Minister Asao's International Day for Biological Diversity 2025 Message
Summary
Japan's Ministry of the Environment issued a statement from Minister Asao Keiichiro on May 16, 2025, commemorating International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, 2025. The statement outlines Japan's implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including a new law to achieve the 30by30 target through certification of Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites as OECMs, and over 900 organizations having made nature-positive commitments. The statement references Japan's 6th National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2030, local biodiversity strategy support, and developing country assistance through the Japan Biodiversity Fund. The communication calls for cross-sector and cross-border cooperation but does not impose compliance obligations or deadlines.
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GovPing monitors Japan Ministry of Environment for new environment regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 2 changes logged to date.
What changed
The statement from Japan's Environment Minister provides an overview of Japan's biodiversity policy framework rather than establishing new binding requirements. Key elements include the new law enabling the 30by30 target for protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030, a certification system for private natural sites as Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and the nature-positive commitments from over 900 Japanese organizations. Japan references its 6th National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2030 as the primary domestic implementation framework.
For compliance and legal professionals, this statement is informational rather than prescriptive. It signals Japan's regulatory direction in biodiversity conservation but does not create new compliance obligations. Organizations that have made nature-positive commitments under this framework should track potential implementing regulations from Japan's Ministry of the Environment. The certification system for Sustainably Managed Natural Sites represents the primary regulatory mechanism for private sector engagement with conservation targets.
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- Date
- 2025-05-22
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Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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- Message by ASAO Keiichiro, Minister of the Environment, Japan, on May 22, International Day for Biological Diversity 2025 (May 16, 2025)
Message by ASAO Keiichiro, Minister of the Environment, Japan, on May 22, International Day for Biological Diversity 2025 (May 16, 2025)
Distinguished friends, I hope you're all having a great Biodiversity Day! Today is the day we declare once more, with renewed passion, our global vision of living in harmony with nature.
No one can doubt that nature is fundamental to our lives. No one can secure human well-being and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals without a healthy planet.
“Harmony with nature and sustainable development” is the theme for this year’s Biodiversity Day. At CBD COP10 in Aichi-Nagoya in 2010, Parties agreed to the 2050 Vision to realize a world of living in harmony with nature, and it has been inherited by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework or GBF.
Japan enacted a new law to achieve the 30by30 target, with a particular focus on enhancing activities of all sectors including business. This law provides legal framework for the promotion of engagement of diverse sectors, including by certifying “Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites”, which increases areas conserved by OECMs in Japan.
More than 900 organizations in Japan have declared their contributions to halt and reverse biodiversity loss or realize nature-positive by integrating the importance of biodiversity and the concept of natural capital into their activities.
To achieve our global goals, Japan prepared the 6th National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan or NBSAP of Japan 2023-2030. We are also supporting local governments to prepare Local Biodiversity Strategies in our country. Furthermore, Japan has been supporting developing country Parties to update their NBSAPs through the Japan Biodiversity Fund.
Biodiversity Day is not only the day for celebrating, but it is also the day for letting us all renew our commitments. Let’s work together! Let us break down silos beyond national and sectoral boundaries. Let us join forces to create a wave for a world of living in harmony with nature and for sustainable development.
Thank you very much.
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