JRAIA Hosts Side Event at OEWG47 – Showcasing Japan’s Government and Industry Efforts Toward Carbon Neutrality by 2050 –
印刷No.707 2025年9月
We are pleased to report that our association hosted a side event on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, during OEWG47 (the 47th Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol), which was held in Bangkok, Thailand.
At the 47th Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG47) held in 2025, the Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association (JRAIA) hosted a side event to promote Japan’s governmental and industrial initiatives aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 to the international community.
Photo 1: Presenters at the JRAIA Side Event
Opening Remarks by JRAIA
The session began with remarks by Mr. Hatano of JRAIA, who outlined the association’s mission and guiding policies. He also presented the Japanese industry's position on environmental policy, key considerations in refrigerant transition, and the importance of a holistic approach toward carbon neutrality.
Policy Presentations from METI and MOE
Mr. Yamada, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), provided an overview of Japan’s regulatory measures to reduce HFC emissions. These included the allocation system under the Ozone Layer Protection Law, the Top Runner Program, countermeasures for refrigerant leakage and destruction, and the outline of a low-GWP refrigerant development project.
Mr. Iseki, Deputy Director at the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), followed with a presentation on Japan’s current status in reducing HFC emissions. He highlighted emission rates by equipment lifecycle stage, reduction forecasts, and comprehensive strategies to minimize emissions throughout the product life cycle.
JRAIA’s Industry Initiatives
Concluding the event, Mr. Yamanaka, Chair of JRAIA’s Global Committee, presented the industry's efforts in response to Japan’s HFC reduction policies. These include the development of alternative refrigerants, prevention of leakage, and promotion of refrigerant recovery and reclamation.
Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of HFC reclamation, with a target to reach a 30% reclamation rate by 2029.
Circular use of high-GWP refrigerants was also emphasized as a key issue from the perspective of a circular economy. The standardization of refrigerant recovery modes for VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) systems is expected to further support reclamation efforts.
Mr. Yamanaka underscored that achieving the Kigali Amendment targets will require collaboration between government, industry, and academia based on the “S+3E” principles: Safety, Environment, Energy efficiency, and Economy.
She called for cooperation among all stakeholders in selecting refrigerants and promoting recovery, stressing the need to evaluate not only GWP but also safety, energy performance, and equipment scale from a full life-cycle perspective.
Strong International Interest
Approximately 40 ozone officers and industry stakeholders from various countries participated in the event. Active engagement in the Q&A session reflected the high level of international interest in Japan’s comprehensive initiatives.
Photo 2: Overview of the Venue
For more details, please refer to the presentation materials here.
At the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Montreal Protocol, organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), countries engage in ongoing discussions not only to protect the ozone layer but also to reduce HFC emissions.
Prior to the MOP, a preparatory meeting—the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG)—is held, where government representatives, including officers from the National Ozone Units (NOUs) of each country, gather to conduct preliminary consultations.
This year, the meeting was held from July 7 to July 11, with approximately 500 participants—including NOU officers from various countries and industry representatives—attending the five-day event.
The discussions from this meeting are expected to be further considered at MOP37, scheduled to be held in November this year.
