Seminar & Forum The 4th Forum on Carbon Neutrality Goals of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea
2025-03-11
On March 11, 2025, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), jointly organized the 4th Forum on Carbon Neutrality Goals of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. The Forum was supported by the Shenzhen International Low-Carbon Forum Development Center.
The theme of this year’s Forum was “Carbon neutrality and sustainable urban development”, with a focus on smart and inclusive solutions for sustainable urban development. Government officials and experts from the three countries, as well as international organizations, joined the event to share relevant policies and field experience in carbon neutrality and green urban planning.
At the Opening Session, TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup explained the importance of building sustainable urban spaces, especially in the context of China, Japan, and Korea, which has one of the largest urban populations in the world. Due to these contexts, SG LEE emphasized that the three countries will play an important role in regional carbon neutrality goals.
Through her remarks, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, also stressed the critical role of CJK in sharing solutions for sustainable urban development, given its rich experience in urbanization, economic growth, and technological innovation. She pointed out that the Forum has played a pivotal role in amplifying carbon neutrality commitment in Asia-Pacific since its inception in 2021.
LIU Zhenmin, Special Envoy for Climate Change of China, presented China’s active participation in green, low-carbon development during his keynote speech. He further expressed his hopes of China, Japan, and Korea making positive contributions in addressing climate change in Asia-Pacific through sharing knowledge and experiences in various sectors.
For Session 1, government officials from CJK discussed each country’s updates on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) since COP29 and relevant policy directions. Session 2 shifted the discourse into more practical knowledge-sharing; representatives from various sectors (private sector, local government, international organizations) shared their experience and case studies on utilizing smart, inclusive solutions for building sustainable green cities.
The outcomes of the Forum will be presented to the dialogue on subregional cooperation during the 81st ESCAP Commission Session and will also be reported to the 26th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting.

▲Group photo

▲TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup delivering Opening Remarks

▲Keynote speech from LIU Zhenmin, Special Envoy for Climate Change of China

▲Session 1: High-level dialogue on updates on pathways to the carbon neutrality goals of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea and regional cooperation

▲Session 2: Accelerating progress to achieving carbon neutrality goals through smart, inclusive solutions for sustainable urban development

▲Tea break networking session
Documents
- Joint Communiqué of the 25th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting Among Korea, China and Japan
- Joint Communiqué of the 24th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting Among Japan, Korea and China
- Joint Communiqué of the 23rd Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting Among Korea, China and Japan
- Joint Communique for the 22nd Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting Among Korea, China and Japan (TEMM)
- Joint Communique for the 21st Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting Among Korea, China and Japan (TEMM)
- Joint Communiqué of the 20th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting Among Korea, China and Japan (TEMM)
- Joint Communiqué of the 19th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting Among Korea, China and Japan
- Joint Communique of the 18th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting Among Korea, China and Japan (TEMM)
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- The 2nd Forum on Carbon Neutrality Goals of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea
- Forum on Carbon Neutrality Goals of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea affirms the need for trilateral and multilateral cooperation to enhance climate action