NGO Joint Statement on G7 on Climate Change and Energy
G7 failed to take leadership to tackle catastrophic climate change
May 27th 2016
Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and SocietyKiko NetworkGreenpeace Japan
Friends of the Earth Japan‘Climate Change and Energy’ was one of the issues on the main agenda for G7 Ise-Shima
Summit, however, the general meeting of G7 treated the issue as very low priority. It wascompletely inappropriate that G7 paid least attention to the greatest threat to humanity. In
particular, the G7 failed to take political leadership on this issue at the first summit following thehistoric Paris Agreement, and missed an opportunity to maintain political momentum gained atthe 2015 G7 summit in Elmau.
Japan is the only country in the G7 to push coal-fired power and is isolated in its position toward
climate change and sustainable energy. As a consequence, minimal attention was paid to climatechange and energy in this communiqué.
Key climate and energy points:
1. Timeline for Paris Agreement to enter into force in 2016:
The G7 reaffirms “the commitments to taking the necessary steps to secure ratification,
acceptance or approval of the agreement as soon as possible and calls on all parties to do sostriving for a goal of entry into force in 2016”→This means the G7 countries agree to lead the ratification process by the end of 2016.
This also requires Japan to accelerate the process to ratify this year.
2. Formulating long-term low GHG emission development strategies well ahead of the2020 deadline:“G7 countries commit to formulating and communicating the formulating long-term low GHG
emission development strategies” which is required by the Paris Agreement. This will ensure G7countries formulate long-term low GHG emission development strategies well ahead of the 2020
deadline, which will also send a strong signal to Japan.

3. No policy on phasing out coal :In order to achieve the 1.5-2C goal, it is imperative to stop constructing new coal-fired power
plants. However, the communiqué did not make any mention of coal power.
4. Investment in upstream development：
It is problematic the G7 encourages investment in upstream development as the Paris
Agreement made it clear that we cannot burn three quarters of remaining fossil fuels in theground.
5. Elimination of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies
It is positive that the G7 outlined a specific timeline to eliminate inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by2025. However, the definition of ‘insufficient’ is vague. G7 must define the term and eliminate all
subsidies as soon as possible.
6. Investment in quality infrastructure：
One of the positive reasons to promote quality infrastructure is to tackle climate change andother related issues. However, the Annex paper “G7 Ise-shima principles for promoting quality
infrastructure investment” does not match the Paris agreement, nor other mitigation plans.
7.Nuclear power as a solution to climate change ：The G7 proposal for nuclear power to contribute to cut GHG emissions is concerning. Nuclear
power is not the solution to climate change. This proposal was included based on the will ofJapanese government and other countries wishing to push nuclear power. It is clear that nuclear
power will never be the big part of energy mix of Japan. Prime Minister Abe uses climate change
as a pretext for achieving his short-sighted manifesto and for pushing dangerous andold-fashioned nuclear technology.

Contact:
JACSES
Yuki TANABE, +81-3-3556-7325, tanabe@jacses.org
Kiko Network
Kimiko HIRATA, +81-3-3263-9210, khirata@kikonet.org
Greenpeace Japan
Hisayo TAKADA, +81-3-5338-9800, hisayo.takada@greenpeace.org
FoE Japan
Ayumi FUKAKUSA, +81-3-6909-5983, fukakusa@foejapan.org