FoE Japan
350.org Japan
Fridays For Future Hiroshima
Research Center for Environmental and Sustainable Society (JACSES)
On the 18th, the day before the G7 Hiroshima Summit, approximately 15 environmental groups from Japan and overseas gathered in Hiroshima City to take action to demand G7 countries, especially Japan, to end their dependence on fossil fuels and strengthen their climate change countermeasures. . In the action, a giant mask imitating Prime Minister Kishida, who depends on coal, and a balloon imitating a gas pipeline are used. Using the common hashtag #JapanLovesDirtyEnergy to criticize Japan’s dependence on fossil fuels, 20 countries including Japan (Japan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Estonia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea) , Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States, Vietnam). Japan’s policy of delaying decarbonization has shown strong opposition from overseas, including the global South.
The climate crisis is getting worse by the minute, and the time left to respond is running out. As the chair country, Japan continues to actively promote the development of fossil fuels, such as coal and gas, which emit large amounts of greenhouse gases. I’m here. To have a 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C, investment in new coal, oil and gas production infrastructure and LNG infrastructure must stop now. Regarding coal, which emits a particularly large amount of emissions, while advanced countries are required to phase out coal by 2030, the G7 Environment Ministers’ Meeting in April did not specify a specific target year for coal phase-out. As the chair country, Japan should listen sincerely to climate science and the opinions of the international community, and commit to phasing out coal-fired power by 2030.
In addition, Japan adheres to the pledge agreed at last year’s G7 summit to “end the government’s new direct international support to the fossil fuel energy sector, which has not taken measures to reduce emissions, by the end of 2022.” We are still actively lending to overseas fossil fuel projects, such as Nippori and new gas projects in Uzbekistan. second largest aboutIt has become a thing.
Furthermore, Japan promotes erroneous climate change measures such as mixed combustion of ammonia, hydrogen, and biomass in thermal power plants and carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) as a means of “decarbonization,” We are promoting financial and technical assistance under the pretext of decarbonization. However, these technologies cannot reduce emissions on the scale required, are costly, and have technical barriers, making them extremely difficult to use on a large scale in the energy sector. Using such uncertain technology as an excuse, Japan is trying to encourage Asian countries to conserve fossil fuels.
The global opposition to Japan’s policy of slowing down decarbonization across Asia is illustrated by some 50 actions taken in 20 countries, including the one in Hiroshima. Prime Minister Kishida, who sells “the ability to listen”, should listen to the opposition from all over the world that was shown in the simultaneous global action and seriously work on moving away from fossil fuels. These voices include not only the suspension of financing for new gas projects, but also the phasing out of coal-fired power by 2030, fossil fuel-dependent technologies such as hydrogen and ammonia co-firing, and opposition to LNG and CCS. increase.
“Japan and the rest of the G7 are in our fight for a fast, fair and just energy transition. We cannot allow it to get in the way and keep us tied to fossil fuels.Investing in new fossil fuel gas means a huge loss for our communities in Asia.”
Lidy Nacpil, Co-coordinator of the Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) and advocate for the Asian Energy Network (AEN)
“If Japan wants to insist that promoting gas is for the sake of energy security and economic development in Asia. However, it is clear that its true purpose is to obsess over fossil fuels and bring other countries along with it.Japanese financial institutions, including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), a public financial institution, have been in a position of , has been the largest gas lender in Southeast Asia.In the Philippines, Japan is keeping us, the Filipinos, away from a rapid energy transition and promoting the Verde Island Strait, the center of biodiversity – our “Amazon of the Sea.” “–By supporting gas and LNG projects in the vicinity, we are involved in ecological destruction. Japan’s promotion of coal in the Philippines and Southeast Asia over the past decade is just outrageous, but it is also a revitalization of us Filipinos.” We will not allow Japan to steal the future of 100% renewable energy by promoting gas.”
Gerry Arances, Executive Director of the Center of Energy, Ecology and Development, an environmental group in the Philippines
“G7 countries that fund international frameworks to support the energy transition, such as the Partnership for Just Energy Transition (JETP), , gas, CCUS, oil and gas refining, co-firing (ammonia, hydrogen, biomass), etc. It should be there to save people and the planet from climate change, not corporate bailouts.The G7 also ensures that people affected by climate change and/or support projects in the energy transition frameworks such as JETP will not be harmed. All JETP projects must be transparent, accountable and inclusive to prevent corruption and misdirected investment.”
Dwi Sawung, Campaign Manager on Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Issues, Indonesia Environment Forum (WALHI/FoE Indonesia)
“Twenty nations will join forces in a global action week to end Japan’s fossil-fuelled energy strategy and expose how Japan’s G7 presidency is fossil fuel-ridden. Prime Minister Kishida is using Japan’s position as G7 presidency to pursue the interests of Japanese companies rather than the health and safety of its citizens and the global environment. and other fossil fuel-related technologies, Prime Minister Kishida and other G7 leaders will end all public funding for fossil fuels and shift investment to renewable energy. We should keep this pledge and make a more in-depth pledge.That is the surest path to peace and security.”
Susanne Wong, Asia Program Manager at Oil Change International
“As Asia has little renewable energy potential, it argues that expanding fossil fuels is a ‘realistic’ way to decarbonize. . However, given that Asian countries, including Japan, have enormous potential for renewable energy, this claim is completely false. Such a selfish and corporate-led decarbonization strategy in Asia is not only irrational in terms of energy security, economic costs, financial risks, and emission reductions, but also isolates Japan itself. As could not be made clearer in action, it exposes Japan to worldwide criticism.”
Daiki Nagata, a development finance and environmental campaigner at the international environmental NGO FoE Japan
“The G7 Hiroshima Summit is a unique opportunity for Prime Minister Kishida to declare a farewell to fossil fuels in order to protect climate and peace. Japan’s addiction to fossil fuels In addition to losing opportunities to create green jobs, improve air pollution, and reduce energy costs, it also means hindering decarbonization in Asia and Africa and contributing to Russia’s war. We must work out a peaceful and just transition to a fossil fuel phase-out and 100% sustainable renewable energy, as our citizens demand, and after the summit, we must start reviewing the Basic Energy Plan and There is an urgent need to consider ambitious emission reduction targets and policy
measure’s.” Iyoda, acting Japan team leader of the international environmental NGO 350.org Japan
“Japan has a penchant for ‘dirty energy’, and it’s clear that they’re trying to push that energy to other G7 countries for the benefit of Japanese companies. Disguising itself as a leader in the changing field and promoting a “green transformation”, it only claims dirty technology that only prolongs the life of fossil fuel infrastructure is “green.” Japan is turning to woody biomass for power generation. which is destroying North America’s native forests and putting wildlife populations at risk.Worse, Japan’s policies “lock other Asian nations into erroneous climate action.” In “- It makes us addicted. It’s time for Japan to end its honeymoon with ‘dirty energy’.”
Mighty Earth’s Japan representative Roger Smith
For more information:
International Environmental NGO FoE Japan, Fukakusa: fukakusa@foejapan.org
International Environmental NGO FoE Japan, Nasada: osada@foejapan.org
Oil Change International, Shibata: tomomi@priceofoil.org