Abstract

Latest Trends and Future Policy Direction for Green Infrastructure

Daiichiro TAKEUCHI

Environmental Policy Division, Policy Bureau
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Government of Japan

 A decade has passed since the term "Green Infrastructure" was first formally integrated into Japanese government policy within the "Second National Spatial Strategy" (Cabinet decision, August 14, 2015). The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) formulated the "Green Infrastructure Promotion Strategy" in 2019, followed by the "Green Infrastructure Promotion Strategy 2023," actively advancing initiatives through public-private partnerships. Recently, on January 23, 2026, MLIT formulated and published the new "Green Infrastructure Promotion Strategy 2030," which spans the period until fiscal year 2030. This new strategy is explicitly positioned as an implementation plan for the "MLIT Environmental Action Plan," established in June 2025. The new strategy defines a shared vision for both public and private stakeholders: to realize a "society where the utilization of green infrastructure is commonplace" by 2030, and ultimately to achieve a "society in harmony with nature" by 2050. In this presentation, I will outline the key points and framework of the "Green Infrastructure Promotion Strategy 2030" along with related initiatives. Furthermore, I will provide an overview of "GREEN×EXPO 2027," scheduled to commence next March, and discuss its strategic relationship with green infrastructure.

(Translated by Naoto Kamata with support by Gemini)