"「CCS事業法」が施行へ、NGOは脱炭素移行の遅れを懸念," 19 May 2026

"Unofficial Japanese-to-English translation by Business and Human Rights Centre"

On 22 May, the Japanese government will bring into force the CCS Business Act, which establishes a legal framework for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. The legislation sets out rules on business licensing and safety management to enable private companies to begin operations by 2030. While the government positions CCS as an important decarbonisation technology, environmental NGOs and others have criticised the policy, arguing that it could “prolong dependence on fossil fuels”.

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Under the CCS Business Act, underground CO2 storage projects will require government approval, with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry responsible for overseeing safety and technical standards. The law also mandates long-term monitoring after projects conclude. It additionally anticipates offshore seabed storage and includes provisions concerning coordination with fisheries and marine area use.

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On the other hand, environmental NGOs and other groups have expressed strong concerns regarding Japan’s CCS policy. [...] They argue that CCS could extend the lifespan of high-emission infrastructure such as coal-fired power generation and LNG facilities, delay investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and slow the phase-out of fossil fuels.

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NGOs have also criticised the fact that environmental impact assessments are not mandatory for CCS projects in Japan.

In addition, a lack of public participation and information disclosure has emerged as a key issue. Regarding the Greater Tokyo CCS project, NGOs claim that the project is “being advanced without ensuring sufficient opportunities for explanation to and participation by local residents”. While briefing sessions have reportedly been held in some areas through which pipelines are expected to pass, NGOs argue that insufficient information has been disclosed regarding why offshore Kujukuri was selected as a test-drilling site and how the environmental impacts of exploratory drilling are being assessed.

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