‭June 07, 2024‬‭Climate Integrate‬‭Report of Activities in FY2023‬‭1.‬ ‭Period covered‬‭April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024‬‭2.‬ ‭Purpose‬‭Our purpose is to accelerate policy shifts and actions to protect the climate, through‬‭research, analysis, engagement, and communications, based on an integrated approach to‬‭science, policy, and society.‬‭3.‬ ‭Activities in FY2023‬‭In FY2023, after the G7 Hiroshima Summit, COP28, and other international conferences,‬‭the direction was set for “moving away from fossil fuels” and “tripling renewable energy‬‭and doubling energy efficiency improvements.” Meanwhile, there were some developments‬‭in Japan such as the government's “Green Transformation” (GX) legislation and‬
‭formulation of sector-specific investment strategies as well as the first issuance of‬‭Climate Transition Bonds in February 2024.‬‭Under these circumstances, Climate Integrate, in its second year, added five new staff‬‭members to bring the total ten, and implemented multiple projects while improving the‬‭organizational infrastructure.‬‭Building on our information collection and analysis work, we published four reports,‬‭produced an information booklet, and engaged in dialogue and information sharing with‬‭stakeholders. Our reports and other materials have gained recognition, including coverage‬‭by multiple media outlets, and have been widely shared by investors, NGOs, business‬‭groups, foreign governments, and organizations, thanks to our unique perspective, novel‬‭thematic approach, and analysis. As a climate policy think tank, we have contributed to‬‭stimulating policy discussions “showing the facts” and “conveying the facts.”‬‭ ‬‭1‬‭(1)‬ ‭Research and analysis relating to climate change‬‭Analysis of overall government climate and‬‭energy policy‬‭・‬ ‭Analysis of the government’s Green Transformation (GX) trends‬‭In July 2023, we issued a short web-based Insights article on the GX initiative.‬‭We followed up in January 2024 by publishing a report, “What is GX?”‬‭summarizing issues such as GX’s alignment with the Paris Agreement, continued‬‭dependence on fossil fuels, and greenwashing risk.‬‭・‬ ‭Analysis of government climate and energy-related budgets and GX‬‭investments‬‭For the analysis of the allocation and scale of the government’s climate and‬‭energy-related budget, we identified and categorized climate change mitigation‬‭measures to help readers understand the state of the FY2024 budget.‬‭We also took a close look at the shares and breakdown of GX investments in the‬‭budget amid growing interest in government support through the GX initiative‬‭and compiled the results into a report, “Japan’s Spending Plans for Climate and‬‭Energy” in March 2024, to provide an overall picture.‬‭・‬ ‭Climate solutions for housing and buildings‬‭In October 2023, we published a report, “‬‭Tackling‬‭Climate Change in‬‭Residential and Building Sectors,”‬‭summarizing the‬‭current status of climate‬‭measures in those sectors, plus necessary measures and policies, and the roles of‬‭the national and local governments, companies, and individuals. We also compiled‬‭information sheets on available subsidies and best practices by local‬‭governments.‬‭●‬ ‭Evaluation of corporate measures: Analysis of net zero targets of 10 companies‬‭We conducted an analysis of 10 major Japanese companies in energy-intensive‬‭sectors to understand their goals and measures toward carbon neutrality. We‬‭used publicly available company documents and partnered with the NewClimate‬‭Institute in Germany to apply their “Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor”‬‭methodology. We published the resulting report “Assessing Net Zero: Integrity‬‭Review of 10 Japanese Companies,” in May 2023, assigning a low rank to every‬‭company surveyed.‬‭2‬‭●‬ ‭Sustainable finance‬‭We conducted an analysis of the Japanese government's monetary policy, the‬‭current status of sustainable finance by financial institutions, and a trend‬‭analysis regarding Climate Transition Bonds (the aforementioned “What is GX?”‬‭report covered the Climate Transition Bonds). We also initiated a joint research‬‭project with Kyoto University on engagement by Japanese institutional investors‬‭and presented a report at a September meeting.‬‭●‬ ‭Climate governance‬‭We started work on analyzing the process of formulating Japan’s Seventh‬‭Strategic Energy Plan. The results of the analysis will be published in FY2024.‬‭(2)‬‭Engagement in policy-making relating to climate change‬‭We provided input and held dialogues with policymakers and government officials on‬‭climate and energy policy change at G7 and UN meetings, as well as other‬‭opportunities and in government deliberative processes.‬‭●‬ ‭Government‬‭Hearing for the Offshore Wind Industry Strategy Study Group, the Ministry of‬‭Economy, Trade and Industry (July 7, 2023)‬‭Testimony for the Investigative Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and‬
‭Sustainable Society, House of Councillors (February 21, 2024)‬‭●‬ ‭International and diplomatic relations‬‭Plenary keynote speech at the 12th UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, Geneva,‬‭Switzerland (November 27, 2023)‬‭Overseas governments: Meetings with John Kerry, Special Presidential Envoy for‬
‭Climate (U.S.), Stephen Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change‬‭(Canada), Patrick Graichen, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and‬‭Climate Protection (Germany), Jacob Werksman, Principal Adviser to Director General‬‭for Climate Action, the European Commission, among others.‬‭(3)‬‭Disseminating information on climate change‬‭We provided information through‬‭updating our website,‬‭focusing on key topics in‬‭Insights, holding webinars, and posting on X/Twitter.‬‭3‬‭●‬ ‭Website‬‭We modified the structure, standardized icons, and enhanced the overall design to‬‭make our website accessible.‬‭●‬ ‭Reports and Insights‬‭In addition to the above mentioned reports, we produced blog-style Insights articles‬‭and brochures to reach out in an easy-to-understand manner to a wider audience. For‬
‭each publication, our emphasis was on “conveying the facts.” We produced them with‬‭high design quality and provided all illustrations and other materials as open‬‭resources.‬‭・‬ ‭Insights: 10 highlights for 2023 that are important for climate change‬‭(April‬‭2023)‬‭10 key climate change highlights for 2023 in chronological order. Infographics by‬‭VISUAL THINKING.‬‭・‬ ‭Brochure: Tackling Climate Change in Residential and Building Sectors‬‭（‬‭October‬‭2023)‬‭We made a shorter version (4-page) of the above mentioned 12-page report, for‬‭broader use by the public as it is equally important for local governments and‬‭citizens to deepen understanding and implement measures as policy change‬‭initiated by the national government.‬‭・‬ ‭Insights: Hiroshima G7 Summit 2023 - Analysis of the Communique‬‭(June‬‭2023)‬‭This publication outlined the agreements reached at the Hiroshima G7 Summit‬‭and analyzed Japan's leadership as the presidency.‬‭●‬ ‭Webinars and videos‬‭・‬ ‭Webinar:‬‭Held on the occasion of the release of the‬‭report “Assessing Net Zero:‬‭Integrity Review of 10 Japanese Companies‬‭・‬ ‭Video:‬‭Introductory video and interview video about‬‭an insulation workshop at‬‭Kiyotaki Elementary School in Toyooka City‬‭●‬ ‭X (formerly TWITTER) (April 2023-March 2024)‬‭・‬ ‭In addition to spreading the news about reports by Climate Integrate, our‬‭account served as a reliable bilingual source of views on domestic and‬‭international trends.‬‭4‬‭Followers: 1,928 (as of May 16, 2024)‬‭Total posts: 280‬
‭Total impressions: 332,689‬‭Total engagements: 9,619‬‭Total reposts (without comments): 745‬
‭Total likes: 1,525‬‭Total replies: 209‬
‭Top viewed topics‬‭Top 1 (36,697): Report “Japan’s Spending Plans for Climate and Energy”‬‭Top 2(25,362):‬‭Report“‬‭Tackling Climate Change in‬‭Residential and Building‬‭Sectors”‬‭Top 3 (12,175): Completion of Japanese translation (75 pages) of Lawrence‬‭Berkeley National Laboratory's scenario “2035 Japan Report”‬‭●‬ ‭Others‬‭・‬ ‭Contributed to the bimonthly magazine “Global Warming”: “Reading with Kimiko‬‭Hirata, climate change measures after the Paris Agreement”‬‭・‬ ‭Contributing writer, Japan Times: Hirata contributes Opinion pieces occasionally.‬‭(4)‬‭Dialogue, advice and support for domestic and international stakeholders‬‭We held dialogues, collaborated with and provided support for regional organizations‬‭and local governments.‬‭●‬ ‭Companies and investors‬‭To follow up on our evaluation of 10 companies, we held meetings with them and‬‭provided information to investors.‬‭●‬ ‭Toyooka City/Hidaka-Kannabe Tourist Association‬‭Continuing from the previous fiscal year, we supported climate initiatives of the‬‭Hidaka-Kannabe Tourism Association and Toyooka City. We provided support for the‬‭development of further initiatives through insulation workshops at Kiyotaki‬‭Elementary School, lectures at professional universities. We also supported‬‭developing an “action plan” based on the “Yukimirai 100 Year Declaration,” and‬‭participated in the Toyooka Fan Meeting, meetings with the mayor, and making the‬‭topic the subject of a BS Asahi program “Earth Crisis.”‬‭5‬‭●‬ ‭Hakuba Village, POW Japan, Patagonia‬‭In addition to serving as an instructor for training at the Hakuba Village Office, we‬‭held meetings with the village mayor and other officials to discuss and advise on‬‭further initiatives in Hakuba Village. We collaborated with POW Japan and Patagonia‬‭in various meetings.‬‭●‬ ‭Sakata City‬‭Continuing from last year, we visited Sakata City and met with a wind power‬‭developer and the deputy mayor. We also held a meeting with local governments,‬‭businesses, citizens, and other stakeholders to discuss future energy transition in‬‭the region. We collaborated with Kiko Network to hold a seminar.‬‭●‬ ‭Ichikawa City‬‭We provided support for Ichikawa City's zero-carbon efforts following the‬‭appointment of Kimiko Hirata (Climate Integrate) as environmental policy advisor to‬‭the city in October 2022‬‭●‬ ‭Others‬‭・‬ ‭Lectures, etc.‬‭Universities: The University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Chiba University of‬‭Commerce, University of the Sacred Heart, Takasaki City University of‬‭Economics, Hosei University, Chuo University, Aichi Mizuho College‬‭Municipalities: Sapporo City, Sakata City, Hakuba Village, Ichikawa City,‬‭Katsushika Ward, Bunkyo Ward, Toyooka City‬‭Others: Green Co-op Cooperative Society, Seikatsu Club Consumers’‬‭Co-operative Union, Palsystem Consumers’ Co-operative Union, Tokyo Consumers'‬‭Co-operative Union, POW Japan, Patagonia, Burton, Ethical‬‭k‬‭Association, SDGs‬‭in Sports, NGOs, institutional investor groups‬‭・‬ ‭Interviews, program appearances, etc.‬‭Main programs and papers‬‭The Japan Times：”‬‭It’s time to kick our addiction to‬‭fossil fuels‬‭“ December 14,‬‭2023‬‭BS Asahi: “‬‭Global Crisis - Climate Crisis: The Road‬‭Map to Transformation‬‭“‬‭January 6, 2024‬‭Nikkei Shimbun: “‬‭Compounding Eyes: COP28 1.5 Degree‬‭Targets.‬‭“ October 30,‬‭2023‬‭6‬‭Asahi Shimbun: “‬‭Asahi Earth Conference 2023‬‭“. November 21, 2023‬‭Kobe Shimbun: “‬‭Interview: How do we proceed with CO₂‬‭reduction?‬‭“ March 4,‬‭2024‬‭Amazon Podcast “‬‭Natsuki Yasuda, ‘How critical is the‬‭global environment today‬‭according to IPCC report?‬‭’ “ April 28, 2023‬‭・‬ ‭Comments Published‬‭Domestic and other newspapers‬‭The New York Time‬‭,‬‭The Japan Times‬‭,‬‭Reuters‬‭,‬‭Financial Times, etc.‬‭(5)‬‭Activities incidental or related to preceding items‬‭Strengthened the financial base and built a database to implement the above projects.‬‭7‬