Asian communities are rejecting Japan's dirty gas expansion and fossil fuel-based technologies.
©350 Indonesia
Japan is derailing Southeast Asia’s energy transition by promoting fossil fuel reliance and prioritizing corporate interests over a just, equitable, and swift energy transition.
As the world’s largest provider of international public finance for gas and the world’s top funder of LNG export terminals, Japan is working to create more gas demand in Asia to grow and maintain its influence in international markets.
Our collective vision for Asia includes an accessible, clean, and just energy system based on renewable energy over fossil fuels.
©PMCJ
Japan's dirty energy plans for Asia
Through initiatives such as the “Asia Energy Transition Initiative (AETI)” and the “Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC),” Japan is leading Asia away from its climate targets. These initiatives involve partnerships with corporations such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, IHI, and INPEX that advance gas development and fossil fuel-based technologies in Asia.
©Basilio Sepe for CEED
Indonesia
The Japan International Cooperation Agency commissioned Japan’s biggest gas companies and utilities to develop Indonesia’s roadmap to decarbonize its power sector. This roadmap proposes biomass and ammonia co-firing at coal-fired power plants as priority areas for support, and deems ammonia, hydrogen, and LNG (with carbon capture and storage) “desirable” as main fuels. It stresses the importance of securing technologies from Japanese corporations.
©Mokhamad Edliadi/CIFOR/flickr
The Philippines
The Batangas region in the Philippines is slated for a massive LNG buildout, including 8 new gas plants and 8 planned LNG terminals. This development threatens the Verde Island Passage in Batangas, a biodiversity hotspot that provides over two million people with food and other benefits. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation is a shareholder of AG&P, which just developed the Philippines’ first LNG import terminal in the region.
©Jilson Tiu for CEED
ASEAN needs renewables, not fossil fuels
Japan’s initiatives for Asia promote gas and fossil fuel-based technologies such as co-firing ammonia with coal, blending hydrogen with gas, burning biomass with coal, and carbon capture and storage (CCS). Experts say these technologies prolong the use of coal-fired power plants and reliance on gas while their actual emissions reduction capabilities are very limited.
In 2021, solar and wind generated only 4% of the ASEAN’s 5 major countries’ (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam) electricity. The International Energy Agency (IEA) says that share needs to increase to 23% by 2030 for the countries to meet their net-zero targets by 2050.
During the ASEAN Jakarta Summit held in September this year, activists organized actions in 10 countries across Asia calling for ASEAN leaders to reject Japan’s false solutions and to scale up wind and solar in Southeast Asia.
©Selamat Made/flickr
Japan will face increasing opposition across Asia until it shifts its support from fossil fuels to solar and wind. The IEA says tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 is the world’s best shot at 1.5C.
©APMDD
©350 Japan
Before the Summit convenes in Tokyo on December 16-18, communities across Asia are standing up to reject Japan’s dirty energy strategy.
Register here to join the action in Tokyo
Japan: Stop derailing Asia’s energy transition and shift your support to renewable energy.
News coverage
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How Japan’s renewable underestimates are impacting Asia’s energy transition
The Japan Times
Dec 3, 2023 -
‘Not Reduce. Not Abate’: UN Chief Calls for Total Fossil Fuel Phaseout at COP28
Common Dreams
Dec 1, 2023 -
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