On March 30, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE) released “the Action Plan for Chemical Management to Promote Nature Positive, Ver. 1.0”. In recent years, biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution have emerged as interconnected global challenges. Among them, “pollution caused by chemicals” is recognized as one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss, and the importance of integrated policy responses to these three issues is growing internationally.

Meanwhile, Japan’s chemical management systems have historically focused on protecting human health and preventing environmental pollution. As a result, efforts to comprehensively assess impacts on ecosystem functions and to advance Nature Positive initiatives have been insufficient. Against this backdrop, the MOE outlines policy directions through 2030 from the following six perspectives in this Action Plan.
(Nature Positive: halting biodiversity loss and putting nature on a path to recovery.)

 

1. Research, Studies, and Expanded Monitoring

Japan will promote research on chemicals of concern—such as PFAS and microplastics—by utilizing competitive research funding and other mechanisms. It will also build a foundation for understanding long‑term and multifaceted ecosystem‑level impacts by strategically integrating monitoring of both chemicals and biological systems. This includes the use of new technologies such as environmental DNA (eDNA), which captures genetic information present in water and other environmental media.

 

2. Advancement of Risk Assessment Methods

Japan aims to shift from traditional assessments focused on single substances and single species toward approaches that consider combined exposures and impacts on ecosystem functions across the entire chemical life cycle. Specifically, Japan will gradually examine and introduce tools that complement existing risk assessments, including:

  • Mesocosm tests (semi‑natural outdoor model ecosystems)
  • Species Sensitivity Distributions (SSD)
  • AI‑based in silico prediction
  • New Approach Methods (NAMs) that do not rely on animal testing.

 

3. Review and Revision of Chemical Management Systems

Japan’s chemical management framework is currently implemented through sector‑specific laws such as the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL), the Pesticide Control Act, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act, and the Invasive Alien Species Act. Going forward, stronger cross‑ministerial collaboration will be essential to enable life‑cycle‑based chemical management and ecosystem‑level assessments.

The government will also promote the introduction of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) concepts—minimizing environmental impacts from the design stage of chemicals—and develop mechanisms that encourage information disclosure aligned with frameworks such as the Taskforce on Nature‑related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). These efforts aim to support voluntary initiatives by businesses.

 

4. Strengthening Collaboration and Multi‑Stakeholder Engagement

The plan promotes cooperation among local communities and diverse stakeholders—including the public, local governments, NPOs/NGOs, and businesses—and encourages the dissemination of best practices. It also supports citizen‑participatory monitoring (citizen science), collaborative risk communication tailored to local conditions, the development of cross‑disciplinary experts, and the sharing of best practices for reducing ecosystem burdens in sectors such as agriculture.

 

5. Development and Implementation of Biodiversity Impact Indicators

Japan will develop indicators that visualize the positive effects of chemical management on biodiversity. While referencing and contributing to international indicator frameworks—such as the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC)—Japan also aims to establish systems that incorporate community‑based monitoring as local indicators for evaluating progress.

 

6. Input to International Frameworks and Domestic Plans

Japan will communicate findings and outcomes to domestic and international frameworks at appropriate intervals. This includes providing input to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and various chemical‑management treaties, while also reflecting international discussions in domestic plans such as the National Biodiversity Strategy and the Basic Environment Plan, ensuring continuous policy updates through two‑way feedback.

 

EnviX comment: Future Outlook

The significance of this action plan lies in positioning chemical management not merely as a regulatory tool but as a strategic means to achieve both biodiversity recovery and more sustainable socioeconomic activity. Integrating life‑cycle‑based management with disclosure frameworks such as TNFD can shift environmental action from a “cost” to a source of corporate value creation.

At the same time, challenges remain. Internationally, scientific foundations and indicators for assessing complex ecosystem‑level impacts are still developing, and there is an urgent need to cultivate experts who can bridge communities, science, and policy. As this is the first phase (Ver. 1.0), ongoing revisions are planned based on accumulating scientific knowledge and stakeholder initiatives.

Future progress will require close collaboration among industry, government, academia, and civil society, as well as the practical application of science and technology. Expectations are high for Japan to develop a leading model that balances the functional value of chemicals with the conservation of natural capital.

 

Reference URLs