On the eve of a critical Tokyo 2020 Olympics coordination meeting on October 30-November 1, 27 NGOs from 14 countries issued the following statement urging the Japanese government and Tokyo 2020 corporate sponsors to stop fueling the climate crisis with their support for one of the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions, coal-fired power plants.
NGO Statement:
How to Better Protect Health and Safety at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
As International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020 officials gather for a coordination meeting in Tokyo, safeguarding the health of athletes and fans from heatwaves at next year’s Games will be at the top of the agenda.
While we appreciate these efforts, the extreme weather events threatening the Olympics and communities worldwide will continue to worsen until governments and corporations address one of the root causes of the climate crisis – fossil fuels.
Japan stands out, in particular, as the only G7 country still building new coal-fired power plants both domestically and internationally. Coal is one of the dirtiest fossil fuels and has been responsible for over one-third of the rise in global temperatures to date. The Japanese government’s continuing support for new coal power plants undermines global efforts to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, contravenes UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s call to stop building coal plants after 2020 and far outweighs Tokyo 2020’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and increase the sustainability of next year’s Games.
In 2020, when the Tokyo Olympics takes place, four new coal plants are slated to begin operation in Japan. Over the last 6 months, the Japanese government approved billions in financing for new coal plants in Vietnam and Bangladesh. Further, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Gold sponsors Mizuho, SMBC and Tokio Marine and Nichido are leading financiers and insurers of new coal plants around the world.
We cannot protect human health and safety while the Japanese government and corporations continue fueling the climate crisis with their support for fossil fuels such as coal.
We are inspired by the resilience of communities working together to rebuild and restore their lives in the wake of Typhoons Hagibis and Faxai. We are inspired by the passion of thousands of Japanese youth and adults who participated in the climate strike last month demanding climate action.
We now ask for the political courage of Japanese government and corporate leaders to seriously consider how their coal finance is driving the climate crisis and take immediate action to end their support for coal.
This statement is endorsed by the following 27 organizations (logos).
The Sunrise Project, Australia
Europe Beyond Coal, Belgium
EKOenergy, Finland
Urgewald, Germany
Environics Trust, India
Indian Social Action Forum, India
National Hawkers Federation, India
WALHI, Indonesia
350 Japan, Japan
Greenpeace, Japan
Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society, Japan
Kiko Network, Japan
Campaign for Climate Justice Nepal, Nepal
BankTrack, Netherlands
Both ENDS, Netherlands
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Pakistan
Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development, Philippines
Oriang, Philippines
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, Philippines
Sanlakas, Philippines
Mom Loves Taiwan Association, Taiwan
Friends of the Earth, United States
Oil Change International, United States
350 Vietnam, Vietnam
CHANGE,Vietnam
Green ID, Vietnam
Vietnam Non-communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Alliance, Vietnam
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Contacts:
Susanne Wong, susanne@priceofoil.org
Kimiko Hirata, khirata@kikonet.org