Japan Climate Fund Established to Support the Spread of Agri-Photovoltaics for Sustainable Communities, First Call for Applications Now Open

Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Public Resource Center (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Takeshi Kusumi) today announced the establishment of the "Japan Climate Fund." This fund supports the promotion of agri-photovoltaics (solar sharing) led by farmers and communities, and was established with a grant from Tara Climate Foundation (Headquarters: Singapore; Representative: Jamie Choi), a foundation dedicated to the transition to clean energy in Asia.

As its first grant program, the fund will implement the "Solar Sharing Grant to Connect Agriculture and the Future," with applications opening today, July 6, 2026. Farmers across Japan are facing various impacts from climate change, including reduced harvests and the need to alter agricultural plans. Agri-photovoltaics, when appropriately introduced and operated based on farmers' knowledge and needs, can simultaneously produce crops and renewable energy, contributing to the stabilization of agricultural income and the spread of renewable energy. The Japan Climate Fund will support community-based initiatives such as awareness-raising, human resource development, and the establishment of regional collaboration frameworks to promote agri-photovoltaics.

Sachiko Kishimoto, Co-Representative of Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Public Resource Center, stated, "Farmers are the ones most directly affected by climate change. The Japan Climate Fund aims to support solutions born from local communities. Through supporting farmers and local communities via agri-photovoltaics, we aim to stabilize agricultural income and promote renewable energy."

The Japan Climate Fund plans to expand its grant-making in the climate change field through collaboration with a wide range of partners. Tara Climate Foundation's grant serves as the foundation's base, and the fund will also invite participation from domestic grant-making foundations and donors.

Junichi Sato, East Asia Program Director at Tara Climate Foundation, commented, "We believe that excellent climate change measures are those whose benefits reach local people effectively. We are delighted to be able to support organizations and local communities promoting this initiative alongside the Public Resource Center. We hope this grant will be the first step in spreading the value of agri-photovoltaics to farmers and local communities."

▼ Special Fund Website URL: https://www.public.or.jp/project/f0185

[Program Objectives]

This program aims to achieve the following by supporting initiatives that contribute to the spread of agri-photovoltaics:

Enhance the resilience of farmers and their local communities to climate change.

Stabilize agricultural management and improve the sustainability of local economies.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the spread of renewable energy.

[Program Support Areas]

Applications will be accepted for initiatives that meet both of the following criteria and contribute to the spread of agri-photovoltaics. For specific examples of activities, please visit the special website above. - Contribute to enhancing the resilience of farmers and their local communities to climate change. - Contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the spread of renewable energy. *Projects that include the following will not be eligible: Those involving environmental destruction such as deforestation. Those solely for research and development of unproven technologies. Those whose primary purpose is the purchase or installation of solar panels.

[Application Overview]

Eligible Applicants: Non-profit organizations such as NPOs (Non-Profit Organizations), general incorporated associations with non-profit status, social welfare corporations, and public interest corporations, for activities in the support areas mentioned above. Also eligible are for-profit corporations aiming to solve social issues, for activities in the support areas mentioned above.

Total Fund Amount: Up to 20 million yen (up to 10 million yen per organization)

Support Period: One year from November 2026

Selection Method: Applicants from eligible non-profit and for-profit organizations will be selected through a review process.

Application Period: July 6, 2026 (Mon) - August 19, 2026 (Wed) until 5:00 PM

*The Japan Climate Fund also aims to expand donations and grant activities in the climate change field. We are seeking donors and foundations who wish to participate in grant-making activities in the climate change field as donors to this fund.

<Reference Information>

Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Public Resource Center (https://www.public.or.jp/)

Established in 2000 as the non-profit think tank NPO Public Resource Center, it has engaged in strengthening the management of non-profit organizations, evaluating corporate social performance related to SRI (Socially Responsible Investment), supporting CSR promotion, and promoting donations including online giving. In January 2013, based on its achievements and accumulated experience, it was relaunched as the "Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Public Resource Center," a specialized organization for promoting donations to connect the financial resources of individuals and corporations with social projects to realize people's aspirations to "help someone." With the mission of "Changing society through purposeful donations," it works to create donation systems that enrich lives and pave the way for the future, offering various donation methods such as thematic funds, original funds©︎, and bequests.

Tara Climate Foundation (https://www.nomura.com/jp) Tara Climate Foundation is a philanthropic foundation working on climate change solutions from Asia. Established in 2021 and headquartered in Singapore, its mission is to accelerate the just energy transition in Asia and realize a sustainable and vibrant future. It supports approximately 400 partners, including think tanks, research institutions, advisory organizations, and industry associations, across 12 countries and regions in Asia. In addition to providing grants, it also works to foster stakeholder networks and promote knowledge sharing. Through these activities, it promotes the spread of clean energy, the decarbonization of industry, and an energy transition centered on people. It also focuses on sustainable finance, achieving climate goals, and improving alignment with corporate climate action.