Europe’s Strategy for Competitiveness, Energy Security, and Decarbonization: Implications for Japan

In recent years, the European Union has pursued an increasingly integrated policy agenda to address climate change, strengthen energy security, and enhance economic competitiveness. Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and growing resource constraints, the EU is advancing measures aimed at accelerating the transition to a sustainable and resilient economy while fostering industrial competitiveness through the implementation of various policies and regulations centered on the European Green Deal. These sustainability-related policies such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are having a significant impact on corporate management, investment decisions, and the structure of supply chains, and are reshaping the global business environment.

At this seminar, H.E. Jean-Eric Paquet, who has served as the EU Ambassador to Japan since 2022, will, upon concluding his tenure in Japan, share his perspectives on Europe’s evolving strategy and its implications for cooperation between Europe and Japan. The seminar will also explore how governments, businesses, and civil society can contribute to achieving economic growth, energy security, and decarbonization simultaneously, while examining lessons from Europe and opportunities for stronger cooperation between Europe and Japan.

◇Date & Time: Friday, 17 July 2026, 3:00-5:00 PM JST (Reception & Doors open at 2:30 PM)
◇Venue (On-site only): Iino Conference Center, Room B
◇Address: 4F IINO BUILDING, 2-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (Access)
◇Participation Fee: Free
◇Registration: Please regisiter in advance here.
◇Language: Japanese-English simultaneous interpretation available
◇Organizer: Japan Climate Initiative (JCI)

Program (As of June 19. Subject to change.)

1. Keynote Speech:
Jean-Eric Paquet, the Ambassador of the European Union to Japan

2. Panel Discussion:

Panelists:
– Jean-Eric Paquet, the Ambassador of the European Union to Japan
– Eric Goto, Researcher, Renewable Energy Institute
– Takuya Harada, Head of Disclosure, APAC, CDP Worldwide-Japan

Moderator:
Masako Konishi, Expert Director (Conservation and Energy) of WWF Japan, Specially Appointed Professor of Showa Women’s University Graduate School, Board Member of Toho Bank

3. Q&A

4. Closing Remarks
Sergio Shigeo Kato, Co-Representative of Japan Climate Initiative

Profile

		Jean-Eric Paquet Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Japan Jean-Eric Paquet is the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Japan since autumn 2022.He held various mandates at the European Commission, where he contributed in shaping EU policy in various fields. As the Director-General for Research and Innovation from 2018 and 2022, he set up the European Innovation Council and promoted a whole-of-government approach for R&I, notably via the creation of several EU Missions to solve major ecological, societal and economical challenges.He gained considerable experience at international level as Director for the Western Balkans in the Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations and as EU Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania from 2004 to 2007. From 2015 to 2018, he was Deputy Secretary-General of the European Commission, in charge of Better Regulation and Policy Coordination, covering all policy areas related to the EU Green Deal. He also led the development of the Trans-European Transport Network Policy and was responsible for Europe’s transport infrastructure policy and investment strategies, the single European rail area, inland waterways and port policy.In all his endeavours, he puts co-creation and systemic change at the heart of the decision-making process, and strongly believes that citizens should be more involved in shaping public policy agendas.
		Eric Goto Researcher, Renewable Energy Institute Erik Goto has been a researcher at Renewable Energy Institute since 2024. His areas of expertise include climate policy and industrial decarbonization.He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cambridge and completed a dual master’s program in public policy at Sciences Po Paris and the University of Tokyo, focusing on energy and environmental policy.At REI, he conducts research on industrial decarbonization in the steel sector, including analysis of low-carbon steel production pathways and their associated costs. He also monitors and analyzes EU climate and industrial policy developments, with a particular focus on sustainable product policy and measures supporting industrial decarbonization.
		Takuya Harada Head of Disclosure, APAC, CDP Worldwide-Japan Since joining CDP in 2020 as an Account Manager for Reporter Services, he has played a key role in advancing environmental transparency and action among Japanese corporations across climate change, forests, and water security through 2024. In 2023 and 2024, he led CDP’s Supply Chain program in Japan, driving supplier engagement on sustainability among Japanese companies. In 2025, he was appointed Head of Disclosure, APAC, expanding his scope to oversee engagement efforts across the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan. He holds a master’s degree in Sustainability Management.
		Masako Konishi Expert Director (Conservation and Energy) of WWF Japan Specially Appointed Professor of Showa Women’s University Graduate School Board Member of Toho Bank Dr.Masako Konishi is an Expert Director (Conservation and Energy) at WWF Japan, with more than 20 years’ experience in climate and energy research and advocacy project management, combined with extensive experience of communication and stakeholder engagement. She has attended all COP events since 2005, analyzing climate change negotiation and developing the best alternative policy proposal, including “Energy Scenario for Decarbonizing Japan by 2050”, “Carbon Pricing Proposal for Japan”. She has been a committee member of the Ministry of Environment since 2016.She also serves as Specially Appointed Professor at Showa Women University since 2016, and at Kyoto University Graduate School (2022-2024). She has been one of the Board Members of the Toho Bank (Fukushima) since 2022.Before joining WWF, she has served as TV anchor for various TV networks. She also worked as weather presenter as a certified meteorologist and was awarded the Grand Prix as the best Weather Presenter at Meteo Festival in 2001.She holds Master of Public Administration of Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and PhD in Public Governance from Hosei University. She has published numerous books, including the most recent “Climate Policies as an agenda for Media (2023 Minerva Shobo)”.
		Sergio Shigeo Kato, Co-representative, Japan Climate Initiative After assuming several senior executive positions in Europe and Japan at Ricoh, Sergio Shigeo Kato was appointed General Manager of the Sustainability Management Division in 2015, where he was responsible for developing Ricoh Group‘s decarbonization declaration, driving Ricoh to become the first company in Japan to join RE100, and integrate SDGs values into business, leading the company to adopt ESG-oriented management. Since then, he has collaborated with companies across industries in Japan to resolve social issues related to climate change. He held roles as Co-Chair of the Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnership (JCLP), Board Member of the World Environment Center (WEC) and Board Member of Global Compact Network Japan (GCNJ). He also served as member of the Advisory Panel of Experts on Climate Change established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Together with Takejiro Sueyoshi, he advocated for creating a network of non-state actors in Japan, and contributed to the establishment of Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) in July 2018.