Is Japan’s GreenTransformation (GX)
‘Greenwashing’?
概要

Ayumi Fukakusa/ Friends of the Earth Japan
July 20th 2024

Historical Emissions｜

1

Financing fossil fuel infrastructure｜2

Green Transformation• GX（Green Transformation） underKishida Administration= transformation
to utilize clean energy while reducing
the reliance on fossil fuel• Achieving both emission reduction andeconomic growth• 150 trillion yen public and private
investment next 10 years• Package includes not only energy
efficiency and renewables but also
nuclear, hydrogen, ammonia, CCS, Gasand SAF• There is no definition of ʻGreenʼ. Fossil
based technologies are also promoted｜3

Asia Zero Emission Community• January 2022, Kishida administration
launched the AZEC initiative to advancedecarbonization in Asia while achieving
economic growth and energy security,

creating various pathways tailored toeach countryʼs circumstances.
• Emphasizing ʻvarious pathwaysʼ, AZEC
also promotes fossil based technologies
including hydrogen, ammonia, CCS andgas

Asia’s Various Pathways to Net Zero Co-Createdby Japan｜

4Hydrogen, Ammonia, CCS• Hydrogen and Ammonia are labeled as decarbonization fuel as they
are not emitting CO2 during combustion• However, most of hydrogen and ammonia are made from fossil fuel.
Japan is promoting co-firing these fuels at thermal power stations• CCS, or Carbon Capture and Storage is to capture the CO2 from thefactories, thermal power stations etc. and store them underground.
Japan set a goal of storing 120-240 million tons of CO₂ by 2050.
• Biomass cofiring is also promoted, as biomass fuel is ʼcarbon neutralʼ.
The large volume of biomass fuel are now imported. Risks ofbiodiversity loss, deforestation, increasing emissions.
• Hydrogen, Ammonia, CCS are all costly and not reducing CO2. Rather
these technologies prolong the use of fossil infurastructure.
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Exporting CO2 to other countries• Projects to export CO2 to other countries are increasing, as domestic
CCS projects are more costly than storing them overseas according to
the government and companies.
• At least more than 13 projects MOU are signed past 2 years• Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia are top destination of carbon
dumping
Now, countries like Japan are considering transferring not
only responsibilities but also CO2 itself to other countries.
They are just dumping the waste in the Global South. This isridiculous. This will undermine Malaysia’s own emissions
reduction efforts. Who pays for this although any payment
will not guarantee safety for generations to come? ーMeena Raman/FoE Malaysia
6Expanding GX in Asia thru AZEC
• Technical assistance for developing
energy plan development in
Bangladesh, Indonesia etc.

• Financing for gas or other false
solutions projects thru publicfinance• Signs numerous MoUs though AZEC｜

7

Nuclear• GX‒ allow new nuclear build forthe first time after Fukushima
nuclear crisis• Extending the operational lifeof nuclaer power plants• No solutions to nuclear wastes,communities are against
nuclear restart• Cost of nuclear powerincreased while renewables are
getting cheaper• Small Moduler Reactors (SMR)
is also promoted but the samerisks with conventional nuclear｜8

Carbon Credit• The JCM（Joint Credit Mechanism）
is a system to cooperate with
developing countries for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions• Japan aims to reduce 100 million
tons CO2 through JCM by 2030
and use the credit to achive NDC• Hydrogen, Ammonia and CCS
projects are not excluded from JCM
project (under discussion)• Offset credit does not reduce thedomestic emissions rather allows
more emissions｜

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Green Transformation＝Green washing?

｜10What do we need for transformation• Climate action ‒ need fossil phase out• Where are we transiting ?
• Japanʼs GX is delaying the transition• We donʼt have much time. Transition
cannot take long time.
• Japan must support viable climate
actions, reduce emissions at home, pay
climate finance, do fairshare.

｜Photo: Wales suel11