Yokohama Takes Its Circular-Cities Network to New York and Invites Global Business to Circular Week 2027

TOKYO, Japan, October 2, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- The City of Yokohama brought its circular economy agenda to New York on Sept. 25, gathering approximately 230 participants, including government leaders, investors, corporations and startups, at the Global Forum on Circular Economy and Urban Resilience during Climate Week NYC. The forum came weeks after the Asian Circular Cities Declaration (ACCD), the network launched in 2025, grew from 26 cities in seven countries to 43 cities in 11 countries, representing more than 82 million people, at the first Asia-Pacific Circular Cities (APCC) Forum in Yokohama.

From Pledge to Plan

Yokohama was involved in proposing and launching the ACCD together with ICLEI Japan, which serves as its secretariat, and was its first signatory. At the APCC Forum on Sept. 4, the network released its first action plan, "ACCD Action 2026," built around three working groups: Good Practices, Solution Matching and Co-creation, and Progress Management. The Good Practices group aims to publish 50 case studies by 2027.

The network grew out of a platform Yokohama has run for more than a decade. The city has hosted the Asia Smart City Conference 14 times since 2012, and the inaugural APCC Forum brought together 52 municipalities and organizations, with more than 1,000 participants. Speaking in New York, Tomomi Yamashita, Director General for Global Initiatives at the City of Yokohama's Policy Administration and International Affairs Bureau, said cities are being asked to move toward a circular economy and need a place to learn from one another. The APCC Forum will now be held every year, she said.

Why New York

Yokohama chose New York, Ms. Yamashita said, because the city brings together businesses, cities and global institutions from around the world, giving Yokohama a way to take its Asian network to a global stage.

Speakers from outside the city reinforced the point from different directions. Jibran Ahmed of the World Economic Forum's Center for Urban Transformation told attendees that the gap between promising circular solutions and widespread adoption in cities is often "a coordination gap rather than a technology gap," and described the city as both a "launch pad" and a "landing pad" for new solutions. Nicole Spina of the New York City Economic Development Corporation described how New York now applies circular construction guidelines across all city capital projects.

Scale was another theme. Durgesh Patel, who leads AI at Hitachi, said the real test is what happens after the pilot: "You might have the best technology and all the capital in the world, but if you can't implement from first project to hundredth project, nothing will scale."

Yokohama says it is ready to help close that gap. The city recovers phosphorus from sewage sludge for fertilizer, upcycles old flooring into furniture, and maps resource flows in its city center. It has also set its own targets: a 50% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by fiscal 2030 from fiscal 2013 levels and net-zero by 2050, and its Mid-term Plan 2026-2029 makes the circular transition a priority through the "Yokohama Circular Link" initiative.

"Yokohama is a global gateway connecting companies and partners with circular economy opportunities across Asia and around the world," Ms. Yamashita said. "It brings together policy leaders, businesses and innovators to turn ideas into action. This role is built on Yokohama's long history of tackling urban challenges and creating practical solutions."

That gateway role extends beyond one forum. At the Business Innovation Forum on the same day, six climate-tech startups presented to potential Japanese partners. Yokohama's Matching Program, which connects startups with Japanese partners, has seen applications grow from 45 in its first cohort to 76 this year and its investor network from about 50 to more than 120, and has led to more than 10 pilot projects. A follow-up event on commercialization is set for Oct. 6 in Palo Alto during San Francisco Tech Week.

Yokohama-connected companies also took part. Chiyoda Corporation, a Yokohama-based engineering company, and Sun Metalon, which uses microwave technology to turn machining scrap into traceable, high-value metal, spoke alongside other corporate and startup leaders. The Bank of Yokohama sponsored the forum, and ShibuLA Ventures, which has a subsidiary in Yokohama, served as a partner. Mauritania's Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development also attended and delivered special remarks.

Closing the forum, Satoshi Katahira, Consul General of Japan in New York, said Yokohama "is demonstrating how the city can make real global impact." He added that circular economy and urban resilience help answer economic and strategic challenges, including critical minerals, resource security and resilient supply chains, and invited attendees to Yokohama.

The Invitation: Yokohama Circular Week 2027

For Yokohama, New York is the preview. The main event follows in 2027.

Yokohama Circular Week, scheduled for Aug. 30 to Sept. 3, 2027, at Pacifico Yokohama, will bring several gatherings into one week during GREEN×EXPO 2027, which runs in Yokohama from March to Sept. 2027 and will feature more than 10 million flowers and plants. The week will include the second APCC Forum, the ninth Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (APUF-9), co-hosted with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the first held in Japan, and a major international exhibition on the circular economy where about 350 exhibitors and 30,000 participants are expected. The city plans to make the exhibition an annual platform.

The week is open to cities, international organizations and businesses. Ms. Yamashita said Yokohama warmly invites U.S. cities to take part, and companies interested in the initiatives are encouraged to contact the Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the Americas.

"For Yokohama, 2027 will be a major milestone, bringing together GREEN×EXPO 2027, the APCC Forum and major circular economy events," Ms. Yamashita said. "That momentum can lead to new partnerships, projects and action well beyond 2027."

The next step is a shared library of 50 good-practice case studies for other cities to learn from. To learn more, visit the Yokohama Circular Week 2027, GREEN×EXPO 2027, and Asia-Pacific Circular Cities Forum 2026 pages.

About City of Yokohama

Yokohama is an international port city in Japan with a long record of city-to-city cooperation. It was designated a UN Peace Messenger City in 1987, has shared its urban expertise with cities abroad through technical cooperation since the 1960s, and maintains overseas offices in New York, Frankfurt, Shanghai and Bangkok. The city was involved in launching the Asian Circular Cities Declaration with ICLEI Japan and will host Yokohama Circular Week in 2027. To learn more, visit businessyokohama.com.

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Amanda Lauener
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