‭June 7, 2024‬‭Climate Integrate‬‭FY2024 Activity Plans‬‭1.‬ ‭The status of climate and energy policy this year‬‭At the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate‬‭Change (COP28) in December 2023, it was reaffirmed that there is a large gap between‬‭the 1.5°C goal and the current status in the Global Stocktake, and there is a need to‬‭strengthen actions. Domestically, this is a crucial year for Japan as it begins reviewing its‬
‭climate and energy policies to strengthen efforts. The government will update its‬
‭Strategic Energy Plan and Japan’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which‬‭includes greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for 2035 and 2040.‬‭Political fallout from the ruling LDP party’s presidential and U.S. presidential elections is‬‭also expected. Local governments and businesses in Japan have made progress to some‬‭degree, while some moves are seen as delays or greenwashing. Japan's policy directions will‬‭also have impacts on the Asia-Pacific and other regions. In this context, there is a crucial‬‭need for knowledge sharing, timely research, analysis, and evaluation about‬‭decarbonization, while considering trends in policy debates.‬‭2.‬ ‭Period covered‬‭April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025‬‭3.‬ ‭Purpose‬‭Our purpose is to accelerate policy shifts and actions to protect the climate, through‬‭research, analysis, engagement, and communication through an integrated approach to‬‭science, policy, and society.‬‭4.‬ ‭Activities for this fiscal year‬‭This fiscal year, it will be important for Japan to make policy changes that can lead to‬‭steady progress in decarbonization efforts, through the formulation of Japan’s 7th‬‭Strategic Energy Plan and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). We will closely‬‭monitor related policy trends while conducting research and analysis on issues of‬‭1‬‭particular importance to strengthen policy, and engaging in dialogue with policymakers‬‭and others. We will focus on the following projects, with dual functions as a think tank‬‭that “shows the facts” and as an advisor that “conveys the facts”.‬‭(1)‬‭Research and analysis relating to climate change‬‭・Climate/energy policy analysis‬‭We will review the status of current climate and energy policies, taking into account the‬‭government's revision of the Strategic Energy Plan, Green Transformation (GX) and‬‭other policy trends, and identify policy issues (greenhouse gas emission reduction‬‭targets, renewables and thermal power policies, power system reform, carbon pricing,‬‭etc.) that are key to the alignment with the Paris Agreement/1.5°C target. In particular,‬‭for the power sector, we will support the formation of decarbonization policies through‬‭fact- and data-based briefings and the presentation of reports on priority areas based‬‭on the 2035 scenarios and policy recommendations by the Lawrence Berkeley National‬‭Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) of the United States last fiscal year.‬‭・‭A‬ nalysis of corporate targets and performance‬‭We will follow up on the evaluation of net zero policies and actions of major Japanese‬‭companies conducted last year to be updated with new corporate targets and implementation‬‭of enhanced countermeasures. We will also analyze the implementation of countermeasures‬‭under the GX and offsetting policies.‬‭・‭A‬ nalysis of climate governance‬‭With regard to climate and energy policy, an analytical report on the policy making‬‭process of the Strategic Energy Plan will be released in April. We will then initiate‬‭research with experts on “climate governance” including climate legislation.‬‭・Analysis of sustainable finance‬‭We will identify and summarize the situation and issues concerning monetary policy and‬‭sustainable finance in Japan. We will continue joint research with Kyoto University on‬‭engagement by Japanese institutional investors, and compile an analysis.‬‭(2)‬‭Engagement in policy-making relating to climate change‬‭We will engage in dialogue with government and municipal officials and stakeholders‬‭regarding climate and energy policy, and participate directly and indirectly in policy‬‭formation. We will also share information and knowledge with organizations,‬‭2‬‭institutions, and experts at home and abroad, provide information, and conduct‬‭collaborative projects to promote climate diplomacy.‬‭(3)‬‭Disseminating information on climate change‬‭We will disseminate information through:‬‭・‬‭Developing communication strategies and tools‬‭・Updating and revising our website‬‭・‬‭Publishing “Insights”‬‭We summarize important topics will be in “Insights” (online articles) in highly readable‬‭formats, including illustrations.‬‭Planned topics for FY2024: Outcomes of G7 meetings, energy policy issues, 10 climate‬‭highlights for the year, etc.‬‭・‬‭Hosting webinars, video streaming‬‭Webinars to present report findings‬‭Roundtable meetings for the media‬‭Videos introducing our organization, topics of interest, etc.‬‭・SNS (social media)‬‭We will use mainly X to provide Information on domestic and international policy trends‬‭and summaries of our reports‬‭(4)‬‭Dialogue, advice and support for domestic and international stakeholders‬‭・Stakeholder dialogue, advice, support‬‭We will engage in dialogue, exchange views, and advise local governments, community‬‭organizations, and others. We will continue to strengthen collaboration with local‬‭governments, businesses, and related organizations for decarbonization in Toyooka City,‬‭Hakuba Village, Sakata City, and Ichikawa City, where we began collaborative activities‬‭last fiscal year, and will support their efforts. For Toyooka City, support will continue‬‭to include the formulation of training programs and municipal policies for the tourist‬‭association. We will also support citizen groups in Ichikawa City.‬‭‬‭・Lectures, articles, interviews, panel discussions,‬‭etc.‬‭We will inform audiences through timely lectures, articles, interviews, and panel‬‭discussions, upon request from various organizations, companies, and media.‬‭(5)‬‭Other activities supplementary to and/or associated with the above items‬‭3‬‭We will‬‭recruit the necessary human resources to implement the above projects and‬‭strengthen IT and security measures.‬‭References: Annual schedule of publications, etc. (as of June 7, 2024)‬‭2024‬‭April - Report: Offshore Wind and Policy Formation Process‬‭June - Insights: G7, Housing and Building Subsidies‬‭Briefing: the Strategic Energy Plan (facts and data)‬‭Event: Media event (1) (in cooperation with the UN Public Information Center)‬‭July - Event: Media event (2) (in cooperation with the UN Public Information Center)‬‭Event: Webinar for the general public‬‭September-October - Report: Sustainable Finance‬‭Briefing: Factual data, etc.‬‭Event: Media Roundtable‬‭December - Report: Government Supplementary Budget Analysis‬‭2025‬‭March - Report: Corporate Net Zero Analysis‬‭4‬