Wave of Change

A wave of change is halting the construction of coal plants worldwide as the Japanese government continues to swim against the tide with plans to build two new dirty coal plants in Bangladesh and Indonesia. All coal plants need to be retired by 2040 to achieve the global emissions reductions necessary to avert crisis.

With a new Prime Minister taking office this October, all eyes are on Japan to demonstrate the seriousness of its climate commitments. Japan needs to abide by the G7 leaders’ statement, a commitment from this June to end direct investment in new coal plants. Now is Japan’s chance to shift to clean energy and align its investments with the nation’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Send a message to the Japanese government to end its overseas investments in fossil fuel infrastructure:

MATARBARI, BANGLADESH

Japan is currently conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the 1200 MW Matarbari 2 coal power plant in Bangladesh (Units 3 & 4) and would then consider it for funding. This power plant would be built next to the under-construction 1200 MW Matarbari 1 coal plant (Units 1 & 2). It has attracted extensive opposition in Bangladesh and globally for its massive cost overruns and delays, projected high emissions of toxic pollutants including PM 2.5 and mercury, and for harming the livelihoods of local farmers and fishermen. The Matarbari 1 plant recently faced an injunction by the Bangladesh High Court for the illegal filling of the Kohelia river connected with the construction and advocates called for a halt to JICA loans for the project as it cannot fund projects that violate local laws.

Japan should not double-down on the failure of the Matarbari 1 project by building a second coal power plant. Japan should instead support Bangladesh’s transition to clean energy consistent with Bangladesh’s role as chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum.

INDRAMAYU, INDONESIA

The Japanese government is in the planning phase for the 1000 MW expansion of a coal power plant in Indramayu, West Java, Indonesia. Local advocates note that the project is a relic of another era as the Java-Bali electrical grid now has excess power supply, rendering it unnecessary. It puts the health of local residents at risk as it will not be equipped with state of the art pollution controls, and is projected to emit excessive amounts of SOx, NOx and PM 2.5. Also there have been serious violations of human rights including the imprisonment of residents who protested the taking of farmlands. Now is the time to help Indonesia exit coal, not lock the country into high CO2 emissions for decades to come.

A wave of change is sweeping the world, it’s time for Japan to go with the flow and leave fossil fuels behind!

Indramayu. Credit: WALHI West Java

Click below to tweet at the Japanese government:

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The wave of change is here. @JPN_PMO @MofaJapan_en @jica_direct_en @METI_JPN: Time to ride the tide with renewables, and stop destroying #Bangladesh and #Indonesia with dirty fossil fuels #Indramayu #Matarbari #PreCOP26 #COP26.

Japan must ride the wave of change and shift out of coal power. @JPN_PMO @MofaJapan_en @jica_direct_en @METI_JPN: Don’t fund #Indramayu and #Matarbari.

Ahead of global leaders meeting at #COP26, Japan must shift the flow of finance from coal and fossil fuels to renewables. @JPN_PMO @MofaJapan_en @jica_direct_en @METI_JPN: Announce that you won’t fund #Indramayu and #Matarbari coal projects.

The tide is shifting from fossil fuels, while Japan is still backing dirty coal projects in Indonesia and Bangladesh. @JPN_PMO @MofaJapan_en @jica_direct_en @METI_JPN: funding #Indramayu and #Matarbari at #PreCOP26 and risk being left behind.

Global communities are calling on Japan to stop the wave of coal from crashing on climate vulnerable people of #Bangladesh and #Indonesia. @JPN_PMO @MofaJapan_en @jica_direct_en @METI_JPN must end fossil fuel funding.

@JPN_PMO @MofaJapan_en @jica_direct_en @METI_JPN Japan is fuelling the climate crisis by funding fossil fuels. Ahead of global leaders meeting at #COP26, Japan must announce an end to funding coal projects like #Indramayu and #Matarbari 2.

@JPN_PMO @MofaJapan_en @jica_direct_en @METI_JPN: Global leaders are working towards achieving the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. Why is Japan still funding dirty coal, risking its reputation ahead of #COP26?

There’s nothing respectable about funding dirty coal projects that wreck our climate and collective future, @JPN_PMO @MofaJapan_en @jica_direct_en @METI_JPN. Time to clean up your act at #PreCOP26 and announce that Japan is out of #Indramayu and #Matarbari 2 coal projects