agreement on Cooperation in Environmental Protection
The US- Japan Agreement on Cooperation in Environmental Protection was
signed in Washington, D.C., on August 5, 1975. Since the initiation of
implementation of the Agreement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has been the Executive Agency on the U.S. side, and the Environment
Ministry (previously Agency) of Japan is EPA's counterpart.
The Agreement pledges the governments of the two countries will maintain
and promote cooperation in the field of environmental protection on the
basis of equality, reciprocity, and mutual benefit, through such instruments
of technical cooperation as:
- meetings of working-level experts;
- visits and exchanges of scientists, technicians and other experts;
- implementation of agreed-upon cooperative projects;
- and exchange of information and data on research activities, policies, practices, legislation and regulations, and analysis of operating programs.
- air pollution control (mobile and stationary sources)
- water pollution (including municipal and industrial wastewater treatment,
marine pollution
control, agricultural runoff and pesticide control) - control and disposal of toxic substances
- endocrine desrupting chemicals
- global climate change.
The Agreement establishes a Joint Planning and Coordination Committee (JPCC) which meets periodically to discuss major environmental policy issues, and to coordinate and review activities and accomplishments under the Agreement. As stipulated in the Agreement, meetings of the JPCC alternate between the U.S. and Japan.
For additional information about EPA's cooperative programs with Japan, contact:
Joshua Novikoff
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International and Tribal Affairs (2670R)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
Email: novikoff.joshua@epa.gov