"Japanese PM Kishida Must Stop Derailing the Global Energy Transition | Opinion," 4 April 2024

... While the climate crisis requires a rapid transition to renewable energy, Prime Minister Kishida is prolonging our dependence on fossil fuels. Japan's energy strategy relies heavily on liquefied natural gas (LNG), burning ammonia and hydrogen at coal and gas power plants, and carbon capture and storage...

Japan is one of the world's top providers of public finance for gas, spending $4.3 billion on average each year from 2020-2022...

Last week, Japan approved financing for the controversial Scarborough gas field in Australia and the San Luis Potosi and Salamanca gas plants in Mexico. Japan is also considering finance for the Block B gas project in Vietnam, despite the unjust jailing of climate activists...

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) stands out as the largest financier in the region's gas development...

Last December, a coalition of fisherfolk and local stakeholders filed a complaint alleging that JBIC failed to uphold its own environmental and social guidelines...

JBIC is also pursuing partnerships with the Philippines' major fossil fuel conglomerates, including San Miguel Corporation, Southeast Asia's biggest gas expansionist...

Japanese-financed LNG projects have also left a legacy of harm along the U.S. Gulf Coast... Frontline communities have suffered from severe impacts on their health, livelihoods, and ecosystems...

Due to its enormous power and influence, Japan could become a leader in the climate movement by helping to increase the pace and scale of renewable energy development, rather than doing the opposite...