Welcome! I'm Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 130 of the "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter📬, which has been curating Japan-related climate news content every week since spring 2022, with over 360 subscribers [ more than 2,600 on Linedin]. You can subscribe by clicking on the Linkedin page or the form below.
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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🙂🙇
*Disclaimer: Generative AI tools such as Claude Sonet 3.5 has been used for summary and translation assistance 🙂
Quick note: I'll attend the second half of COP29 (November 18-23) in Azerbaijan as a Media is Hope team member. I will explore and report on the critical intersection between climate change and media, sharing insights directly from the conference(mainly via X(Twitter), so please follow my account SocialCompany. I may skip the next week's newsletter.
I'm looking forward to connecting with fellow attendees, so please drop me a line if you are around🙂. I also welcome any suggestions about key events, networking opportunities, or important perspectives to explore.
A hybrid Media Briefing event on December 2nd will also be held on COP29's impact on business, youth, and society. While on-site attendance is limited to media professionals, the session will be available online for everyone interested (please note: the event will be in Japanese only).
Climate change and warming seas devastate traditional fishing communities in South Korea's Ulleung Island and Japan's Miyagi Prefecture.
Ulleung's iconic squid fishing industry is collapsing, with rising costs and dwindling catches forcing price increases that deter tourists.
In Miyagi, rising water temperatures killed 90% of sea squirt cultivation in 2023, forcing fishermen to switch to heat-resistant species like oysters.
While traditional species decline, new species like cutlass fish are appearing, with catches in Miyagi increasing from 1 ton in 2011 to 506 tons in 2021.
Despite climate pledges, Japan remains the world's third-largest public fossil fuel financier, investing $93 billion in oil and gas over a decade.
Japan's domestic gas demand is declining, yet it is increasing its investments in LNG projects abroad, particularly in South/Southeast Asia.
The Asian Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative is criticized as greenwashing, with 1/3 of projects prolonging fossil fuel dependence.
Renewable energy is becoming more cost-competitive, yet Japan's fossil fuel investments risk locking Asian nations into expensive, carbon-intensive systems.
*Yuki Tanabe is a program coordinator at JACSES. Susanne Wong is the Asia program manager at Oil Change International. Goni Ben Gera is public finance lead at Solutions for Our Climate.
The top automakers saw steep first-half declines. An expert says a quick turnaround is unlikely unless they speed up their rollout of electric vehicles.
Japan's "Monitoring Sites 1,000" project, launched in 2003, aims to track biodiversity across 1,000 locations over 100 years, involving thousands of volunteers
Recent findings show alarming declines: 33% of butterfly species and 15% of native birds in satoyama areas are experiencing steep population drops.
Climate change impacts are evident, with species moving northward, changes in breeding patterns, and increased coral bleaching events.
Despite its crucial role in conservation, the project faces challenges with aging volunteers and a lack of successors.
Local initiatives maintain a balance between nature and civilization, with efforts to engage younger generations in conservation.
In the era of global boiling, the key is to take measures in cities with large populations. This two-part series looks at climate tech from Japan, which is essential to solving the climate crisis. New Japanese technologies to solve the climate crisis.
Part 1 is urban mitigation measures. We look at zero-carbon buildings, perovskite solar cells, and the challenge of turning cities into forests.
Part 2 is about adaptation measures. It introduces Japan's disaster prevention technology, such as flood control, early warning systems, and infectious disease countermeasures in Thailand.
Climate Integrate is hosting its second seminar of the fiscal year on November 20, 2024, focusing on renewable energy in Japan's power system.
The free online event features prominent speakers, including METI's Electricity Infrastructure Director Masahiro Chikushi, U.S. Embassy Economic Officer Elizabeth Biermann de Lancie, and Ikoma City Mayor Masashi Komurasaki.
The seminar will explore Japan's transition to renewable energy, addressing energy security, economic aspects, and regional revitalization.
With simultaneous Japanese-English interpretation available, the event aims to facilitate comprehensive discussions on Japan's evolving energy policies and climate countermeasures.
Key Points: The event focuses on renewable energy integration into Japan's power system.
Features high-level speakers from government, diplomatic, and academic sectors
Addresses both national policy and local implementation perspectives
Free online participation with bilateral language support.
The timing coincides with crucial deliberations on Japan's Strategic Energy Plan
Despite potential changes in US federal climate leadership following Trump's 2024 presidential victory, global and US climate action has shown resilience.
During Trump's first term, coal power declined faster than under Obama, while renewable energy grew significantly, driven by economics rather than politics.
This presents an opportunity for Japan to strengthen its collaboration with US businesses, cities, and states that are leading the way in renewable energy transformation.
The Renewable Energy Institute emphasizes that Japan must maintain its momentum in decarbonization to address climate change and maintain international competitiveness.
The Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) has responded to Donald Trump's re-election as US President, acknowledging potential concerns about US climate policy rollbacks while reaffirming their commitment to climate action.
Despite potential federal policy changes, JCI emphasizes that climate change remains a critical global priority, pointing to the ongoing impact of Biden's IRA investments and the strength of non-state actors' initiatives.
The organization draws inspiration from the American "We Are Still In" movement and pledges to continue pursuing the 1.5℃ target regardless of political changes.
📬That's all for this week! Thank you for reading(or skimming) 🙇. I hope you will have a wonderful week ahead!
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🙂🙇
The "Climate Curation" newsletter in 🇯🇵Japanese (every Saturday) is available on Linkedin and Substack.
Please feel free to contact me via email: hiroyasu.ichikawa [@]socialcompany.org, f you have any research/consulting needs for your business or just for a coffee chat☕.
My personal Twitter(X) account (in 🇯🇵Japanese) @SocialCompany
