Japan Climate Initiative (JCI), launched on 6th of July 2018, has developed significantly over the past year and has become a representative network of Japanese non-state actors. Three achievements and future developments are shown below.
■Three achievements
1. Became the largest network of Japanese non-state actors addressing climate change
Starting with 105 signatories, JCI has increased 3.6 times to 378 groups (267 companies, 30 municipalities and 81 others) over the past year. This is the largest network of Japanese non-state actors addressing climate change. The total power consumption, population, and greenhouse gas emissions of JCI signatories are as follows, accounting for about 1/4 to 1/3 of the whole of Japan.
2. Various non-state actors including companies, municipalities, universities, consumer groups, religious groups have participated in JCI
JCI includes various non-state actors who are playing active roles in addressing climate change such as large companies, small and medium enterprises supporting the community, chambers of commerce and industry, large and local cities, universities, think tanks, environmental NPOs / NGOs, religious groups, consumer groups, a bar association, a weather castor network, etc. These include 70% of Japanese companies with SBT approved targets, approximately 70% of RE 100 companies, and municipalities that committed to zero emissions by 2050. The following is the examples of signatories (in any order).
【Company】 The Science Based Targets (SBT) approved companies: 32 (70% of 45 domestic corporation)
ASAHI GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD, ASKUL Corporation, Azbil Corporation, AEON CO., LTD., KYOCERA Corporation, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited, KONICA MINOLTA, INC., Suntory Holdings Limited, Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited, Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd., SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD., Sekisui House, Ltd., Sony Corporation, DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED, Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd., Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., Dentsu Inc., TODA CORPORATION, Nabtesco Corporation, NEC Corporation, NYKLine, Nomura Research Institute, Ltd., Panasonic Corporation, FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED, FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, MARUI GROUP CO., LTD., Unicharm Corporation, LIXIL Group Corporation, RICOH COMPANY, LTD., YKK AP Inc.
【Company】 RE100 committed companies: 13(Approx. 70% of 19 companies)
ASKUL Corporation, AEON CO., LTD., KONICA MINOLTA, INC., Sekisui House, Ltd., Sony Corporation, Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd. , Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., TODA CORPORATION, Nomura Research Institute, Ltd., FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED, FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, MARUI GROUP CO., LTD., RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
【Company】 Organization of small to mid-size local companies and network
Central Federation of Societies of Commerce and Industry, Network of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs for a Sustainable Business and Energy Future, The Kawasaki Chamber Of Commerce and Industry, The Odawara Hakone Chamber of commerce and Industry
【Municipality】 Municipalities aiming for zero emission by 2050
Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Yokohama City, Kyoto City
【Religious Organization】
Shinshu Otani-ha, Honmon Butsuryu Shu (HBS), Kyoto HBS Museum
【University & related Organization】
Climate Change and Energy Transition, Institute for Future Initiatives, the University of Tokyo, Agency for Health, Safety and Environment, Kyoto University, Sophia University Institute for Studies of the Global Environment, Sacred Heart Institute for Sustainable Futures, Chiba University of Commerce and others.
【Consumer cooperatives】
Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU), Palsystem Consumers’ Co-operative Union and others.
3. Became a bridge connecting Japan and the world in climate change measures
With the establishment of JCI, the active efforts on climate change by Japanese non-state actors have come to be delivered to the world more greatly and accurately. JCI’s main activities of the first year are as follows.
- Participated in COP24 as a member of the delegation of Japan together with Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) / Rengo(Japanese Trade Union Confederation). And held a side event at the venue of COP24
- Partnership with the domestic and international networks of non-state actors such as “We Are Still In“, “America’s Pledge” and “Alliances for Climate Action“
- Delivered a statement of non-state actors to the world in response to the Japanese government’s draft long-term strategy (May 16, 2019)
■Future developments
1. Activate the actions by non-state actors
- Promote information sharing and experiences exchange among the signatories by introducing their activities on the JCI website and holding seminars, and promote strengthening of actions for climate change and new collaborations
-Opened webpages on the JCI website to introduce actions taken by each signatory
-Hold the first workshop for JCI signatories to interact with each other on 24th July
-Hold “Japan Climate Action Summit 2019” on 31st October at Iino Hall, Minato-ku, Tokyo
2. Deliver the efforts by Japanese non-state actors to the world
- Participate in the climate week in NYC in September as a team of JCI signatories including companies, municipalities and NGOs
- Participate in COP25 in December
- Promote cooperation and collaborations with the domestic and international networks of non-state actors
3. Take actions to enhance Japan’s measures on climate change
JCI will promote dialogue with the Japanese government so that Japan’s climate change measures based on the Paris Agreement, which will enter into force next year (2020), can contribute more actively to the world’s efforts towards a decarbonized society.
PDF: 1st Anniversary of Japan Climate Initiative -Achievements and Future developments