Oketo Town, Hokkaido and Stellar Green Sign Partnership Agreement for Carbon Neutrality

Oketo Town, Hokkaido (Mayor: Masami Fukagawa, hereinafter "Oketo Town") and Stellar Green Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Akinori Nakamura, hereinafter "Stellar Green"), which develops support projects for the creation of forest carbon credits, signed a "Partnership Agreement for the Realization of Carbon Neutrality" on Friday, June 12, 2026.

Left: Oketo Town Mayor Masami Fukagawa Right: Stellar Green CEO Akinori Nakamura

Through this partnership agreement, Oketo Town will work towards the realization of carbon neutrality and sustainable town development by promoting the visualization and valuation of its forest resources. In the future, the town plans to engage in a wide range of activities, including the creation of forest carbon credits and the utilization of local resources.

■ Overview of the Partnership Agreement

1. Date of Agreement
Friday, June 12, 2026

2. Purpose
To promote initiatives towards the realization of carbon neutrality and sustainable town development in Oketo Town through collaboration between Oketo Town and Stellar Green.

3. Matters of Cooperation
(1) Matters related to initiatives for the realization of a decarbonized society
(2) Matters related to projects for the creation of forest carbon credits
(3) Promotion of sustainable primary industries
(4) Utilization of regional resources and promotion of related businesses
(5) Other matters related to regional revitalization

■ Background of the Partnership Agreement

Oketo Town has been systematically working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its public facilities based on the "Oketo Town Global Warming Countermeasures Execution Plan" formulated in 2011.

The "2nd Oketo Town Global Warming Countermeasures Execution Plan," formulated in 2017, sets a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by fiscal year 2030, using fiscal year 2014 as the base year. The town is working on reducing greenhouse gas emissions within its area and promoting the introduction of renewable energy.

On the other hand, in light of the increasing severity of natural disasters associated with climate change worldwide in recent years, Oketo Town has declared itself a "Zero Carbon City," aiming to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

Against this backdrop, Oketo Town has entered into this partnership agreement to collaborate with Stellar Green, which possesses expertise and a track record in valuing forests, and to advance initiatives that link the value of forest resources to economic value.

■ Comments from the Mayor of Oketo Town

Masami Fukagawa, Mayor of Oketo Town, Hokkaido

Our town is a "Town of Greenery and Clear Streams" with abundant forests and clear rivers. We are greatly encouraged to have signed this partnership agreement with Stellar Green Co., Ltd., which has expertise in carbon credits. Through this project, we will convert our town's treasure, its forest resources, into economic value and accelerate sustainable town development. We will create the future of Oketo Town through public-private collaboration towards the realization of a Zero Carbon City by 2050.

■ Comments from the Representative of Stellar Green

Akinori Nakamura, President and CEO, Stellar Green Co., Ltd.

We have entered into this partnership agreement to further advance town development that utilizes Oketo Town's attractive regional and natural resources and returns their value to the community, through our core business of carbon credits. We will continue to strive to contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality in Oketo Town and to the sustainable town development of Oketo Town and Hokkaido.

■ About Oketo Town, Hokkaido

Oketo Town is a "Town of Greenery and Clear Streams" boasting vast forests that cover about 80% of its area and the Tokoro River, which flows through the town and empties into the Sea of Okhotsk. Amidst the extreme temperature differences between summer and winter, primary industries such as forestry, agriculture, and dairy farming support the town's economy. The warm wooden crafts brand "Oketcraft," which utilizes the region's abundant trees, has a strong following nationwide, with bases conveying the artisans' skills scattered throughout the town. Visitors can also enjoy the rich nature, including the "Oketo Katsuyama Onsen Yuuyu" with its free-flowing hot spring water, the "Oketo Lake" with its mysteriously beautiful scenery, and the "Niji no Taki" waterfall. Every summer, the traditional "Oketo Summer Festival and Human Banzai Competition," where people pull sleds, fills the entire town with vitality.

Oketo Town: https://www.town.oketo.hokkaido.jp/

■ About Stellar Green Co., Ltd.

Stellar Green's management philosophy is "A Shining Path for the Value of Nature." The company aims to build sustainable local communities by conserving biodiversity and transforming regional natural resources into valuable assets using the latest technology.

Stellar Green provides a one-stop service for forest carbon credit generation and sales on a success-fee basis. The company also handles the collection of forest data and the preparation of application documents, which require specialized expertise, and supports the process of converting environmental value into economic value from multiple angles.

Stellar Green Co., Ltd.: https://www.stellargreen.co.jp

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