Heat Wave Attribution, Energy Contradictions, and Investment Misalignment
🌡️ Last Week's Heat Wave in Japan Not Possible Without Climate Change, Analysis Shows
🎧🗣️Audio Version of this newsletter, thanks to NotebookLM
In English🇺🇲: Japan Climate Curation vol. 158 [13:33 min.]
In Japanese🇯🇵: Japan Climate Curation vol. 158 [11:21 min.]
*Editor’s note: This article was originally published on 6/25/2025 on Linkedin.
Welcome! I'm Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 158 of the "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter📬, which has been curating hand-picked Japan-related climate news content every week since spring 2022, with over 470 subscribers [ more than 2,880 on Linedin]. You can subscribe by clicking on the Linkedin page or the form below.
I hope you find the articles below beneficial for reading (or skimming)!
Found this week's news insights valuable? Please give it a quick "like" or "share" on LinkedIn – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene🙂🙇
【Digest of this week's topics】
Japanese scientists concluded the June 16-18 heat wave impossible without climate change, with hospital visits surging to 8,603. Japan returned to 20-year LNG contracts while warning of 89GW power shortfall by 2050. Top firms Nippon Life, Nomura, and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust hold $40.6 billion in fossil fuels, contradicting 4:1 clean ratios for Paris targets. Technology advanced with IHI-GE ammonia turbines and METI-Siemens partnership targeting 45GW offshore wind. Shizuoka invested ¥18 million in avocado research with areas projected to expand 7.7-fold. Japan reached an inflection point between crisis response and transformation.
*Disclaimer: Generative AI tools such as Claude Sonet 4 and NotebookLM have been used for summary and translation assistance. 🙂
[🇯🇵📰👀Japan Climate News Headlines]
【1】🌡️ Last Week's Heat Wave in Japan Not Possible Without Climate Change, Analysis Shows [6/26 The Japan Times]
Japanese scientists concluded last week's heat wave (June 16-18) impossible without human-induced climate change. Average temperature at 1,500m altitude hit record 17.2°C since 1950. Heat-related hospital visits surged from 966 to 8,603. This summer expected to peak at 35-40°C in July-August.
【2】🌡️ Japan's Heat Wave May Last for Weeks in Boost to Energy Demand [6/25 Bloomberg Green]
Japan faces continued above-average temperatures for the next two weeks, driving up energy demand and power prices. Current maximum temperatures around 28°C are expected to consistently exceed 30°C next week and reach 32°C in the second week of July. Monday saw next-day power prices jump 25% to a 15-week high.
【3】🌡️ Japan on High Alert as Scorching Weather Assails Elderly [6/21 Nikkei Asia]
Japan maintains high alert for heatstroke among elderly after two consecutive years of record temperatures. New regulations require companies to educate employees on heat risks with criminal penalties for non-compliance. Temperature exceeded 30°C at 598 of 914 observation points. 2024 saw 31 workplace heat-related deaths and 1,257 casualties.
【4】⚡ Japan Could Face Potential Power Supply Crunch in 2050, Grid Monitor Says [6/25 Reuters]
Japan's grid operators released long-term power demand forecasts for 2050, revising upward due to surging demand from data centers and chip plants. Worst-case scenario projects 89GW power shortfall, primarily caused by decommissioning aging thermal and nuclear plants. Despite renewable energy expansion to 170-260GW, supply may not meet demand growth.
【5】💰 Japan's Top Investors Have a Duty to Back a Clean Energy Future [6/23 Nikkei Asia]
Japan's major investment firms are hindering clean energy transition by pouring billions into fossil fuel development. Top investors including Nippon Life, Nomura, and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust have $40.6 billion invested in coal, oil and gas expansion companies. Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal requires 4:1 clean energy investment ratio by 2030, but current ratio is nearly equal.
【6】⚡ Japan Returns to Long-Term LNG Deals on AI Boom, National Energy Plan [6/20 Reuters]
Japan is returning to long-term LNG contracts driven by the AI boom and surging data center power demands. Major utilities like JERA are signing 20-year deals with US and Middle Eastern suppliers. The 7th Strategic Energy Plan forecasts 2040 LNG demand between 53-74 million tons depending on decarbonisation technology progress.
【7】🔬 IHI and GE Vernova to Test Parts for Ammonia-Burning Gas Turbines [6/24 Nikkei Asia]
IHI and GE Vernova established a testing facility at IHI's Aioi plant in Japan to develop combustors for large-scale ammonia-burning gas turbines. Testing begins this summer to optimize ammonia combustion while minimizing nitrogen oxide emissions. The partnership aims to enable decarbonization by simply replacing combustors in existing turbines.
【8】🌊 Japan's Industry Ministry, Siemens Gamesa Agree to Cooperate on Wind Power [6/24 Reuters]
Japan's METI announced cooperation framework with Siemens Gamesa for offshore wind sector. Japan lacks domestic wind turbine manufacturers and relies heavily on imports. Japan targets 45GW offshore wind capacity by 2040 but faces cost inflation and delays. Similar agreement with GE Vernova launched earlier this month.
【9】🌊 Japan Boosts Effort to Curb Methane Leaks From LNG Supply Chains [6/20 Bloomberg Green]
Japan, the world's second-largest LNG importer, is strengthening efforts to reduce methane emissions from supply chains. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will collaborate with the UN's Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 program. According to the IEA, global LNG supply chains emit roughly 350 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually—more than Italy's emissions.
【10】🌱 As Japan Warms, Avocados Emerge as an Unlikely Savior for Farmers [6/22 The Japan Times]
Climate change is expanding avocado cultivation possibilities in Japan. Shizuoka Prefecture is promoting it as a new specialty crop to replace mikan oranges, investing 18 million yen in cultivation research. Demand surged 23-fold from 1988 to 2020. Suitable avocado areas are projected to expand 7.7-fold by century's end.
【11】🌊 Laying the Groundwork for Offshore Wind - Building the Grid and Designing the Market [6/19 Renewable Energy Institute]
Japan's renewable energy expansion requires major electricity infrastructure redesign. Offshore wind particularly needs complete transmission line sets—access lines, internal lines, and inter-regional connections—requiring significant investment. This seminar examines how grid development and smart market design can support large-scale renewable integration, drawing insights from Japan and Northern Europe.
📬That's all for this week! Thank you for reading(or skimming) 🙇. I hope you will have a wonderful week ahead!
Did you found this week's news insights valuable? Please give it a quick "like" or "share" on LinkedIn – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene🙂🙇
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