Tokyo Energy Transition Forum &The 5th ISETS Energy Transition Forum
Tokai University (Faculty of Policy Science and Economics; School of Global Studies; TOKAI
Research Institute for Environment and Sustainability (TRIES)); The University of Kitakyushu;
The International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS)
Oct 14, 2022

The forum started with the welcoming remarks of Prof. Naoto Yoshikawa, Vice Chancellor for
Global Initiatives, Tokai University, Japan Professor, School of Global Studies. And Prof.
Xunpeng (Roc) Shi, Professor, University of Technology Sydney; Australia; President of The
International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS).
The forum had two keynote speeches and seven presentations, and discussions.
In the first keynote speech, Prof. Kazuo Matsushita highlighted that the climate crisis is a humanrights crisis, especially the "crisis of children's rights. For Decarbonization" and fossil-freesocieties, specific climate change countermeasures are required which are not only beneficial forthe environment but also for energy security.
In the second keynote speech, Prof. Naoyuki Yoshino highlighted the role of fiscal policy andoptimal portfolio allocation for achieving carbon neutrality. He stressed the importance ofdeveloping a global green credit rating system and global carbon taxation system to avoid
distortion of investments in sustainability projects.
Session 1, had three presentations.
In the first presentation, Prof. Youngho Chang’s presented the opportunities and challenges oftransition to net zero in developing Asia. He proposed that It is necessary to develop new businessmodes to accommodate new consumers’ behavior in delivering zero carbon assets in homes andbusinesses.
In the 2nd presentation, Prof. Jinjun Xue presented on the Russia-Ukraine war, the energy crisis,and political and geographical reconstruction. He mentioned that the war is changing thegeopolitics of energy and raised concerns on (1) environmental pollution, (2) carbon emissions,(3) timetable and pathway of carbon neutrality, and (4) international cooperation on energy andclimate.

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In the 3rd presentation, Dr. Yuki Kudoh presented the role of novel technologies in achievingcarbon neutrality. Both the significant reduction of CO2 and the introduction of negative emission
technologies are indispensable. According to his presentation, Further innovations are required toachieve carbon neutrality with economic feasibility, and discussions are needed on ensuring thecompetitiveness of industries and necessary costs.
The 2nd session, had four presentations.
In the 1st presentation, Prof. Masashi Yamamoto presented on the role of waste-to-energy inachieving carbon neutrality. Waste-to-energy plants burn municipal solid waste to produce steam
in a boiler that is used to generate electricity. He mentioned that waste-to-energy remains to be an
important tool to minimize social costs (CO2 emissions + material recovery).
The 2nd presentation was by Prof. Gazi Salah Uddin on the impact of the clean energy transition
on growth, environment, and welfare in Bangladesh. His empirical study showed that solar energy
helped rural males engage in non-farm activities such as trading businesses and females in poultry
farming. These income-generating activities create opportunities for more expenses in food andnon-food expenditure and asset formation.
In the 3rd presentation, Dr. Daniel del Barrio Alvarez assessed the role of power connectivity inthe energy transition and sustainability. Power connectivity can bring energy security, economiesof scale, and political cooperation. He added that power connectivity could increase the resilienceof national electricity systems. However, the underlying rationale for the success (or not) of power
connectivity initiatives is not simple, as it involves various disciplines and requires more research.
In the final presentation, Dr. Gagan Deep Sharma, underlines the impact of energy poverty onsocial change and well-being. Energy poverty impacts the citizens' quality of life, work ethic, andpersonal life. It can impede society's growth, and policymakers need to pay special attention to it.
The forum was co-hosted by Prof. Satoshi Honma (Tokai University, Japan), Dr. Farhad
Taghizadeh-Hesary (Tokai University, Japan) and Prof. Yoshiaki Ushifusa (The University ofKitakyushu, Japan) and was sponsored by KAKENHI (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)No. 22H03816.

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