The Climate Reality Project Japan: OUR ASKS FOR COP28
Issued on 24th November, 2023
At COP28, The Climate Reality Project Japan demands to advance the global and Japan’s commitment toachieve the Paris Agreement goal, to limit the global warming within 1.5 degrees, through our asks andvoices from our community of diverse groups of people in Japan.
The branch also acknowledges the country’s historical responsibility of being one of the biggest Green
House Gas (GHG) emitters and the largest funders of fossil fuels globally. The climate crisis is a justiceand human rights issue, and we believe in the power of our collective efforts to resolve such.

Climate Reality's Global Position
This section summarizes the Climate Reality’s positions on the key elements for COP28, both from theglobal and Japan-specific perspectives.
Reducing Emissions
Global
COP must commit to an equitable phase-out of all fossil fuels, responsible for 75% of global emissions, atleast triple renewable energy capacity and at least double efforts in energy efficiency by 2030, and reduce
methane emissions from the energy sector to near zero by 2030.

JapanJapan needs to accelerate its transition to clean energy and commit to phase-out of all fossil fuels.
•Japan is the world’s 5th largest GHG emitter, 84% of which originates from non-renewable energy in20211. According to another source2, in 2022 the country’s energy mix consisted of over 70% fromfossil fuels (coal, LNG and oil), while renewable energy accounted for 22.4%.

•Japan must commit to phase-out of all fossil fuels. The country still plans to burn fossil fuels even in
2050, and is focusing on new technologies like hydrogen and ammonia co-firing as well as Carbon
dioxide Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) to extend use of coal-powered plants. Thesetechnologies are still in an experimental stage and not reliable to reduce emissions by 2030.

Financing a Just Transition
Global
COP must agree to stop financing fossil fuels and fund just transition. Developed countries must materialize
their promise to mobilize $100 billion for climate finance in developing countries and provide evidence.
Also, COP must make a commitment to the Green Climate Fund and ensure that this year's replenishment
is the largest yet.
JapanJapan must finance a just transition instead of fossil fuels - the country is the world’s largest public financer
for oil, gas and coal projects.
•Japan contributed $10.6 billion USD per year on average of public finance to fund fossil fuel projects
between 2019 and 20213. The country should shift its fund to support a just transition as well as
adaptation and loss and damage in developing nations.

1

Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

2Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies https://www.isep.or.jp/archives/library/14364#_ftn2

3

CAN-International: Japan was the world’s largest public financer for oil, gas, and coal projects, contributing $10.6 billion USD per year on average
between 2019 and 2021.

•Despite commitments made as part of the G7 to end new direct public support for the international
unabated fossil fuel energy sector, Japan has still indicated its intention to continue financing oil andgas developments. Japan's fossil fuel finance increases host countries' reliance on fossil fuels,
worsening the climate and energy crises and impacting people's livelihoods4.

Calling out Conflicts of Interest and Reforming the System
GlobalThis year's COP agenda lacks a crucial item: phasing out fossil fuels. The COP must tackle the problem ofoutside influence from fossil fuel lobbyists that influence outcomes and support the interests of fossil fuelproducing nations, and make sure the message around COP outcomes does not get greenwashed. A
conversation must start around how to reform the COP process to prevent one nation from blocking
progress and make other reforms such as objective agenda setting.
JapanJapan must refrain from endorsing false solutions and instead actively seek cooperative avenues for arapid, just, and equitable transition to renewable energy.
•The recently endorsed "Green Transformation (GX)" policy of the Japanese government places
significant emphasis on the adoption of technologies based on fossil fuels, such as gas/LNG, cofiring of ammonia, hydrogen, and CCUS5. Similarly, fossil fuels projects and technologies topromote them are receiving corporations investment despite their official stance on supporting adecarbonized society6.

•

Over 140 groups from 18 countries have issued an open letter calling on Japanese Prime Minister
Fumio Kishida to stop promoting and expanding the use of fossil fuels and derailing the transition torenewable energy across Asia. In the Philippines, plans for 34 new gas power plants and 11 LNG
import terminals, supported by the Japanese government and corporations, pose anenvironmentally detrimental threat to livelihoods, ecosystems, and communities in the Philippines
and Southeast Asia7.

4

Oil Change International: New briefing: Japan is the world’s largest provider of public finance for fossil fuels, spending 10.6 billion USD a year.

5

Influence Map: https://influencemap.org/report/GX-policy-20854

6

World Economic Forum (2023): Enabling Measures Accenture Roadmap for Low-Emission Hydrogenhttps://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Accenture_Enabling_Measures_Roadmap_for_Low_Emission_Hydrogen_Japan_2023.pdf
7Fossil Free Japan: [NGO Press Release] Japan’s “Zero Emissions” strategy is a Greenwashing 140 Civil society groups from 18 countries sent
an open letter to G7 chair demanding support on swift, just and equitable transition from fossil fuels and not on “false solutions.”
https://fossilfreejapan.org/greenwasing-zero-emissions-strategy-azec/

Voices from Climate Reality Leaders in Japan
Climate Reality is a community of people of diverse background, mobilizing in various parts of our society
across Japan. This section introduces opinions from some of our active Leaders.
Tomoaki Ota
Orthopedic surgeon, Biodiversity Impacts Action Group“For the protection of human life and the ecosystem, we advocate for the mandatory
measurement and reporting of military-related greenhouse gasses.”
Kohei Suzuki
Teacher, Business and Industry Action Group“An agreement is needed to create an effective plan for achieving the 1.5-degree goal thisCOP, for a fair distribution of responsibilities among countries based on climate justice.”
Miho SogaWriter, Climate Education Action Group“Climate justice and its related issues are largely unfamiliar topics in Japan. We hope forincreased awareness and activism in Japan, aligning with global movements for climatejustice.”

Nguyen Kieu An
Climate Reality Project Japan Intern, International Student from Vietnam“We urgently call for climate justice, affirming the inseparable link between the impacts ofclimate change and fundamental human rights, underscoring the inherent right of every
individual to live in an environment that is both safe and healthy. ”
Chheang Polity
Climate Reality Project Japan Intern, International Student from Cambodia“We advocate for prioritizing equitable climate funds and resources to bridge the gap andunderscore the role of empathy in fostering collaboration between Global North and South totackle the increasingly severe challenges of climate change.”
Jnifar Gillur Yumi
Climate Reality Project Japan Intern, International Student from Bangladesh“We want the respect and the voices and perspectives of all nations including the Global
South, particularly those facing acute climate vulnerabilities, to ensure the realization ofinclusive and equitable climate funds.”

Contact
The Climate Reality Project is a global initiative tackling the climate crisis through training and mobilizing
people worldwide to accelerate climate action to reach true net zero by 2050.
https://www.climaterealityproject.org/

The Climate Reality Project JapanIs an official Japanese branch, established in 2021.
https://climaterealityjapan.org/
Yuiko Mitani, Program Manager
japan@climatereality.com