S’pore and Japan deepen ties on environment issues, including coastal protection and climate science

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu (left) and Japan’s Minister of the Environment Hiroyoshi Sasagawa signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Environment Matters on Sept 24.

PHOTO: MINISTRY OF SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Published Sep 25, 2026, 04:30 PM

Updated Sep 25, 2026, 04:30 PM

Singapore and Japan have strengthened cooperation on environmental issues, including managing emerging contaminants and pollution removal.

They signed enhanced agreements to collaborate on decarbonisation, climate science, coastal protection, and climate adaptation technologies.

Both countries hope to share information, organise joint events, and work closely during Singapore’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2027 to boost regional climate resilience.

SINGAPORE - Singapore and Japan will work together more closely on various environmental initiatives , such as managing contaminants, climate science and coastal protectio n, under two new agreements inked by leaders of both countries on Sept 24 and 25.

Both agreements advance existing pacts between Singapore and Japan on such issues.

The first agreement is the upgraded Memorandum of Cooperation on Environmental Matters. It was signed between Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu and Japan’s Minister of the Environment Hiroyoshi Sasagawa on Sept 24.

Under it, both countries will establish partnerships, such as those between firms and government agencies , on new areas such as managing emerging contaminants and removing pollution from the ground.

Existing areas of collaboration include decarbonisation, air quality, waste, and managing noise pollution and water quality.

Deliverables could include sharing relevant information, planning exchanges and training, and organising environmental events and seminars, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) in a statement issued on Sept 25.

Fu said: “The (agreement) will advance cooperation between our countries as we navigate geopolitical uncertainty and our respective transitions to low-carbon, climate-resilient and resource-efficient economies.”

She added that Japan and Singapore hope to work closely together during the Republic’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2027. This year also marks Japan and Singapore’s 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The other agreement Fu inked on Sept 25 was the renewed Memorandum of Cooperation on Climate Science and Climate Adaptation , with Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tatsunori Ibayashi.

MSE said this will focus on coastal protection, flood resilience, stormwater management and weather services.

The partnership will also pave the way for trials of new technologies between the nations.

Fu said: “I look forward to working closely with Japan to support each other’s efforts to enhance resilience in our societies, as well as the wider region, in areas such as early warning systems and meteorology, as well as cooperation on water, food, and climate-resilient infrastructure.”

Separately, the Singapore Water Association’s coastal protection chapter will be leading close to 40 senior representatives from the public and private sector on an overseas study trip to Japan from Sept 25 to Oct 2.

The trip will include visits to Tokyo Bay’s high-tide defence infrastructure, the Minamisanriku coastal town’s tidal and floodgate systems, and Sendai’s multi-layered coastal defences and post-tsunami reconstruction areas.

They will also visit the International Research Institute of Disaster Science at Tohoku University, among other research institutions.

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu (left) and Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ibayashi Tatsunori signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Climate Science and Climate Adaptation. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu (left) and Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ibayashi Tatsunori signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Climate Science and Climate Adaptation.

The participants are from government agencies, the built-environment sector, engineering and consultancy firms, contractors, technology providers and research organisations, said the association in a statement on Sept 25.

The eight-day visit will also include business-matching sessions and engagements with Japanese engineering, technology, research and industry partners, it added.

They will also explore collaborations in engineering solutions, innovation, smart systems and digital applications.

This trip follows a study visit the association organised to low-lying Netherlands in late 2025, to help local players find out more about the country’s coastal solutions and forge business links with the more mature Dutch coastal protection sector.

Shabana Begum is a correspondent, with a focus on environment and science, at The Straits Times.

Environmental issues

韩国可持续发展与环境大臣傅海燕（左）和日本环境大臣笹川博义于9月24日签署了环境事务合作备忘录。

图片来源：可持续发展与环境部

发布于2026年9月25日下午4:30

更新于2026年9月25日下午4:30

新加坡和日本加强了在环境问题上的合作，包括应对新兴污染物和清除污染。

他们签署了加强合作协议，在脱碳、气候科学、海岸保护和气候适应技术方面开展合作。

两国希望在新加坡担任2027年东盟轮值主席国期间分享信息、组织联合活动并密切合作，以增强区域气候适应能力。

新加坡——根据两国领导人于9月24日和25日签署的两项新协议，新加坡和日本将在污染物管理、气候科学和海岸保护等各种环境倡议方面更紧密地合作。

这两项协议都推进了新加坡和日本之间就此类问题达成的现有协议。

第一份协议是升级后的《环境事务合作备忘录》。该备忘录于9月24日由韩国可持续发展与环境大臣傅海燕与日本环境大臣笹川裕义签署。

根据该协议，两国将在新兴污染物管理和清除地下污染物等新领域建立伙伴关系，例如企业与政府机构之间的伙伴关系。

现有合作领域包括脱碳、空气质量、废物处理、噪声污染治理和水质治理。

可持续发展与环境部 (MSE) 在 9 月 25 日发布的一份声明中表示，交付成果可能包括分享相关信息、规划交流和培训，以及组织环境活动和研讨会。

傅海燕表示：“在应对地缘政治不确定性以及各自向低碳、气候适应型和资源高效型经济转型之际，该协议将促进我们两国之间的合作。”

她补充说，日本和新加坡希望在新加坡2027年担任东盟轮值主席国期间密切合作。今年也是日本和新加坡建交60周年。

傅海燕于 9 月 25 日签署的另一项协议是与日本国土交通大臣井林辰典续签的《气候科学与气候适应合作备忘录》。

MSE表示，这将重点关注海岸保护、防洪能力、雨水管理和气象服务。

该合作关系还将为两国之间开展新技术试验铺平道路。

傅海燕表示：“我期待与日本密切合作，在预警系统、气象等领域相互支持，增强我们社会以及更广泛地区的韧性，并在水、粮食和气候适应型基础设施方面开展合作。”

另外，新加坡水务协会海岸保护分会将于 9 月 25 日至 10 月 2 日带领近 40 名来自公共和私营部门的高级代表赴日本进行海外考察。

此次行程将包括参观东京湾的高潮防御设施、南三陆沿海城镇的潮汐和防洪闸系统，以及仙台的多层海岸防御设施和海啸后重建区。

他们还将访问东北大学国际灾害科学研究所等研究机构。

韩国可持续发展与环境大臣傅海燕（左）与日本国土交通大臣井林辰纪签署了气候科学与气候适应合作备忘录。图片来源：韩国可持续发展与环境省

韩国可持续发展与环境大臣傅海燕（左）与日本国土交通大臣井林辰纪签署了气候科学与气候适应合作备忘录。

该协会在9月25日的一份声明中表示，参与者来自政府机构、建筑环境部门、工程和咨询公司、承包商、技术提供商和研究机构。

声明还补充说，为期八天的访问还将包括商务对接会以及与日本工程、技术、研究和产业合作伙伴的交流。

他们还将探索在工程解决方案、创新、智能系统和数字应用方面的合作。

此次行程是在该协会于 2025 年底组织对地势低洼的荷兰进行考察访问之后进行的，目的是帮助当地参与者更多地了解该国的海岸解决方案，并与更成熟的荷兰海岸保护部门建立业务联系。

沙巴娜·贝古姆是《海峡时报》的记者，主要关注环境和科学领域。

环境问题