Welcome! I'm Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 131 of the "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter📬, which has been curating Japan-related climate news content every week since spring 2022, with over 370 subscribers [ more than 2,610 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 🙂
【COP29 】I had the opportunity to attend COP29 in Azerbaijan from November 18-23 as a member of Media is Hope, an NPO that supports climate change-related media.
This was my first time attending a COP, and I was overwhelmed by the scale of the event—with 65,000 participants from 200 countries, it was the second-largest COP in history. Through my participation, I realized that COP isn't just about the high-level government agreements that make headlines. It encompasses many aspects, including appeals from developing countries currently suffering from climate change, exhibitions showcasing initiatives by governments, businesses, and non-governmental actors, and discussions at side events.
During the conference, I spoke with journalists covering climate change, and I noticed that many of them were experienced professionals who had been reporting on this topic for years. This made me acutely aware that climate reporting in Japan might be somewhat limited, particularly since there may be a shortage of English-language coverage from Japanese perspectives in the global context.
I also learned that BlueSky, a new social media platform that gained significant attention during COP, is being used by many climate journalists. I promptly created an account [socialcompany.bsky.social]and plan to focus on sharing information in English. I would appreciate it if you could follow up.
A hybrid Media Briefing event on December 2nd will discuss 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 keep in mind that the event will be in Japanese only). I will be there!🙋
New Emissions Target: Japan is discussing a 60% greenhouse gas reduction goal from fiscal 2013 levels by fiscal 2035, compared to the current 46% target by fiscal 2030.
Alignment with Net-Zero Goals: This aligns with Japan's 2050 net-zero emissions commitment and supports the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C global temperature goal.
Energy Sector Focus: Achieving the target requires accelerating renewable energy adoption and increasing nuclear energy usage.
Economic Balance: The plan aims to balance climate commitments with Japan's economic growth, requiring action from the industrial and energy sectors.
Progress Report: Japan's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 22.9% from fiscal 2013 to 2022, and updated goals will be submitted to the UN by February 2025.
Japan has spent over ¥11 trillion on fossil fuel subsidies since 2022. These subsidies were initially implemented as temporary COVID-19 and Ukraine war measures, but they continue to extend them despite decarbonization goals.
The recent ¥21.9 trillion economic stimulus package includes further subsidies for electricity and gas bills from January to March 2024, showing Japan's ongoing dependency on fossil fuel support.
These subsidies come at enormous cost and environmental impact - according to the OECD, subsidies cost ¥3.9 trillion in 2022, while IMF estimates put it at ¥48 trillion when including implicit costs.
Experts recommend a clear energy policy, timeline for subsidy removal, increased renewable energy investment, and enhanced EV infrastructure to help Japan transition from fossil fuel dependence.
Japan aims to generate 20GW of electricity from perovskite solar cells by 2040, equivalent to the power output of 20 nuclear reactors, marking a significant shift towards renewable energy.
The government plans to reduce the power generation costs of these next-generation cells to match conventional solar technology levels, making them economically viable.
These thin, light, and flexible cells suit Japan's limited space and could be applied to building walls and other vertical surfaces.
The initiative includes government support for Japanese manufacturers' R&D and mass production systems, competing with ongoing developments in China and Europe.
Thin, flexible solar cells hold the promise of a new industry in the making ... but with China eyeing the same market, a race to scale production is underway.
China dominates the global solar energy supply chain with over 90% market share in key segments, from polysilicon to solar modules, primarily due to its massive economic scale and government subsidies.
Southeast Asian countries, particularly Malaysia, increasingly depend on Chinese solar technology for their green energy transition. Chinese components are 20-30% cheaper than competitors.
Major tech companies like Foxconn are rapidly adopting Chinese solar technology. Due to the mature photovoltaic supply chain, Chinese solar technology is as cost-effective as fossil fuels.
Despite U.S. attempts to impose trade barriers and promote local supply chains, China is expected to maintain over 80% of global manufacturing capacity for photovoltaic components through 2030.
The demand for renewable energy in Asia continues to grow, driven by tech manufacturing expansion and data centers. Solar energy will attract $500 billion in investment in 2024.
Japan's power generation dropped to 985.4 terawatt hours in FY2023, marking its lowest level since 2010 and falling below pandemic-era levels with a 1.6% year-over-year decline.
Non-fossil fuel sources increased their share in the power mix to 31.4% from 27.4%, primarily driven by a nearly 50% increase in nuclear power generation. Power consumption hit a 28-year low, primarily due to Japan's declining population and improved energy efficiency measures.
Despite ambitious renewable energy targets of 36-38% by 2030, Japan remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, highlighting its ongoing energy security challenges.
Due to prolonged summer heat and climate change, Kyoto's peak autumn foliage viewing has been delayed to mid-December 2024, about two weeks later than usual.
Tourism is significantly impacted, with travel agencies reporting increased cancellations for November tours and needing help to adapt their pricing strategies.
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts peak viewing around December 16 in central Kyoto, compared to the usual December 5 date.
Local businesses, including Keihan Bus and railway companies, are adjusting their operations and launching special campaigns to attract tourists during the extended season.
The delay poses challenges for tourism operators who must balance the traditional year-end low season with the new reality of later peak viewing times.
70-year-old Etsuko Goto and other elderly residents conduct nightly vigils to protect ginkgo trees on Kanda Police Street from being removed for sidewalk widening, highlighting a growing conflict between urban development and environmental preservation.
Tokyo's tree cover has significantly decreased from 9.2% in 2013 to 7.3% in 2022, lagging far behind cities like Singapore (40%+) and New York (22%). This raises concerns about climate resilience and urban cooling.
Major redevelopment projects across Tokyo, including the controversial Jingu Gaien project, face public opposition due to tree removal plans despite developers' promises to replant new trees.
A lawsuit challenging the Chiyoda ward's tree removal decision, with a verdict expected on February 6, could become a landmark case for citizen participation in urban planning decisions.
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.
📬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
Hallo sir