Japan's largest forest fire in 30 years / SMFG Exits global decarbonization framework
Japan faces multiple environmental challenges as climate change accelerates faster than the global average, threatening its seasons and salmon populations.
*Editor’s note: This article was originally published on 3/5/2025 on Linkedin.
Welcome! I'm Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 143 of the "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter📬, which has been curating hand-picked Japan-related climate news content every week since spring 2022, with over 420 subscribers [ more than 2,730 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🙂🙇
*Disclaimer: Generative AI tools such as Claude Sonet 3.5 has been used for summary and translation assistance 🙂
【Digest of this week's topics】
Japan faces multiple environmental challenges as climate change accelerates faster than the global average, threatening its seasons and salmon populations. Government initiatives include emissions trading and nuclear energy expansion, while forest fires rage in northern regions. Companies like Toyota pursue hydrogen solutions, and SMFG withdraws from global climate frameworks. Meanwhile, automakers struggle with software talent shortages, and TEPCO delays nuclear plant restarts due to safety upgrades and construction issues.
[🇯🇵📰👀Japan Climate News Headlines]
【1】So Long, Spring and Autumn: Japan Losing its Four Seasons to Climate Change [03/05 nippon.com]
Climate change is accelerating faster in Japan than globally, threatening to reduce Japan's four seasons to just two.
Changes in westerly wind patterns and ocean currents (particularly the Kuroshio) are creating both extreme heat waves and severe winter storms.
Rising sea surface temperatures around Japan are approaching a critical 1.5°C tipping point that could make extreme weather the new normal.
【2】Thousands evacuated as Japan's biggest fire in decades continues to burn [03/03 BBC]
Japan's largest forest fire in 30 years has burned over 5,200 acres in northern Japan, killing at least one person.
Record low rainfall (about 6% of the February average) may have contributed to the fire.
About 4,600 people are under evacuation orders, with over 2,000 firefighters and at least 16 helicopters engaged in firefighting efforts from multiple prefectures.
【3】Japan's SMFG to pull out of global decarbonization framework [03/04 Nikkei Asia]
SMFG becomes first Japanese financial institution to withdraw from NZBA amid U.S. political pressure.
Six major U.S. banks including JPMorgan have already withdrawn, while European banks remain.
SMFG pledges to maintain its sustainable finance targets for 2030 and continue climate change initiatives despite withdrawal.
【4】Cabinet passes bill requiring polluting firms to join CO2 trading [02/26 The Asahi Shimbun]
The Japanese government will require companies emitting 100,000+ tons of CO2 annually to participate in an emissions trading system from fiscal 2027.
The system is expected to apply to 300-400 companies accounting for about 60% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
The government also approved a bill requiring companies producing or selling plastic products to use recycled materials from fiscal 2026.
【5】FEATURE: Japanese salmon catches plummet in losing battle to climate change [02/28 Kyodo News]
Japan's salmon catches have declined by over two-thirds since 2003, reaching near-record lows in 2024.
Climate change is causing pink salmon to outcompete Japan's chum salmon for food in the Bering Sea.
Without addressing global warming, experts warn that salmon could disappear from Japan within the next century.
【6】Japan's climate heroes show potential and limits of local initiatives [03/02 The Japan Times]
Chiba aims for net-zero emissions at public facilities by 2027, but manufacturing and transport sectors are excluded.
After typhoon disasters, the city focused on energy self-sufficiency, using PPAs and waste-to-energy solutions.
National policies limit local decarbonization, requiring private-sector collaboration for sustainability.
【7】[Opinion] Japan's new energy plan bows to AI -- but at what cost? [02/28 Nikkei Asia]
Japan's new energy plan aims to expand nuclear power, increasing it to 20% of the energy mix by 2040 (up from the current 8%).
The surge in AI and data centers is projected to increase Japan's energy demand by 1.2 times by 2040.
Critics suggest investing in technologies to improve AI energy efficiency rather than nuclear power, questioning the value of technologies that require energy sources unacceptable to society.
【8】Toyota expands hydrogen network in Japan, starting with its supply chain [02/26 Nikkei Asia]
Toyota is expanding hydrogen use in its supply chain and will produce hydrogen at its headquarters plant in Aichi prefecture using water-splitting equipment capable of producing 100 kg per hour.
The company aims to achieve carbon neutrality at its plants by 2035, with hydrogen playing a key role in this strategy.
Cost remains a major challenge, with hydrogen in Japan costing about 2,000 yen per kilogram compared to under 1,000 yen in South Korea and 700-900 yen in China.
【9】Japan's carmakers fight for software engineers in EV, self-driving push [03/03 Nikkei Asia]
Japanese automakers are facing a severe shortage of software talent, with a projected deficit of 33,000 professionals this year, expected to increase to 51,000 by 2030.
Companies like Subaru are establishing satellite offices in tech hubs such as Shibuya to attract IT engineers from nearby technology companies and startups.
Japan's IT engineer numbers (1.4 million) significantly lag behind the US (4.5 million) and China (3.5 million), with Japan ranking 31st out of 73 countries in IT engineer salaries.
【10】Tepco Falls on Risk of Delay to Restart World's Top Atomic Plant [02/27 Bloomberg]
TEPCO postpones completion of anti-terrorism equipment for Kashiwazaki Kariwa Unit 7 until August 2029, causing shares to drop 5.6%.
Post-Fukushima safety guidelines require construction of separate buildings with backup systems to protect against terrorist attacks.
Safety upgrades for Unit 6 also delayed by five years, with construction worker shortages reported as a major contributing factor.
📬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🙂🙇
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