Tokyo-NbS Action Award 2026 Now Accepting Applications for Innovative Nature-Based Solutions

Tokyo-NbS Action Award 2026

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is excited to announce the opening of applications for the third Tokyo-NbS Action Award, which honors organizations making outstanding contributions through Nature-based Solutions (NbS). The application period will run from September 10 to October 30, 2026. This initiative is part of Tokyo's broader commitment to biodiversity and aims to promote a nature-positive society by 2030.

As the world accelerates towards achieving nature-positive goals, Tokyo has revised its Biodiversity Regional Strategy as of April 2023. This strategy emphasizes the urgent need for natural solutions to address various societal challenges, including climate change and natural disasters. The Tokyo-NbS Action Award encourages broad participation and engagement from local businesses, with an aim to showcase effective NbS practices.

Application Details

The Tokyo-NbS Action Award invites applications from companies, municipal governments, research institutions, and certain non-profits with operations in Tokyo. Applicants should demonstrate initiatives where ecosystem functions are leveraged to contribute to both human well-being and biodiversity.

Award Categories

There are two main categories:
1. Large Corporations Category
2. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Category

Each category will have a Grand Prize (one award per section) and Excellence Awards (two awards per section), expanding upon last year's recognitions. This structure aims to discover and promote exceptional NbS initiatives within Tokyo and further enhance their establishment and visibility.

Timeline

- Application Period: September 10, 2026 - October 30, 2026
- Judging Phase: November - December (including a preliminary document review followed by a final presentation review)
- Awards Ceremony: Late January 2027

For more detailed application guidelines, please visit the Tokyo Environmental Bureau’s official website.

Benefits for Award Winners

Award winners will receive significant recognition, including:

- Promotional Video and PR Article: The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will create a video and PR article featuring the awardee's initiatives, which will be published on their official site.
- Online Awards Ceremony: The award ceremony will be streamed online, with an archive available for later viewing, allowing for greater exposure of the winners' efforts.

Previous Award Recipients

Last year's notable winners included:

- Grand Prize (Large Corporations Category): Shimizu Corporation for their “Rebirth Forest” initiative to enhance ecosystem recovery.
- Grand Prize (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Category): Tokyo Chainsaws for their project aimed at maximizing forest value, targeting 100-year-old trees.

Additionally, the Excellence Awards went to:

- Mitsubishi Estate Residence and their Bionet Initiative.
- Pal System Tokyo for their efforts in satoyama conservation and restoration.

For detailed insights into last year's awardees’ projects, visit the Tokyo Environmental Bureau’s website here.

The Importance of NbS

NbS encompasses various approaches to utilizing nature's capabilities sustainably, contributing to the resolution of diverse societal issues. This includes the management and maintenance of corporate greenspaces, conservation of forests and satoyama landscapes, biodiversity-conscious real estate development, and community-linked environmental activities. These initiatives support not only biodiversity conservation but also regional revitalization while enhancing corporate value.

Future Vision

Tokyo has set a foundational plan for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use as part of its local strategy. The goal is to put biodiversity back on track by achieving nature-positive outcomes by 2030. For further details on this strategy, refer to the Tokyo Biodiversity Regional Strategy.