Power Play: Japan's Strategic Moves in Energy, Climate, and Technology
*Editor’s note: This article was originally published on 9/24/2024 on Linkedin.
Welcome! I'm Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 123 of the "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter📬, which has been curating Japan-related climate news content every week since spring 2022, with over 350 subscribers [ more than 2,540 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 🙂
[🇯🇵📰👀Japan Climate News Headlines]
【1】Nuclear Revival Unites Japan’s Prime Minister Contenders [9/20 Bloomberg🔏]
Japan's PM contenders advocate for nuclear power revival to enhance energy security and reduce emissions. Despite lingering public concerns post-Fukushima, candidates view atomic energy as crucial for meeting future electricity demands and achieving climate goals.
【2】Mitsubishi Heavy targets 200 new hires for nuclear power business - Japan looks to nuclear energy for decarbonization, spurring hiring rush [9/19 Nikkei Asia]
Japan's nuclear industry is experiencing a revival, with major companies increasing hiring to address a shortage of specialists. This comes as the country repositions nuclear power as part of its Green Transformation policy, leading to growth in orders and sales for nuclear-related businesses. Other companies like Toshiba and Fuji Electric are hiring more in the nuclear sector.
【3】Tripling Renewables by 2030 Needs $1 Trillion a Year, BNEF says [9/24 Bloomberg]
BloombergNEF reports that annual investments in renewables must reach $1 trillion to triple green energy capacity by 2030, as agreed at COP28. This requires addressing barriers like fossil fuel subsidies, supply chain issues, and permitting processes. Additional investments in battery storage and grid upgrades are necessary. While renewable investments hit a record $623 billion in 2023, it's insufficient to curb rising carbon emissions. China and Brazil are progressing well, with Latin America showing significant growth. The US, Europe, and India have strong policies but need faster implementation. Several regions, including Japan and parts of Africa, are lagging in energy transition.
【4】Japan overtakes EU, U.S. as global climate leader for ASEAN, survey shows - Tokyo offers 'pragmatic' solutions, while Brussels is seen as 'protectionist' [9/20 Nikkei Asia]
A survey by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute reveals Japan as the top climate leader in Southeast Asia's perception. Japan's pragmatic solutions and the Asia Zero Emission Community initiative are viewed positively, while Western climate policies face criticism. China is also emerging as a significant player in regional climate efforts. It asked 2,931 Southeast Asians to choose from among eight countries and regions -- Australia, China, the EU, India, Japan, South Korea, the U.K. and the U.S. -- the one that has most demonstrated leadership in helping the world meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
【5】China sees investment rush in bendable solar panels - Perovskite startups look to conquer emerging market with huge new plants [9/20 Nikkei Asia]
China is leading the charge in perovskite solar cell production with massive investments in factories and technology. This flexible, efficient solar technology is poised for rapid market growth, attracting domestic and international investors despite challenges in mass production.
The startup UtmoLight is nearing completion of a 3 billion yuan ($424 million) plant in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, that the company says will be the world's first gigawatt-class production site for perovskite solar cells.
DaZheng (Jiangsu) Micro Nano Technology is building a 100 megawatt-class factory that is expected to begin mass production by next year. The company's chief technology officer is Li Xin, who studied under perovskite pioneer Tsutomu Miyasaka, a professor at Japan's Toin University of Yokohama.
【6】Japan should lead way in promoting eco-friendly agriculture in Asia - Sharing technology for reducing emissions from rice cultivation is first step [9/18 Nikkei Asia]
Japan is leading in promoting environmentally friendly agriculture in Asia, focusing on reducing methane emissions from rice paddies. By sharing technology and implementing the Joint Crediting Mechanism, Japan aims to support sustainable farming practices and create business opportunities while addressing global climate challenges.
【7】Indonesia to deepen carbon trading cooperation with Japan - Vice minister says nations to sign agreement, hopes to showcase it at COP29 [9/21 Nikkei Asia]
Indonesia and Japan are finalizing a bilateral agreement to promote carbon trading, aiming to sign by September's end. The deal aligns emission-reduction certification schemes, facilitating both public and private sector carbon trading. This cooperation includes potential projects generating carbon credits, such as Sumitomo Forestry's peatland restoration in Central Kalimantan.
Indonesia views this as part of its strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, emphasizing the need for support from developed countries. The bilateral framework could serve as a model at COP29, demonstrating the feasibility of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Indonesia is also preparing its second Nationally Determined Contributions, expanding to include the marine sector.
【8】Toyota, Honda to set capex and R&D spending records amid EV pivot - Japan automakers to boost total capital expenditures by 20% this fiscal year [9/20 Nikkei Asia]
Major Japanese automakers are significantly increasing capital expenditures and R&D investments to prepare for the shift toward electric vehicles. This strategic move aims to meet growing demand for hybrids and EVs, with companies like Honda and Toyota leading the charge in different ways.
【9】Why Japan matters for global decarbonization A report by Solutions For Our Climate [9/20
by ]Japan's significant financing of global oil and gas projects, especially in Asia-Pacific, contradicts global decarbonization efforts. Despite energy security concerns, this strategy faces challenges from falling gas demand and rising renewable energy competitiveness, necessitating a shift in Japan's approach.
【10】Shanshan study spotlights science linking warming to extreme weather [9/23 The Japan Times]
Climate scientists can now rapidly assess the impact of climate change on extreme weather events - World Weather Attribution (WWA) releases studies days or weeks after events to inform public discourse - Advanced computing and new methods enable faster analysis, though some question the reliability.
📬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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ichi (Hiroyasu Ichikawa)
Good to see Power Japan cited here. I think this newsletter could use a bit more of the critical view displayed there.