UPDATE – June 17th, 2022: After the release on June 3rd, 15 more JCI signatories endorsed the message and the total was updated to 300.

Message from Japan Climate Initiative to the Government of Japan with a list of endorsers

Now is the time to accelerate renewable energy deployment
-Calling for stronger climate change action in the midst of the fossil energy crisis-

3 June 2022

Develop a Clean Energy Strategy that enables 40-50% renewable energy share by 2030

Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) has today published the message ‘Now is the time to accelerate the renewable energy deployment – Calling for stronger climate change action in the midst of the fossil energy crisis’ (Annex 1). The message is endorsed by 285 organizations (201 companies, 15 local governments and 69 organizations/NGOs) (Annex 2).

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine destabilizing the world’s energy supply, more than ever, Japan’s priorities should be to reduce the total amount of energy used, through the promotion of energy conservation and efficiency, and to accelerate the deployment of domestically produced renewable energy, which is unaffected by the geopolitical climate. The geopolitical context gives no credence to the old narrative in Japan for the need to rely on fossil fuels to achieve stable supply.

This message calls for the Clean Energy Strategy, which is being developed by the Japanese government by around June this year, to focus on promoting the development of renewable energies such as wind and solar power, to provide 40-50% of Japan’s power needs by 2030.

285 organizations endorse the message including pioneering large Japanese companies, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), local governments, consumers and religious groups

In the face of the growing fossil energy crisis, this is the first time that Japanese companies, local governments and other organizations have called for stronger action on climate change and placing the expansion of renewable energy at the heart of a clean energy strategy under the banner of their own organization names.

The message was endorsed by leading Japanese corporations in a wide range of fields, including 86 Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime listed companies, the IT, materials, machinery, steel, automotive, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, transportation, food, retail, housing & construction, civil engineering, urban development, and insurance & finance sectors. The Central Federation of Societies of Commerce and Industry, which includes associations of commerce and industry from all over of Japan, has also joined the message.

Among local governments, five prefectures – Yamanashi, Nagano, Shiga, Tokushima, Kagoshima -, and ten cities & district – Setagaya, Kawasaki, Omi Hachiman, Kyoto, Osaka, Sakai, Toyonaka, Higashi-Hiroshima, Matsuyama and Kagoshima- have endorsed. Furthermore, consumer organizations such as the Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union, which has about 30 million members nationwide, the Soka Gakkai, universities and research institutions, NGOs, youth and other organizations from diverse fields have supported. The Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnership and Network of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs for a Sustainable Business and Energy Future, corporate groups actively promoting climate action, are also among the endorsing members.

The endorsement of a variety of organizations of this message is a clear demonstration of the strong will of non-state actors in Japan that even during periods of global upheaval and fossil energy crises, climate action must not be allowed to take a back seat.

At the G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting on 27 May, the countries committed to a goal of achieving predominantly decarbonised electricity sectors by 2035. With global temperature rise likely to exceed 1.5°C even within the next five years, Japan Climate Initiative calls on the Japanese government to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy and strengthen climate actions.

Release PDF
Annex1: JCI message PDF
Annex2: List of endorsing organizations PDF

■UPDATE – June 17th: The total was updated to 300 with 15 new endorsements.
Updated list of endorsing organizations PDF

日本語版はこちら

Annex1: JCI message

Message from Japan Climate Initiative to the Government of Japan

Now is the time to accelerate renewable energy deployment
-Calling for stronger climate change action in the midst of the fossil energy crisis-

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in oil and natural gas prices soaring globally, destabilizing the world’s energy supply. This geopolitical context has given credence to the old narrative in Japan for the need to rely on fossil fuels to achieve stable supply. However, the European Union strategy outlining aims to end energy dependence on Russia, published in early March, focuses on accelerating the supply of renewable energy, such as solar power and green hydrogen. Germany, in particular, has announced a bill to cover almost 100% of its domestic power supply with renewable energy by 2035.

Renewable energy accounts for more than 40% of Europe’s power supply, while the comparable figure for Japan is around 20%. Japan’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels creates significant instability in the markets during oil and natural gas price fluctuations. More than ever, Japan’s priorities should be to reduce the total amount of energy used, through the promotion of energy conservation and efficiency, and to accelerate the deployment of domestically produced renewable energy, which is unaffected by the geopolitical climate.

Some have expressed a desire to restart nuclear power generation in Japan, but the Nuclear Regulatory Authority Japan has clearly expressed its intention not to take any special measures, stating that “no compromise on safety is allowed”. The situation in Ukraine has also revealed the vulnerability of nuclear power during times of crisis or war, and its weakness in sustainability remains the same, with no established method for the disposal of radioactive waste.

In Japan, the cost of solar has now fallen to under 10 JPY per kWh, and many companies are developing and procuring renewable electricity through PPAs. Local governments are working to expand the introduction of solar power by establishing promotion zones and legislating its inclusion in new building developments.

The Government of Japan is in the process of formulating a ‘Clean Energy Strategy’, due by June this year. This strategy must focus on promoting renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, to provide 40-50% of Japan’s power needs by 2030, as the Japan Climate Initiative called for last year.

The Sixth Assessment Report of Working Group III of the IPCC, published on 4 April, warns that global temperature rise will reach 3.2˚C under current policies. Greenhouse gas emissions need to peak by 2025 at the latest, and a 43% reduction (compared to 2019) by 2030 is essential to achieve the 1.5˚C target agreed at COP26.

Even during periods of global upheaval and fossil energy crises, climate action must not be allowed to take a back seat.

We pledge to strengthen action in our own efforts and through local partnerships, and at the same time, call on the Japanese government to push even harder for the expansion of renewable energy.

Annex2: List of Endorsing Organizations

List of endorsing organizations (alphabetical order)　
(Total 300: including 212 companies, 16 local governments and 72 organizations/NGOs)

*UPDATE – June 17th: The total was updated to 300 with 15 new endorsements.

Companies (Total 212)

Local governments (Total 16)

NGOs and other stakeholders (Total 72)