Hosted by Toyama Prefecture, Japan, the 15^th meeting of the NEAR Subcommittee on Environment was held online on November 17, with 14 member regions from five countries present, including China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, and Russia. In addition, there were reports on the outcomes of individual projects for 2021, and suggestions for individual projects for 2022 were made.

More than ten staff from the NEAR Secretariat, including Secretary-General Kim Ok-chae, participated. In his speech, Mr. Kim stated that since it was established in 1999, the Subcommittee on Environment has been an exemplary platform for exchange and cooperation, bringing about participation from many member regions.

Mr. Kim also said that the Secretariat had been making efforts, such as applying for the Asian Environmental Awards which are co-hosted by Korean and Japanese press companies, to make the activities of the Subcommittee on Environment known to Northeast Asia widely so that it can encourage more member regions to participate.